Essential Naples Spring 2022

Essential NAPLES Spring 2022

COMPLIMENTARY

SWFL’s Resource for Essential Living

Is a Plant-Based Diet the Future of Foods?

Chef David Robbins

The Link Between Gut Health and Depression Melissa MacVenn, MD

Is Mouth Breathing Harmful to Your Health?

Josephine Perez, DMD

Did You Know You Have Two Brains?

Betsy Opyt, RD, LD/N, CDE, RYT

Sugar, Fat, and Type 2 Diabetes Denise Pancyrz

A Revolutionary New Way to Eliminate Pain and Balance the Body Diane Hayden, PhD

Health

Finance

+ A Brain-Based Approach + Your Financial Fitness to Improving Balance > 8 + Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep > 12

Relationships

+ The Resiliency of Spirit > 7 Regimen > 7 + Important Steps for + Past-Life Partners > 7 Domicile Tax Savings > 36

Purpose + 5 Tips for Eating with

Intention > 10 + Mental Wellness > 40

You LOVE

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Now YOU can join me, and the best of the Essential Naples community’s new, exclusive, shared membership experience!

Talk to the Expert

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Dr. Di’s Positive Inspirations Mindset/manifestation mini podcasts sent to you daily

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The Essential Experience “Box”

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Filled with eco-friendly and organic local products

This is an exclusive experience offered at an introductory rate to a limited number of Essential Naples readers! $20/month ; offer valid until July 1st at www.essentialnaples.com

VITAMIN INJECTIONS at The B-12 Store, Naples

Offering!

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The B-12 Store, Naples

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1 SPRING 2022

ESSENTIAL Naples

WHY?

ESSENTIAL Naples SPRING 2022

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Photo: Michael Owen

CONTENTS

Spring 2022

Features

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LETTER BUZZ Immune+: Your Natural Choice for Immune Support A New Kind of Muscular Therapy in SWFL Your One-Stop Shop for Optimal Health Is WellcomeMD in Naples Can Cannabis Prevent COVID?

46 48

COMMUNITY RESOURCES HAPPENINGS

By Chef David Robbins

14 Did You Know You Have Two Brains?

By Betsy Opyt, RD, LD/N, CDE, RYT

16 Sugar, Fat, and Type 2 Diabetes: What Should You Believe?

By Denise A. Pancyrz

18 A Revolutionary New Way to Eliminate Pain and Balance the Body

By Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

20 Is Mouth Breathing Harmful to Your Health?

By Dr. Josephine Perez, DMD

32 A Science-Backed, Natural Way to Fight Osteoporosis

By Dr. Rikin J. Patel, DO

34 Move Further from the Shadow of Alzheimer’s

By Dr. Melissa MacVenn, MD

Health

35 Float Your Way to Improved Mental Health

8

38 Treating Sinusitis Naturally and Effectively

A Brain-Based Approach to Improving Balance

By Ildi Varhelyi

12 Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep: Three Mental States That Have a Major Impact on Our Bodies

By Stacy Bull

By Sabrina Pajares

By Steven Frank

42 Find Relief from the Pain of Peripheral Neuropathy without Addictive Drugs

By Dr. Richard Hiler, DABCN

30 The Link Between Gut Health and Depression

By Dr. Melissa MacVenn, MD

44 Find Your Flexibility Again with Robotic Muscular Therapy

By Theresa Edmunds, CHC

Purpose 10 5 Tips for Eating with Intention

By Chef Lisa Brown

40 Mental Wellness: How Staying Healthy Starts with Mindset

By Chris Edwards, BS, CFT, SFN, SSN

Finance 36 Important Steps for Domicile Tax Savings in the Sunshine State

By Nina Azwoir, First Vice President of Investments, Wintrust Wealth Management

3 SPRING 2022

Departments

22 Is a Plant-Based Diet the Future of Foods?

ESSENTIAL Naples

22

LETTER

Hey, I’m Dr. Diane!

ESSENTIAL Naples

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SPRING 2022

4

This issue is dedicated to the memory of Linda Sciuto, who suddenly passed away in February 2022. Linda was our Marketing Director and was instrumental in helping us launch Essential Naples.

She made hundreds of calls to potential advertisers and introduced us to many business owners she had made strong connections with over the years in her position at Naples Illustrated.

We will always remember her as this—impeccably dressed, a radiant smile on her face, and living life to the fullest.

elcome to the Spring issue of Essential Naples—a quarterly lifestyle publication in Southwest Florida for health-minded locals looking for credible information on holistic health and well-being trends. In this issue, I’m excited to announce something that I’ve been working on for years! As many of you know, we have a sister publication in Connecticut, Natural Nutmeg, that we’ve been publishing for 15 years. Over this time, countless readers have asked us for more of what they love about our magazine. So, I’ve created a community for both Natural Nutmeg and Essential Naples called “The Essential Experience”!

The Essential Experience is a tribe of readers and healthy lifestyle practitioners who come together to teach, to learn, to inspire, and to support each other. The Experience includes “Talk to the Expert” Live Q&A Zoom calls monthly with our Natural Nutmeg and Essential Naples practitioners; exclusive products and discounts on services local to your area; webinars and classes on natural medicine and holistic lifestyle; VIP passes to our private Essential Experience events; and The Essential Experience Box, filled with eco-friendly and organic local products. In addition, every day I’ll be showing up for you via email or text with an inspirational message; an engaging, useful, tip; a laugh; or a challenge to make you shift your perspective and think differently about a situation.

The Essential Experience is for people who are ready to step up. The world needs you now.. After everything we’ve been through the past two years, the world needs you to be confident, healthier, wealthier, passionate about your work, and happier in your relationships. The world needs you to be a leader in living and teaching a healthy and natural remedies lifestyle. The world needs you to set an authentic example for others. The world needs you to be the best you can be. Whether you’re conquering a health challenge, starting or growing a business, or looking to make a big change in your personal life, we’re here to help you reach the highest levels of your creative potential and tap into the deepest wisdom within you.

My commitment is to bring you the very best of what I’m living and learning, the best from the writers for my publications and book collaborations, and the best from the amazing experts on my shows and podcasts—thought-provoking ideas, timeless wisdom and humor, and an unwavering devotion to help you train your mind like you train your body. Please check out the ad on the inside front cover for information on how to join our new community.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD Publisher & Owner, ELM Publishing

Essential NAPLES Vol. 2, Issue 4 Essential Naples is a quarterly lifestyle publication in SWFL for health-minded locals who need credible information on holistic health and well-being trends. Our coverage is 100% local with expert content that interests both local residents and professional integrated practitioners.

PUBLISHER/OWNER

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD Diane@essentialnaples.com DIR. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/OWNER

Christopher Urso Curso@naturalnutmeg.com ESSENTIAL Naples

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lori Emelander essentialeditorlori@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jim Nissen jim@commandshiftoption.com ADVISORY BOARD

5 SPRING 2022

Nina Azwoir, Financial Deanna M. Cherrone, MD Véronique Desaulniers, DC Derrick DeSilva, MD Theresa Edmunds, CHC Jamie Kliewe, CHHP, LMT Betsy Opyt, RD, LD/N, CDE Denise Pancyrz, Nutrition Josephine Perez, DMD DISTRIBUTION

Naples and SWFL, please contact curso@naturalnutmeg.com Essential Naples Magazine essentialnaples.com In keeping with our concern for the environment, Essential Naples is proudly printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

Essential Naples is a free publication supported solely by our advertisers and distributed throughout SWFL. Please email curso@naturalnutmeg.com for locations near you. © 2022 by Natural Nutmeg, LLC. All rights reserved.

Parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, with permission. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your feedback.

< PAGE 8 “A Brain-Based Approach to Improving Balance” BY ILDI VARHELYI

BUZZ

A New Kind of Muscular Therapy in SWFL

ESSENTIAL Naples

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SPRING 2022

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Immune+: Your Natural Choice for Immune Support

n innovative muscular technology has arrived in Southwest Florida—Precision Robotics Muscular Therapy is now available in Naples. This patented system alleviates tension in large muscles, reducing pressure on smaller muscles, bone structure, and nerves. The therapeutic value of this technology cannot be overstated.

The precision robotic arm applies gentle, static pressure to a specific area of a muscle, allowing the tissue to relax and lengthen back to its normal state, correcting imbalance.

In treating muscular tension, mobility then increases and pain decreases.

Using the robotic arm with a computerized module, benefits are achieved through the use of intellectual manipulation, which applies precise pressure to connective tissues.

As the muscle lengthens, the tissue releases waste build-up, increasing circulation, promoting healing, and improving posture, which then takes tension off joints and bones. As balance is restored and pain alleviated, additional benefits such as better sleep and improved mood are realized. Clients report less pain, recovery from injury, less muscular tension, and a general feeling of well-being.

Many athletes, including professional sports figures, have found Robotic Muscular Therapy very helpful. As injury or imbalance is treated, strength, flexibility, and balance are restored. Many sports enthusiasts report better performance, including tennis players, cyclists, golfers, and runners, among others.

Precision Robotics Muscular Therapy is a revolutionary technology that can benefit anyone. As tension is relieved, posture comes into alignment, relieving pain and improving quality of life. Contact us today to start feeling better! Call to make your appointment: 734.308.7105.

A

s a product with incredible immune system support and with potential toward COVID prevention, SUNMED, along with Your CBD Store, is excited to introduce Immune+, the newest addition to their line of immune support products. Their SUNMED Immune Support Terpene blend has an impressive amount of cinnamon, clove, blue gum eucalyptus, and lemon essential oils, all of which have been studied and used for immune support for generations. This unique blend will work perfectly with SUNMED’S unique CBGA and CBDA formulation to keep you feeling ready to go each morning.

Better yet, SUNMED’s Immune+ is a CBGA- and CBDAdominant tincture—noted in a recent Forbes article to potentially be effective in preventing COVID-19—that provides the most effective delivery of those immune supporting compounds. They are also packed in vitamin A and vitamin D3, two essential vitamins in immune maintenance. When you need an extra boost to help support your body’s natural immune function, SUNMED’s Immune+ has all the essentials you need to get up and go for your busy day.

Stacy Bull has been the General Manager for Your CBD Store Naples and Marco Island locations for the past two years.

She has worked in various healthcare departments including ophthalmology, oncology, and cardiology before getting involved in cannabinoid therapy. Stacy can be reached at 239.259.8654 or by email at naplesfl@cbdrx4u.com. See ad on page 21 >

Theresa Edmunds is a Certified Health Coach and co-owner of Precision Robotics Muscular Therapy. To make an appointment for Robotic Muscular Therapy or for a free 20-minute health coaching session contact her at 734.308.7105 or theresa@theresaedmunds.com. See ad on page 11 >

Can Cannabis Prevent COVID? Your One-Stop Shop for Optimal Health Is WellcomeMD in Naples

A

Want more BUZZ?

Checkout www.essentialnaples.com RELATIONSHIPS

The Resiliency of Spirit Lauri Ingram

Past-Life Partners Ronnie Ann Ryan

FINANCE

Your Financial Fitness Regimen Caroline Wetzel, CFP®

www

First, before you run out and purchase the first CBD oil you find, please note that the study discussed in the article focuses on two cannabinoids from processed hemp or marijuana plants, CBD and CBG, in their acid form. The process of decarboxylation is used to convert acid to neutral form—for example, converting CBDA to CBD. The study was performed in vitro using CBDA and CBGA isolates, and the primary takeaway is that these acids, over other cannabinoids, have the potential to bind perfectly to spike protein and could be beneficial for future virus loads. A happy bonus to this is that these acids also have a lot of therapeutic potential, aiding in relief from stress, anxiety, and insomnia.

It should also be noted that the concentrations levels in the study are significantly lower than what is expected for the human body. Because it was done in vitro and not on animals or humans, it does not mimic real life. This current study shows a great deal of potential, but further realworld studies must be done for it to be impactful.

Human trials are currently ongoing at Oregon State and other universities.

Finally, it is important to note that this is not a cure for COVID. However, the findings from this study shows potential for preventing infection by COVID, and we will need to see results of more human trials in the near future.

To read the entire article on this initial study, visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/ ajherrington/2022/01/11/study-finds-cannabiscompounds-prevent-infection-by-covid-19virus/?sh=7b748aab1753.

Stacy Bull, General Manager for Your CBD Store Naples and Marco Island locations, can be reached at 239.259.8654 or by email at naplesfl@cbdrx4u.com.

See ad on page 21 >

7 SPRING 2022

If this sounds consistent with your or your loved ones’ health goals, let’s meet and talk. Call Tara at 239.880.2562 or visit wellcomemd.com/naplesflorida for more information. See ad on page 13 >

n January 11, 2022, Forbes magazine gained a great deal of attention when they released an article entitled, “Study Finds Cannabis Compounds Prevent Infection by Covid-19 Virus.”

While this is exciting to hear, some of the details within the article require some clarification.

ESSENTIAL Naples

s a physician for the past 10 years, Dr. Melissa MacVenn has treated patients with complex medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Board-certified in family medicine, Dr. MacVenn can assist with all your acute care needs and has the time and tools to help you be proactive about your health. WellcomeMD is now open to new members in Naples.

WellcomeMD is a concierge primary care practice focused on patient wellness. We like to call our model “Concierge 2.0,” as in the next generation in concierge medicine. We offer same-day or nextday appointments, 90-minute annual physical exams, comprehensive appointments, and full access—you have your doctor’s cell phone and email for emergencies.

WellcomeMD raises healthcare to the next level, performing extensive bloodwork and genetic testing to assess potential health problems that can be prevented before the condition causes illness. That advanced lab testing allows us to treat the “whole patient,” measuring often-overlooked factors including enteric health, physical activity, hormonal balance, nutrition, sleep, and stress levels.

Membership is restricted, so we can offer each member far more access to a doctor who knows them well. Restricted membership also allows Dr. MacVenn the time to work new research and healthy lifestyle changes into conversations with members. Our patients have 24-hour, 365-day access to their physician. And if the need arises, Dr. MacVenn has access to both Naples Community Hospital and Physicians Regional Healthcare Systems to communicate directly with attending physicians to provide medical records, oversee care, and advocate for her patients in the event of hospitalizations.

Consider the savings in avoiding a preventable disease and the value of early detection of serious health problems when you evaluate membership medicine. Whether you’re dealing with a chronic issue or simply want to learn how to avoid problems in the future, ready access to a doctor who knows you well can be a rare bargain.

O

Health

A Brain-Based Approach to

ESSENTIAL Naples

Improving Balance

SPRING 2022

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By Ildi Varhelyi

H

ave you been feeling dizzy and unsteady?

Afraid of falling or have issues with vertigo?

When we don’t feel safe walking, going up and down stairs, or moving around in general, our world becomes very small very quickly. Our daily activities turn into impossible chores. Our social

life may suffer because we have to give up activities—golf, tennis, pickleball, and so on—that we enjoy with our friends. We will withdraw, become isolated, and depression may set in. To live a full and healthy life, we need to have a properly functioning sense of balance.

Balance Is Our Most Essential Life-Sustaining Sense

Measuring balance by how long we can stay on one leg is misleading. Sure, it’s important to be able to stand on one leg while donning a pair of socks or slacks. However, even if you can stand on

1. Stand on one leg and take note of how well you do. Then put your foot down and find the four corners of your feet: a. under the big toe mound b. under the pinky toe mound c. under the inner heel d. under the outer heel Press all four corners down into the ground for about five seconds while “suctioning” the middle arch of the foot away from the floor. Retest your balance on the same leg.

If you do this drill well, your balance will improve immediately. For greatest success and improvement, this exercise must be performed several times a day.

2. Stand on one leg and take note of how well you do. Then put your foot down and press your tongue against the roof of your mouth. While holding your tongue against the roof of your mouth, try to stand on the same leg as you did earlier. Notice how much steadier you are.

Positioning the tongue has a profound effect on midline stability and on the core muscles.

For improved balance, practice keeping your tongue connected to the roof of your mouth.

Remember, balance is a skill. Train it and improve it to help ensure you don’t lose it. •

—Ildi Varhelyi

Ildi has recently moved to Naples from Boston, bringing 20 years of experience helping people with a variety of health issues. She specializes in injury rehabilitation and injury prevention, chronic pain management, movement therapy, and fitness and wellness coaching. She employs a brain-based approach that brings faster, more effective, and longer-lasting results than many traditional approaches. She has successfully helped people with balance and dizziness issues, postural problems, chronic neck and back pain, and recurring injuries—including her own: she fully rehabilitated herself from an incident that left her with a broken neck. For more info visit her website: https:// neurocentrichealth.boston or call 617.678.0724 to book a consultation in person (Naples) or via Zoom (anywhere). For a full balance assessment and a personalized exercise program, email ildikovarhelyi@me.com. See ad on page 5 >

9 SPRING 2022

Static vs. Dynamic Balance

Tips to Improve Your Balance

“True safety and freedom of movement is only achieved by having the ability to catch ourselves when we lose equilibrium while in motion.”

ESSENTIAL Naples

A profound aspect of our well-being—our physical, mental, and emotional health—is based on having a well-functioning equilibrium, a finetuned sense of balance. Our balance system gives us our sense of orientation in space, so it needs to work efficiently in order to help us stay upright against gravity, constantly controlling our body in motion to prevent us from falling. We also need to have the ability to catch ourselves when we lose equilibrium. To manage this complex task, three systems must work efficiently on their own and also in sync with each other: the eyes—our visual system; our inner ears—our vestibular system; and our proprioception—the body’s “positioning” system. We also need good connection between the bottom of our feet and the ground.

To get a better understanding of how our eyes and balance are connected, try this (but be safe!): Stand on one leg with your eyes open. Now try to stand on one leg, this time with your eyes closed.

How did you do? The same is true of the connection between our inner ears and our balance. Now try this (but again, be safe!): Stand on one leg with your eyes open. Then try standing on one leg with your eyes open and plug your ears. What happened this time?

If these tasks were difficult or even impossible, it is time to “upgrade” your balance system. Did you know that without a properly functioning balance system, we would not be able to keep our eyes on a moving target, object, or person. In addition, not having the ability to keep our eyes on a target while we are in motion can lead to easily losing balance and falling. A well-functioning balance system is crucial not only when playing sports but also for walking around safely in our fast and ever-changing environment. The good news is that we can reset and fine tune these systems by training them just like we train our muscles, our heart, and our lungs.

one leg for minutes, that static balance does not “convert” to dynamic balance. Having great static balance might even give us a false sense of safety.

True safety and freedom of movement is only achieved by having the ability to catch ourselves when we lose equilibrium while in motion. Life requires excellent dynamic balancing abilities to prevent falling. Moving different body parts smoothly, efficiently, and under voluntary control requires good visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive abilities. These systems live in and are controlled by the brain, so training the brain is a must for better balance and fall prevention.

As complex as all this may sound, do not get discouraged. There are many exercises you can all start implementing daily and get a jump start to regaining any lost sense of balance. Here are two little-known tips to help make your balance better—keep an open mind and give them a try.

Purpose

5 Tips

for

ESSENTIAL Naples

Eating with Intention

By Chef Lisa Brown

SPRING 2022

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“Conscious eating is a big step toward conscious living.”

—Natasha Nuit Pantovic

M

indfulness, simply put, is a state of becoming fully aware of what is happening in the current moment, without judgment. Food is an essential part of life and is responsible for fueling our bodies from the inside out, so being mindful about our food choices is especially important.

Preparing and sharing a meal with loved ones can be an intimate experience that allows for great conversation, deeper connection, and more joy.

As a personal chef, coach, and yoga teacher, I work hands-on with clients daily to help them make dietary and lifestyle changes that ultimately lead to greater levels of health, happiness, and harmony. I incorporate mindfulness into my life and my sessions with other people in a multitude of ways, including when I prepare meals or teach a class. How we eat is just as important as what we eat—slowing things down and eating mindfully with intention allows us to get the most out of each meal and will extend into other areas of our life as well. Below are five tips on how to eat with intention.

1

Show gratitude: Before taking a bite off your plate, express gratitude for the meal in front of you and bless the food you are about to eat. Close your eyes and, out loud or to yourself, thank the earth and those involved in the harvesting, preparation, and creation of the ingredients on your plate. Take a moment to acknowledge all the hard work and labor that went into the creation of the food you are about to consume. The simple act of expressing gratitude for the food on our plate can help us cultivate more gratitude in other areas of our life as well.

2

Eat slowly with intention: Let eating become a ritual that is both nourishing and enjoyable. Before even picking up your fork, set an intention that the meal you are about to consume will nourish your body to the fullest. Take the food in with all your senses, noticing any colors, textures, smells, or visceral sensations. Slow the process of eating by chewing for longer periods of time—try to chew 30 times per bite. In addition to promoting better digestion, slowing your eating will enable you to cultivate greater awareness around determining when you are almost full and satiated, so overeating does not occur. Take a deep breath and find a pause before picking up your fork and between bites. Place your fork down on the table while you breathe deeply into your belly, taking a moment to reflect on how you are feeling. Stay present and enjoy each bite.

3

Eat sitting down and without distractions: Although we live busy and at times stressful lives, it is an important practice to eat your meals in a quiet place, free of distractions. Dedicate a specific amount of time to eating and try not to multitask. Shut off your phone, TV, or any other electronics and set up your environment so that you can eat in peace, sitting down with a clear mind. This will allow you the awareness to fully focus on what and how you are eating.

4 5

After we pinpoint YOUR specific problem, we use the RX2600 Therapeutic ROBOT to administer gentle pressure in intervals to a specific area of a muscle. Taking tension off and restoring balance, greatly increasing mobility and relieving pain.

Precision Robotics Muscular Therapy is changing the game with a new standard of innovation.

“This therapy was life changing for me! I could barely walk, was in constant pain and scheduled for hip surgery. I canceled the surgery after just 3 visits and have been playing golf and tennis pain-free ever since.”

-Julie P., Michigan

734-308-7105 • precisionroboticstherapy@gmail.com

Take Your Recovery To The Next Level Schedule an appointment today! (734) 308-7105

< PAGE 44 “Find Your Flexibility Again Robotic Muscular < PAGE XXwith “Article Name”

BY DRTherapy” BY THERESA EDMUNDS

11 SPRING 2022

Stop eating before you are full: As kids, many of us were taught to finish every ounce of food on our plate, even if we are full. To avoid overeating, stop eating when you are about 80% full, even if that means food is still left on your plate. Then wait at least 20 minutes to see if you are still hungry.

Following these tips toward eating with intention will improve your overall health—mental, emotional, and physical—and give you a greater appreciation for the things that fuel our lives.

Develop the habit of mindful eating and watch many areas of your life change for the better! •

Tired of Pain?

Lisa Brown, founder of Free Flowing Health, is a whole-foods, plant-based chef, certified Institute for Integrative Nutrition health coach, and yoga teacher servicing the SWFL area. In addition to having acquired a culinary education at the Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC, Lisa received her certifications to teach yoga from the Kripalu Center for Health & Yoga in Massachusetts and Kundalini Yoga East in NYC. She holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology from John Jay College. After overcoming many adversities on her own personal journey of self-discovery and transformation, Lisa’s quest for knowledge, passion for healthy living, and deep desire to be of service to others became insatiable.

Today, Lisa combines her work as a chef, coach, and educator to help people around the world achieve greater levels of health, happiness, and harmony.

See ad on page 43 >

ESSENTIAL Naples

Choose a smaller plate: Contrary to popular belief, in this modern world, bigger isn’t always better. With bigger plates and greater portion sizes, there is a natural tendency for many people to unconsciously overeat.

Choosing a smaller plate will help with portion control and help prevent overeating.

Meet Your New Therapeutic ROBOT

< PAGE 40 “How Staying Healthy Starts wtih Mindset” BY CHRIS EDWARDS, B.S., CFT, SFN, SSN

Health

Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep ESSENTIAL Naples

Three Mental States That Have a Major Impact on Our Bodies

By Stacy Bull

SPRING 2022

12

“Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life; however, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive, and persistent worry, resulting in damaging symptoms.”

—Stacy Bull

C

annabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis, both hemp and marijuana. A safe, non-addictive substance, CBD is one of more than a hundred phytocannabinoids, which are unique to cannabis and have significant therapeutic attributes. Another important and widely studied phytocannabinoid is tetrhydrocannainol (THC), the compound that causes the high that marijuana is famous for. Unlike THC, CBD does not make a person feel intoxicated. That is because CBD and THC act in different ways on different receptors in the brain and body, and CBD can actually reduce or suppress the psychoactive effects of THC, depending on how much of each compound is consumed. This matters because now more than ever, many people are seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals with harsh side effects, and extensive scientific research is being done to highlight CBD’s potential to provide relief for chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation, depression, and other conditions.

endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a crucial role in regulating physiological processes that affect our everyday life, our mood, our energy level, how we experience pain, stress, hunger, and more. What happens if the endocannabinoid system doesn’t function properly? One word comes to mind: disease.

In the past three years of selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products, I have had more people inquire about the need for better sleep and managing stress. As we know, high stress and anxiety can result in increased blood pressure, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, feelings of depression, and lack of sleep. Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life; however, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive, and persistent worry, resulting in damaging symptoms. In addition, having an anxiety disorder does more than make you worry, it can also lead to or worsen other mental and physical conditions such as trouble sleeping (insomnia), digestive problems, heart disease, and headaches.

Both CBD and THC interact with our bodies by binding with receptors that are part of the

CBD and THC have always been considered the two major cannabinoids found in cannabis. They

Reduce Stress and Anxiety Naturally

Fall Asleep Faster and Sleep Better

Integrative Functional Nutrition Specialist

Anti-Inflammatory Living Diabetes Management Corporate Nutrition Detox/Cleansing Gut Health Nutrigenomics Immune Building Weight Management Personalized Nutrition Allergies

239-297-8844 healthyconceptsconsulting.com PAGE “Did You KnowYour You Diet Haveand Two Brains?” < <Page 2014 “Stop Shaming Have Fun!” BY BYBETSY BETSYOPYT, OPYT,RD, RD,LD/N, LD/N,CDE, CDE,RYT RYT

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Stacy Bull has been the General Manager for Your CBD Store Naples and Marco Island locations for the past two years. She has her bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration from UW–Milwaukee. She has worked in various healthcare departments including ophthalmology, oncology, and cardiology before getting involved in cannabinoid therapy. She can be reached at 239.259.8654 or by email at naplesfl@cbdrx4u.com.

See ad on page 21 >

ESSENTIAL Naples

are the two most widely researched and two most popular cannabinoids discussed among consumers. However, cannabis, both hemp and marijuana, are rich in additional compounds as well as other phytocannabinoids. One important but less discussed cannabinoid you should be on the lookout for is cannabinol (CBN)—a mildly psychoactive component found in cannabis and derived from tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). We know sleep is an essential function that allows our mind and body to recharge; without enough sleep, the brain cannot function properly.

Although CBN is considered a minor cannabinoid, it can have a major impact on sleep and can be used effectively as a sleep aid or sedative. It is currently more commonly being found in higher concentrations in both hemp and marijuana products specifically for nighttime use.

Another mildly psychoactive cannabinoid popping up everywhere from gas stations to grocery stores is delta 8 THC. About 50% less intoxicating than delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), experiences with hemp-derived delta 8 are characterized by relaxation, pain relief, and euphoria. Consumers are stating delta 8 is delta 9’s “nicer, younger sibling”—meaning consumers are able to perform their normal daily activities without experiencing the adverse side effects associated with cannabis use. Because of the extremely relaxing and calming effects of delta 8, many consumers are using it solely in the evening, resulting in a better night’s sleep. And because of the effects both THC and CBD have on our mood, consuming a daily supplement can be beneficial to overall health and wellness.

Whether you’re suffering from lack of sleep (insomnia) or occasional stress, CBD products are worth giving a try.

Remember, though, that hemp-derived cannabinoid or CBD products are unregulated and therefore can be found anywhere. It is important to look for QR codes on every label, review the independent third-party lab report, and know where the product is being manufactured. Do your research about the brand and read consumer reviews and testimonials before purchasing. •

< PAGE 30 “The Link between Gut Health and Depression” BY DR. MELISSA MACVENN, MD

ESSENTIAL Naples

Health

You Have Two Brains?

By Betsy Opyt, RD, LD/N, CDE, RYT

SPRING 2022

14

Did You Know

“One of the most fascinating areas of the medical world is the discovery of how our gut is as intelligent as our brain, and the gut and brain each has an ecosystem of their own.”

—Betsy Opyt, RD, LD/N, CDE, RYT

W

hat is your gut telling you? Those knots in your stomach, that queasy feeling, and those butterflies are signals to your brain that an emotion, hormone, or other signal needs to be released. The main driver of this signal is not your brain, but your gut microbiome! Yes—your internal ecosystem of bacteria does communicate, talking to your brain and the rest of the microbes in your body. In fact, it even communicates with the food you eat and the environment around you! In total, there are over 1.5 million bacteria species that have been identified, with about one trillion as yet undiscovered. So if you want to blame your body for your sugar cravings, it may actually be your gut you have to thank.

One of the most fascinating areas of the medical world is the discovery of how our gut is as intelligent as our brain, and the gut and brain each has an ecosystem of their own. We should understand the importance of maintaining a healthy gut flora, what can harm that balance, and what can help it flourish. If you optimize your diet to feed your bacteria, you will see and feel a huge improvement in your mood, energy, digestion, overall health, and of course, your immunity.

10 Fast Facts

1. The gut is the only organ that can survive without the brain.

2. Up to 95% of serotonin levels are found in our bowels.

3. The gut contains 100 million neurons, more than the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system.

4. Your mental illness is more likely your gut illness—two million people suffer from IBS, a condition of too much serotonin in the gut.

5. Since the two brains talk to each other, therapies on one will help the other.

6. It is our gut that senses our feelings and tells our brains. That is why you get butterflies in the stomach and not in the brain.

7. Most of the communication fibers travel from the gut to the brain, not the other way around.

8. Our gut contains trillions of microorganisms.

In fact, there are more bacteria in our bodies (up to 90%) than human cells (only 10%).

9. Eating a healthy diet can lead to a healthy mind. Feeding the bacteria a diet that makes them thrive can elevate mood, decrease diseases, and strengthen the

immune system, since 80% of the immune system is housed in the gut.

10. The bacteria have their own source of signals that communicate with your body and brain, so without this ecosystem in our bodies, we may not function as efficiently.

It’s Time to Flip the Script

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Betsy is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian as well as a Certified Diabetes Educator, Integrative and Functional Medicine Nutrition Therapist, and RYT200 yoga teacher.

She specializes in nutrigenomics, gut health, food sensitivities, detoxing, inflammatory diseases, and longevity living. She also understands the importance of living a mindful life and incorporates her background of mindfulness and yoga teaching to her practice. Betsy is a professional speaker and advocate for healthy living and is available for individual consultations, group programs, and speaking engagements. To learn more, visit www.healthyconceptsconsulting.com, email betsy@healthyconceptsconsulting.com, or call 239.297.8844. See ad on page 13 >

Welcome to

ESSENTIAL Naples

Our gut bacteria are responsible for a number of functions, from influencing your metabolism, producing enzymes for digestion, absorption of nutrients, breaking down fibers, and creating vitamins to impacting your blood sugars and cholesterol, influencing your mood and emotions, and communicating to cells to send signals to the brain.

The bacteria also produce B vitamins and in fact, the gut microbes produce over half of your vitamin K. Really, what would we do without those little bugs?

We certainly thrive because of our gut bacteria and they are involved in every process in our body, so why do we take antibiotics to get rid of them?

This is why the medical world has flipped upside down—now that we are learning more about the gut and its connection to our overall health, it will forever change our approach on healing our body through our gut, increasing our resilience, preventing disease, and improving everything from our moods to our attitudes.

While all of this information may come as a fascinating surprise, it is truly the future of medicine. I am driven to learning more and have been digging voraciously into this research. We all need to learn more about this science, because the focus on gut integrity is what is going to protect you, heal you, and make you resilient!

The next bite of food you take, think about how it is feeding or harming your ecosystem from within.

Your diet certainly does more than fuel your body, but it is balancing your inner terrain that is either making you healthy or making you sick. •

Health

Sugar, Fat, and

Type 2 Diabetes

ESSENTIAL Naples

What Should You Believe?

SPRING 2022

16

By Denise A. Pancyrz

“Don’t set the unrealistic goal that you need to reverse your diabetes in 30 days—although you may see great results in the short term, those results likely will not last. Your goal should be longterm results.”

—Denise A. Pancyrz

T

ype 2 diabetes can be a confusing disease in terms of causes and treatments. For example, patients may be told sugar has caused diabetes and therefore, avoiding sugar is the fix for their diabetes. Additionally, there has been much talk about obesity putting people on a direct path to diabetes. Decades of consuming processed food, fast food, and sugary beverages have contributed to the obesity epidemic. Within the last five decades, obesity rates have more than doubled: in 1970, the obesity rate of adults in the U.S was 15%. Currently, 42.4% of adults are obese.

turned into fat and ends up in organs not designed for fat storage, such as the liver and pancreas.

Low-glycemic diets have touted reversing diabetes as well. Followers of low-glycemic diets ditched the carbs, assuming all other food items were healthy to consume, which resulted in many of those “dieters” turning to unhealthy fats to fill the gap of missing carbohydrates. Furthermore, years of yo-yo dieting can increase your body fat percentage, causing fatty liver, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. And when you tire of “starving” yourself you may return to those unhealthy lifestyle habits, making matters worse.

Eating unhealthy foods and following fad diets very often results in inflammation, which What Is Really Causing causes insulin resistance—the precursor to type Type 2 Diabetes?

2 diabetes. Chronic inflammation also increases Sugar is indirectly involved in the lead up to type your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease 2 diabetes. The ingredients in processed food contain unhealthy fats and are laden with sugar or and results in damage to healthy cells, and also refined carbohydrates, which quickly break down interferes with the metabolic functions of fat into sugar once they are in your system. When the tissue—you may have trouble converting carbohydrates into energy and your fat and muscle cells body has more food than it needs, the excess is

become desensitized to insulin, generally resulting in abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Weight loss also becomes difficult, making you feel like a mouse in a wheel—the cycle never ends!

It’s Time for Consistent Lifestyle Changes

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Denise A. Pancyrz is a Diabetes Reversal and Holistic Lifestyle Coach, speaker, and best-selling author of The Virgin Diabetic, Reverse the Effects of Type 2 Diabetes, Reduce Medication, and Improve Your Glucose Levels, available on Amazon. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Denise was prescribed four daily insulin shots along with oral medication for diabetes and heart disease. This protocol helped to bring her glucose levels down; however, she did not feel as healthy and vibrant as expected. After changing her protocol by learning to rest and preserve her pancreas, she was able to eliminate all medication and insulin, regaining her energy. Visit www.

ReverseMyDiabetes.net to book a free consultation.

Contact Denise by calling 888.848.1763 or email her at Denise@ReverseMyDiabetes.net.

for a Better Future!

ESSENTIAL Naples

With reasonable goals and consistency, you can begin to reverse the process that brought you to where you are today. Don’t set the unrealistic goal that you need to reverse your diabetes in 30 days—although you may see great results in the short term, those results likely will not last. Your goal should be long-term results.

• Think about reversing diabetes from the inside out and the outside in.

• Make healthy food choices with whole, fresh options.

• Limit carbohydrates, including fruit, and make sure you consume complex carbs, not refined carbs.

• Eat until you are 80% full.

• Flush your system and those unhealthy fat cells by drinking plenty of water. A good rule of thumb is to divide your weight in half, then drink that number of ounces of water each day. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, you will drink 60 ounces of water daily.

• Exercise. Activate your muscles and burn some calories.

• Reduce stress—try meditation 15 minutes each day.

Finally, it is important not to put off seeking out assistance in creating healthy habits for long-term success. We all need guidance, encouragement, accountability, and tools for success when making major lifestyle changes. Reaching out to a holistic health/life coach is an excellent place to start. •

There IS Hope

• Clear energy blockages to revitalize the body • Blocks pain signals to the brain and releases endorphins

“With just one treatment the pain in the back of my knee was eliminated within 24 hours! I was blown away by the results.”

-Dr. Diane Hayden

Mindy DiPietro NES Practitioner

< PAGE 18 “A New Way to Eliminate Pain and Balance the Body” BY DR. DIANE HAYDEN, PhD

Health

A Revolutionary New Way to

Eliminate Pain and Balance the Body

I

had the pleasure of sitting down with Mindy DiPietro, owner of Aesthetic Treatment Center, to discuss the fascinating field of bioenergetics and the extraordinary new technology called the NES Bioenergetic System. She is the first practitioner to bring this technology to Naples, and I was excited to be one of her first clients to have an assessment and experience a treatment in her center. For months, I’d been having some moderate knee pain after walking or sitting for long periods that I had assumed was due to tight hamstrings and lack of stretching. With just one treatment, the pain in the back of my knee was eliminated within 24 hours! I was blown away by the results and excited to learn more about this ancient but truly revolutionary technology.

We Are All Made of Energy

ESSENTIAL Naples

Acupuncture, massage, and homeopathy practitioners recognize and operate on the basis of an energy system and the way energy and fields flow through your body. This is not a new science—Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) labeled twelve energy pathways, called meridians, within our bodies.

If you look at both your body and the cells contained therein, you’ll see that your cells are constantly exchanging energy with all of the other tissues and systems in the body. Your body is exchanging energy internally as well as with your external environment. The food you eat is a source of energy. When you walk around and move, that is an exchange of energy. You go outside and absorb energy from the sun and nature. You might take your shoes off and walk on the ground and receive energy from the earth. Even though it can’t be seen, this constant exchange of energy both within your body and through external sources is happening every second of every day.

SPRING 2022

18

What Is Bioenergetics?

By Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

Bioenergetics examines the dynamics of energy exchange within living systems. It is the study of this energy system and how it can affect your biology. For too long, there’s been a disconnect between the worlds of physics and biology. This is because of a strong focus on biochemistry, or the chemical processes of the body.

Nutrition, for instance, generally focuses on how nutrients operate in the body at a molecular level.

A nutritionist will determine how much vitamin C or magnesium you need and will tell you that an imbalance in your body’s chemicals or enzymes are responsible for changes within the body. Rarely do we consider nutrition from the standpoint of the energy makeup of each nutrient and the fields

The Discovery of Bioenergetics

How Does the NES Bioenergetic System Work?

In a way, the bioenergetic system mimics nature.

It is not prioritizing areas that need fixing so much as looking at the best way to support the body as a whole. In this way, we are digging down to the root cause of pain, illness, or any dysfunction in the body.

The system involves a three-pronged approach: a bioenergetic scan for wellness assessments, a handheld bioelectric technology, and liquid remedies for supporting a rapid return to better health.

“Bioenergetics is the natural meeting point of the past and the future, leading the way in our thinking about medicine and health. So long as energy is flowing freely through your organs and systems, you remain healthy.”

—Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

Mindy DiPietro has been CEO at Aesthetic Treatment Centers, where she led the development and execution of the spa’s business strategy and ever-growing vision. She is now the first practitioner to bring the NES Health System to Naples. She utilizes this innovative technology and nutritional support to naturally increase your quality of life. Mindy guides you to reestablish trust in your body and helps you to unlock your body’s natural healing abilities. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Mindy DiPietro began her career as a speech and language pathologist in the Collier County public school system, where she worked closely with her patients to analyze, identify, treat and help prevent communication disorders. See ad on page 17 >

19 SPRING 2022

One of the founders of bioenergetics, Peter Fraser, began investigating the human body and reached a similar conclusion to that of TCM. He then took what the ancients knew and combined it with physics, taking bioenergetics to the absolute edge of science.

Peter Fraser made two very important discoveries: 1. There are small levels of electromagnetic fields throughout the body.

2. Information can be instantaneously passed through your body for cross-communication.

When you have an energy field, you can both detect it and correct it. By looking at the body through this lens of energy instead of biochemistry, it allows a much broader viewpoint and aspect of how we can support health.

First, the client takes a bioenergetic scan that measures hundreds of wellness points in just seconds with remarkable accuracy and instantly identifies where the body needs support. The scan analyzes how well energy is being driven through the major organ and system networks in your body. All the activity in the body, such as all its chemical reactions, nerve impulses, the generation of heat or of sound, and the physical movement and flow in the tissues also generates energy. The scan evaluates how well organs and systems are functioning in relation to energy.

I was astounded to see that my scan showed a blockage or sluggishness of energy around my liver. In fact, about 20 years ago, I had unusually high liver enzymes. It was determined after many tests that a type of birth control I’d been using was causing it. The scan also showed that my polarity field was disrupted. Frequent travel can knock polarity off kilter—especially flying, where our exposure to radiation and electromagnetic fields soars, not just on the plane but also within the airport. In fact, I had just flown four times over the two weeks prior to taking the scan!

Second, the practitioner may use the NES miHealth, which combines SCENAR (with biofeedback), PEMF, and global scaling with proprietary biosignals to support the body’s energy flow. This is the device Mindy used on my knee.

With a conventional approach, a doctor might look at drugs or supplements that directly support the joints. But with bioenergetic software, you may find an issue related to what we call the “vertical axis,” a field generated by the Earth’s gravity that can affect the bones, joints, and muscles. This is to consider the various ways things interconnect in the body and its environment.

Third, the practitioner can recommend proprietary liquid remedies, called NES Infoceuticals, which correct information in the body’s control system to support its self-restoring abilities.

It was refreshing to me to see a technology that truly works with the body’s energy systems and observes energetic effects within the body. Life starts with information, which guides energy, which becomes organized matter. This technology, therapies, and philosophy take all of these into account, to measure and correct fields that drive physiology and encourage lifestyle choices that support good health. •

ESSENTIAL Naples

generated by that energy, although this is how bioenergetics would look at it.

Times are changing. We now have the technology to observe energetic effects within the body. We know more about the energetics of water and how it interacts with everything the body does and is. We understand more about how we capture light energy and how it both energizes and informs life. We already use the principles of physics with much of our medical equipment—for example, the electroencephalogram (EEG) detects electrical activity in the brain and the ECG that detects that of the heart.

What science is continually finding is what the ancients already knew. Bioenergetics is the natural meeting point of the past and the future, leading the way in our thinking about medicine and health. So long as energy is flowing freely through your organs and systems, you remain healthy. By tracking the flow of energy, it’s possible to find areas of the body that can use some support via acupuncture, herbs, teas, or other interventions.

Health

Is Mouth Breathing ESSENTIAL Naples

Harmful to Your Health?

By Dr. Josephine Perez, DMD

SPRING 2022

20 “There are several reasons mouth breathing is bad for us—most importantly, it is a symptom of lack of oxygen, also known as airway issues.

It is a major sign the body is not getting enough oxygen.”

—Dr. Josephine Perez, DMD

A

funny thing happened the other day—my husband and I attended a band and orchestra performance at our teenager’s high school, and as I watched these beautiful teenagers march into formations as they played their instruments to inspiring music, I was so proud and these kids were clearly having fun. But one thing kept distracting me. Originally trained as a ballet dancer, I had learned long ago that posture is everything!

As I panned out to the entire group, I noticed that “forward head” position everywhere I looked.

As each section took their breather, I noticed the long faces and open mouths. Those kids were mouth breathers!

What’s so wrong with mouth breathing, though?

A small amount of mouth breathing is normal if you have a cold or during strenuous exercise. But when we are at rest, there are several reasons mouth breathing is bad for us—most importantly, it is a symptom of lack of oxygen, also known as airway issues. It is a major sign the body is not getting enough oxygen.

Every Breath You Take

Anthropologists are telling us that the human skull is getting smaller and narrower, teeth are coming in more crooked than 30–40 years ago, asthma and allergies are at an all-time high, and teeth grinding is rampant—not to mention the high blood pressure, autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, concentration issues, and overall school performance issues that are related to our shrinking skulls and elongated faces causing airway issues and ultimately affecting our nutrition.

You see, mouth breathing starves the brain and the heart. Breathing through your nose floods the lungs with precious nitric oxide, which among other things, relaxes your blood vessels. We are losing our ability to breathe properly and most people don’t even notice it. Honestly, most people don’t even think about it.

Studies show that 90% of the population has an inadequate airway. Why? Because the jaws are not growing adequately. Our faces are growing longer, our teeth and tongues don’t fit properly in our mouths, tonsils are huge, ear infections are on the rise, and so on. It’s a hard conversation to have when I see kids with underdeveloped jaws swallowing incorrectly and chewing incorrectly—all essentially because we are breathing incorrectly.

Time for a Rebuild

In the forward head posture, the jaws are not growing anteriorly and horizontally and the tongue is pushed backward. Oxygen therefore has a limited and constricted space to go thru on its way to the lungs; ergo, the head tips forward to bring the tongue forward so we can breathe. This also happens when the palates are vaulted and take up the space that was intended for the sinuses. Meanwhile, when the oxygen drops our brains shift into survival mode (sympathetic gear) and order our bodies to work hard at getting precious oxygen in. No wonder kids are exhausted today—sleep is meant to reboot and refresh everything but instead, their bodies are working overtime just to get the air they need.

The good news is we do have the genes to correct this, they just haven’t been expressed—or have been turned off, so to speak. Every cell in our bodies is in constant communication with the rest of the body, so just one small change in nutrition or mechanics can flip a switch in our DNA. We now know that it takes four generations to have a change in our DNA, and currently (and perhaps alarmingly) most of of us are on the third generation. Since the early 2000s, technology has helped us understand genes and DNA further so for most of us, through early interventions, small changes in nutrition, and learning to breathe through the nose—along with myofunctional exercises and maybe certain appliances—we can flip our good genes back on.

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< PAGE 12 “Three Mental States That Have a Major Impact on Our Bodies” BY STACY BULL

SPRING 2022

Dr. Josephine Perez, DMD, has been practicing dentistry for 29 years. She is a graduate of Tufts University School of Dentistry in Boston and interned at New Orleans Coast Guard/ Navy Base. Her holistic approach to dentistry encompasses each person’s unique and entire (or whole—holistic) state of physical and emotional well-being. The ability to maintain health through preventive measures and treatments of oral disease is her priority. Dr. Perez focuses on the underlying condition, rather than only treating the symptoms. She tests for biocompatibility to find pathways to reduce inflammation and apply biocompatible and biomimetic materials, supplements, essential oils to restore and strengthen the oral cavity and ultimately, the whole body. After decades of restoring and transforming smiles, Dr. Perez has integrated total wellness into her oral health enhancement practice—a revolutionary style of dentistry. Visit Pure Dental in Naples at 4444 Tamiami Trail N, Ste. 6–7, call 239.692.9623 or go to www.puredentalnaples.com. See ad on page 15 >

THE SHOPPES AT VANDERBILT • NAPLES

ESSENTIAL Naples

Biological dentists are trained to see these symptoms and possibly help and/or guide with early intervention. Here’s the thing: once I see it, I cannot unsee it. The earlier you start, the better the outcome. We can prevent a number of adult malaises, including hypertension, sleep apneas, and autoimmune disorders that some physicians will just dismiss as the “you-are-getting-older” rule. The literature teaches us that there’s even a connection between snoring/mouth breathing and serious diseases such as heart disease, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. I simply will not dismiss these symptoms because we can correct mouth breathing habits today. For now, I will close my eyes and open my ears to Brahms, Sousa, Williams, and Stravinsky as these beautiful high schoolers transport me to my ballet days. •

Suzanne's new DEXA Scan shows 8.5% GAIN in bone density

ESSENTIAL Naples

Feature

SPRING 2022

22

Is a Plant-Based Diet the Future of Foods?

How to Decide What’s Right for You

By Chef David Robbins

Plant based, gf, whole superfoods, local, and oh so good! A variety of plant based creations from local start up, Future Foods Group, LLC

ESSENTIAL Naples

23 SPRING 2022

O

verwhelmed. This is how many of us can feel when it comes to making the “right” choices for the health of ourselves, loved ones, and family. We are inundated with information, products, marketing, fads, and health trends that seem to change and f lip-f lop every decade or so. As a father, husband, and entrepreneur, I often find myself in a dilemma that many of us are faced with—choosing between health, taste, time, and convenience. This is not even to mention considering deeper questions, such as:

• Is the market I’m buying my food from a local business?

• What is the company’s carbon footprint?

• Are the ingredients clean/sustainable?

• Is it ethically produced? and many more questions like these.

Documentaries, social media influencers, and the multi-billion-dollar mega-global industry that is our modern food system are going all out with agendas as well. What are we to do?

While this truly is a complex topic that we could deep dive into a multi-volume compendium over,

Feature instead we will focus on answering some basic questions, such as: • What is plant-based? Is it different than veganism? Can animal-based foods be healthy?

• What are whole foods, superfoods, and regenerative food systems?

• How can I decide what type of foods are right for me?

• What local resources are at my disposal?

ESSENTIAL Naples

Plant-Based Diet vs. Veganism

SPRING 2022

24 1

A form of eating that focuses primarily on obtaining all your nutrients through fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and other plant materials, a plant-based diet is different from veganism due to the ethical component of veganism. Plant-based diets may sometime allow for foods sourced from animals and is more about clean nutrition and ecologically sustainable food practices. Some pitfalls of the modern plant-based food industry are occasionally referred to as greenwashing, in which companies take advantage of the general idea that if a food is plant based it’s automatically healthier for you and the planet. This blanket statement is just not true, particularly in the many occasions where plant-based foods are made with industrially grown, highly processed, and artificial ingredients.

A philosophy stemming from ethical beliefs in the equal value of all life, veganism involves practitioners refrain from eating (and in many cases, also wearing or handling) any product that came from an animal. This includes seafood, milk, cheese, honey, leather, and more. A vegan philosophy boycotts the exploitation of animals in any format— food, entertainment, fashion, and so on. Those who follow a vegan diet suffer the same pitfalls as those following plant-based diets, in that just because the food you are eating isn’t made using animals, this doesn’t mean that it is inherently any healthier than its conventional counterpart—or even that it is healthy at all (Oreo cookies, fast-food French fries, and heavily processed and artificial “impossible” meat substitutes are also vegan).

1 Chef David Robbins, always on the hunt for what’s fresh + local; inspecting hydroponically grown lettuces from Colusa Farms, Naples, FL.

2 Nasturtiums, mizuna, speckled leaf lettuce, and heirloom tomatoes; fresh + local + organic + regeneratively grown produce.

2

Can a Plant-Based or Vegan Diet Be Healthy and Satisfying?

How Can I Decide What Type of Foods Are Right for Me?

“With the proper ingredients and knowledge, both plant-based and vegan diets can be incredibly versatile, creative, healthy, and satisfying.

However, it is a personal choice that, like anything else you want to be successful at, also involves putting in effort.”

—Chef David Robbins

25 SPRING 2022

Critical thinking. Like so much in life, thinking critically helps you educate yourself about a topic and view it from more than one perspective before making a choice. Remember to: • ask questions and don’t always take things at face value • do research and make educated choices Whole Foods, Superfoods, and • remember that almost every documentary, Regenerative Food Systems article, food manufacturer, and influencer Whole foods are those foods that, when eaten, are may have some sort of agenda—be aware and closest in essence to their natural form, in which make your own choices physical changes (e.g., chopping, roasting, baking, • seek out local small businesses/farms/food etc.) are acceptable and do not change the inherproducers/health practitioners ent properties of the food. Conversely, chemical • build relationships with farmers and other changes in which the ingredients are modified people in the space of healthy living on a molecular level (e.g., hydrogenated canola It may be cliché, but the adage “you are what oil or ingredients infused with laboratory-made chemical preservatives/dyes) are not acceptable. you eat” carries a great deal of truth. I believe the future of food is found somewhere in the balance In other words, the term “whole foods” simply of what is healthy and sustainable both biologically refers to the opposite of what food evolved into over the last 50–70 years—industrially produced, for humans as well as what is healthy and sustainable for our planet’s ecosystem. Whether you processed, GMO foods. follow a meat-based or plant-based diet, whether Superfoods are defined by a ratio of nutritional you’re an omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, density to caloric intake. For example, a bottle of or something else…make your own informed decicola soda has a high number of calories but nearly sions. Instead of choosing “trendy” diets or fads, zero nutritive value, whereas a bottle of beet and when choosing the words that describe your food carrot juice would have a high ratio of nutritive choices—quality, clean, whole, super, sustainable, value to calories. The natural world is loaded with regenerative, balanced—you can’t go wrong. superfoods, not limited only to exotic-sounding To help make all this overwhelming information ingredients such as acai, maqui berry, camu-camu, and so on, from far-off rainforests—an apple is also a little easier, the following is a list of resources local to the Naples area that will help you find considered a superfood! those whole foods, superfoods, and products from Modern science has discovered that essentially, regenerative foods systems and get those deepthe methods of growing foods and raising anidive questions answered. mals performed until around the turn of the 20th

ESSENTIAL Naples

With the proper ingredients and knowledge, both plant-based and vegan diets can be incredibly versatile, creative, healthy, and satisfying.

However, it is a personal choice that, like anything else you want to be successful at, also involves putting in effort. Research and consult with an expert about your personal nutritional/ health needs and make the effort to know your food sources and vendors and have a balance of amino acids, macronutrients, and micronutrients. And don’t forget—processed junk foods are processed junk foods, no matter whether they are made from animal products.

It is also important to note that animal-based foods can indeed be healthy, though again, an animal-based diet is a personal choice that takes effort to fulfill responsibly. Do the research, build the relationships, consult a dietician, and look for quality. If we source grass-fed, grass-finished animals that are regeneratively, ethically, and locally raised, there are studies that show the proteins, fats, enzymes, and minerals we receive from them can be particularly beneficial.

century are truly the best practices we know, and in fact, those methods allow us to help restore our planet to a healthy and sustainable ecosystem.

Through processes known as carbon sequestration and carbon draw-down, we have seen that farmers and ranchers who work in harmony with their local ecology—promoting native biodiversity; eliminating artificial and added fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides; rotating crops; allowing animals to live naturally outdoors and systematically rotating grazing pastures in a way that emulates natural migration systems; and creating healthy soil biomes— can actually reverse the effects of desertification, restore topsoil, and pull in atmospheric carbon to be stored safely in the soil, ultimately regenerating a healthy environment. These processes are known as regenerative food systems.

Feature

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Local Resources for Healthy Eating Veggies + Fruits + Micros + Shrooms + Plant Foods + More Future Foods | 100% All Natural, Whole Food, GF, Non-GMO, Organic Plant-Based + Sustainable Prepared Foods 239.247.2244 | @thenotaburger @futurefoodsgroup Saturdays: 3rd St. South Farmer’s Market | Made in Naples, FL E-Comm Store: www.futurefoodsmarket.co

Russell Holland | Care2Grow Gourmet + Medicinal Mushrooms 239.253.7076 | @caretwogrow Saturdays: 3rd St. South Farmer’s Market

ESSENTIAL Naples

Juicelation | Naples Based Fresh Pressed Juices + Smoothies + Bowls

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239.529.2290 | juicelation@gmail.com Saturdays: 3rd St. South Farmer’s Market In store: 4947 Tamiami Trail N, Ste 104, Naples, FL

Sherry Spargo | Chakra Organic Microgreens + Kombucha

412.480.8718 | @sherryjspargo @microgreenschakra Saturdays: Shoppes at Vanderbilt Farmer’s Market | Sundays: Pine Ridge Farmer’s Market

EFC—East Fork Creek/Earth Friendly Community Farm | All Natural Aquaponic Lettuces + Food Forest + Local Raw Honey 239.887.0116 | @eastforkcreek | info@eastforkcreek.com Saturdays: Produce Market at East Fork Creek Farms | South Ft. Myers

Nick and Natalie Batty | Inyoni Organic Farm | Certified Organic + Annual Veggies + Seasonal Tropical Fruits 239.980.3605 | @inyoniorganicfarm | www.inyoniorganicfarm.store Saturdays: 3rd St. South Farmer’s Market | Online Sales

Chris and Eva Worden PhD | Worden Farms | Certified Organic + Regenerative Produce 941.234.4843 | @wordenfarm | www.wordenfarm.com Saturdays: Sarasota Farmer’s Market |Sundays: Punta Gorda, Worden Farm Stand | CSA programs available

Johnathan and Isabel Way | Colusa Farms | Microgreens | Edible Flowers 239.300.8416 | @colusafarms | www.colusafarms.com Local Delivery Service

Danny | 12 Seasons Farm | All natural seasonal produce + food forest

230.229.3579 | @12seasonsfarm | 12SeasonsFarm@gmail.com | www.12seasonsfarm.com Saturdays: Bonita Springs Farmer’s Market | Farm Pick-Up + Delivery

Danielle Flood (PR Director) | ECHO Farms, non-profit research and educational center

239.560.0458 | @echofightshunger | www.echonet.org Saturdays: Limited on site farmer’s market | North Ft. Myers

Seafood + Meats + Breads + Beverages + More Circle C Farms | Regeneratively Ranched All Natural Raised in Collier Country | Beef, Poultry, Pork @circlecfarm | Farm Store available: 10441 Kentucky St., Bonita Springs, FL Collier County, FL | www.circlecefarmfl.com

Rosy Tomorrow Heritage Farm | Fresh Florida Raised Sustainable Salmon

@bluehousesalmon | www.bluehousesalmon.com | Miami, FL

Dilly’s Seafood | @dillys_fish_co | Fresh sustainable seafood from local waters 239.398.7731 | 2052 Danford St, Naples, FL Fridays fresh off the boat | Park next to @Mikesbaithouse (come early, bring cash)

Anna Erickson | Erickson and Jensen Seafood Fresh, sustainable seafood from local waters 239.463.4050 | 1100 Shrimp Boat Ln, Ft. Myers Beach, FL

Bluehouse Salmon | Fresh Florida Raised Sustainable Salmon @bluehousesalmon | www.bluehousesalmon.com | Miami, FL

Mote Marine Lab | Sustainable Siberian Sturgeon Caviar 941.388.4441 | @motemarinelab | www.mote.org | Sarasota, FL

Lake Meadow Naturals | Heritage Breed Poultry, Eggs, Beef, Pork | Regenerative | Free Range | All Natural | High Quality 321.206.6262 | www.lakemeadownaturals.com Ocoee, FL | Farm Pick-Up or Wholesale Distributions

Jurg and Leslie Landert | Landert European Breads + Pastries 239.961.6116 | @landertbread | www.landertbread.com | Naples, FL Saturdays: Shoppes at Vanderbilt Farmer’s Market | Online Sales | Commercial Delivery

Flying Eagle Kombucha

239. 935.9212 | @flyingeaglekombucha Pick Up or Delivery from Millennial Brewery Ft. Myers, FL

Conagree and Penn | Heritage Rice 904.527.1945 | hello@conagreeandpenn.com | @conagreeandpenn | www.conagreeandpenn Florida Grown and Operated | Website Orders| Jacksonville, FL

Documentaries Kiss the Ground Game Changers What the Health (Un) Well Fantastic Fungi

LOCAL HEALTH GURUS Betsy Opyt RD, LD/N, CDE Healthy Concepts Consulting 4 Elements Yoga 7935 Airport Rd, Naples FL Integrative Functional Nutrition Specialist • Health and Wellness Coach Yoga Instructor • Author • Speaker www.healthyconceptsconsulting.com www.yoga4elements.com Lenka Schulze Wellness Energy Institute 5435 Park Central Ct., Naples FL RMT • Author • Speaker • Educator Medical Intuologist • EFT Practitioner • Vibrational Medicine Expert • Certified Advanced Holistic Health Coach from the International Institute of Holistic Medicine www.lenka.org www.wellnessenergyinstitute.org Suz Jefferys CEO Wellness Naples, FL Tai Chi Instructor • Certified Nutrition Therapist + Speaker www.suzjefferys.com Chef David Robbins Future Foods + Not A Burger Concierge Chef Services + Consulting Naples, FL Specialist: Functional Food, Superfood, Plant Food, Whole Food, Farm to Table, Slow Food, Sustainability Private Concierge Chef Services + Masterclass Sessions on Clean Eating www.futurefoodsmarket.com www.chefdavidrobbins.com 1 Not a meatballs (glazed), a plant-based/gf/ non-gmo, clean, whole superfood, protein-and nutrient-rich alternative—no fillers, artificial lab ingredients, or b.s. | served with gochujangfermented garlic honey.

2 Local, gulf-caught snapper with a plantforward presentation and injection of superfoods with a crispy nutty “crust” of red quinoa—a signature dish of David Robbins.

3 Superfoods toast—Landert Bread lye croissant triangle topped with all things local: strawberries, mulberries, and blueberries + organic honey + bee pollen.

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Feature

The Chef’s Table | Recipe Veggie-Forward Beef + Beet Tartar

organic | regenerative | a classic for the future

If the future of foods is in sustainability, carbon footprint, nutritional density, and food security, then it also needs to include another crucial factor—deliciousness! Inspired by my time at Blue Hill Stone Barn Farms, this recipe truly checks all the boxes.

It’s light yet satisfying, rich yet clean, super nutritious, hits so many notes of texture and flavor, is a marriage of regenerative animal and plant farming, and bridges the gap between classical cuisine and future foods.

Ingredients

Method

(serves 6–8)

Cook the Beets

• Scrub the beets well, removing any residual soil/sand, skin on through the whole process • Option 1 | Slow Oven-Roasted Beets • Simply place beets in a shallow roasting tray, fill with about 1 inch water, and cover with aluminum foil • Oven roast at 250ºF degrees for approx. 4–6 hours • Beets are done when a paring knife easily passes into the center and juices start to bubble out of skin and have a syrup-like thickness • Remove from oven and chill • Option 2 | Cooked Sous Vide in Beef Tallow (if you have access to a vacuum sealer + immersion circulator) • Simply place beets (separated by color) into a vacuum bag with 1/2 oz tallow, 1 sprig thyme, pinch of salt per bag • Seal + cook w/immersion circulator in water bath 180ºF overnight (8–12 hours) • Remove from bath and chill

Do Your Research | Grow Relationships | Find Regeneratively Grown Veggies and Meats | Shop Small + Local (when possible)

ESSENTIAL Naples

1 large red beet (approx. 6–8 oz) 1 large gold beet (approx. 6–8 oz) (or badger �lame beet from row7seeds.com) 10–12 oz raw, premium-quality regenerative grass fed/�inished beef—go with your favorite cut *2 oz beef tallow (rendered fat, available from your local butcher) (*optional) 1 medium shallot, �inely minced 2 oz capers, �inely minced

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4–5 sprigs fresh thyme, picked and �inely chopped

Mise en Place (things in place) | Chopping + Measuring + Organizing

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1 small bunch fresh chives, �inely minced 1 small bunch fresh chervil, �inely minced 2 oz micro arugula (or other microgreens); reserve for garnish 2 oz Dijon mustard 1 oz pickled mustard seeds (optional for garnish) 4 oz extra virgin olive oil 2 med lemons, zested and juiced

Plate + Serve

2 oz parmigiana reggiano, �inely grated 1.5 tsp cacao nibs, toasted and �inely ground into powder (reserve 1/2 tsp for garnish) 6–8 quail or small duck eggs, yolks only (whites can be used later for an omelette or meringue) 6–8 pieces toasted ancient grain bread (optional for garnish) Flake sea salt + fresh cracked black pepper + esplette chili—all to taste

Specialized Equipment Requirements

• Cuisinart or other high-quality food processor (need sharp blades!)

• Vacuum sealer + immersion circulator for sous vide cooking (optional) • Microplane for zesting • Sharp chef’s knife for mincing

• Either in the bowl of a food processor or by hand, finely chop cooked/chilled beets into rough ¼-inch pieces, set aside refrigerated until ready to plate • Either in the bowl of a food processor or by hand, finely chop beef into rough ¼-inch pieces, set aside refrigerated until ready to plate • Freshly mince + zest + juice + measure remaining ingredients • Prep your dressing (mix fresh just before serving) • in a medium mixing bowl, place shallots, capers, thyme, chives, chervil, Dijon, lemon zest and juice, olive oil, parmigiana reggiano, cacao powder • gently stir together with a spoon until evenly mixed • taste, add sea salt, pepper, esplette / adjust / taste again before mixing into tartar

Pro Chef Tips

• Add minced beef and beets to large mixing bowl • With about half your dressing, mix gently and taste • If you prefer, add more dressing—adjust flavor to your preference (any leftover dressing can be used as a plate garnish or tossed on fresh greens for a salad) • Allow to rest for 5 mins at room temp and taste again before plating • Using a 4-inch ring mold or cookie cutter, fill with approx. 4 oz of dressed tartar mixture for a nice presentation • Garnish each individual tartar presentation with yolk, pickled mustard seeds, microgreens, flake salt and pepper • Serve with ancient grain toast on side • Dust plate with cacao powder to accentuate natural earthy flavors of the beets

• Select a cut of beef with high intramuscular fat (i.e., marbling); tenderloin is an obvious choice because its soft and easy to chew, but don’t overlook cuts like short rib for this—the better the quality, the better the final flavor!

• You’re serving raw beef—talk with your butcher and ensure top quality for food safety • This recipe has a significant amount of mincing/blade work—more injuries happen from dull blades than from

sharp, so make sure your knives and food processor blades are properly sharpened!

• Always taste before serving.

This is a steadfast—but fun!—rule of being a chef.

Can’t decide if strictly plant based is right for you? Try a combination of sous vide local organic beets + regeneratively ranched beef tartar. Clean + whole + regenerative + sustainable are the keys words in helping you to choose your future foods.

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Chef David Robbins, an award-winning veteran of the international culinary world, has worked with Michelin- and JBF-rated chefs, including Blue Hill’s chef Dan Barber. Robbins is devoted to biodynamic agriculture, slow foods, clean living, veggie-forward cuisine, and family businesses, and volunteers with local charities such as ECHO Farms and SWFL Children’s Hospital. “Growing up on a small family farm in Hawaii has given me a unique appreciation/perspective for the places and people that produce our food.” Robbins is also the founder of the SWFL startup “Not A Burger,” superfood plant-based protein patties (100% vegan/gf/non-GMO). Made with local organic whole-food ingredients (including beets, quinoa, heirloom lentils, etc.), he hopes to offer a nutritious, delicious, and sustainable option to a growing industry of sometimes questionable plant-based foods. Additionally, Chef David is available for private cooking classes, wine dinners, and personalized catering.

Contact 239.247.2244 or email chefdavidrobbins@gmail.com.

Feature

ESSENTIAL Naples

The Link between

Gut Health and Depression

By Dr. Melissa MacVenn, MD

SPRING 2022

30

G

astrointestinal issues are like fingerprints: commonplace, but very individualized. Symptoms, diet, levels of stress, and medical history all play a significant role in determining not only what a patient’s GI concerns are, but also how to treat the issues they’re experiencing.

The standard American diet can include too many cheeseburger-and-a-beer evenings—not great for digestive health. Fortunately, though, recently we have been hearing a lot about the significance of diet and of what we’ve learned to call “gut health.” The buzz around gut health, however, can also bring skepticism. Not all treatment innovations fulfill their promises, and the subject of personal health pulls promotional attention like a magnet pulls in iron filings. For example, a British Medical Journal study of more than 800 news articles about gut health and probiotics in the popular press found lots of rah-rah, but very little discussion of the limits of what we know on this subject. Careful considerations such as which treatments don’t really work were also quite rare.

Approaching Gut Health Holistically

New, holistic approaches that reach beyond traditional medicine do build credibility in the research literature and in medical practice over time. Gut health has earned some of the popular attention it’s receiving—this relatively new field has already yielded substantial and helpful research findings. The mix of thousands of different species of

bacteria, viruses, and other microbiota really can generate greater or lesser digestive health—and they can be a regulator of inflammation throughout the body.

A recent overview of research in the science journal Nutrients concludes, “The gut microbiome plays an important role in human health and influences the development of chronic diseases ranging from metabolic disease to gastrointestinal disorders and colorectal cancer.

The health of this complex gut ecosystem has implications for various conditions including obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and cardiovascular disease,” the authors summarize.

Wait—depression? There is a surprising link between gut health and psychological balance that anyone who has experienced stress-connected stomach issues can testify to. The nervous system that lines your digestive tract, sometimes called your “second brain,” can play a role in your psychological outlook as well as your physical health.

Good Bacteria in Fermented Foods

In the last few months, a research report from the Stanford Medical School, published in the journal Cell, points to dietary changes that can have strong positive impacts. The focus of the study was fermented foods.

Eating foods such as yogurt, kefir, fermented cottage cheese, kimchi and other fermented vegetables, vegetable brine drinks, and kombucha tea led to an increase in

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Looking for Guidance on Making Healthy Choices?

Most patients seeking help appreciate that finding the source of a problem such as diarrhea or constipation may take some sleuthing. Often, I may recommend food allergy tests, a stool sample, a food diary, or tests for gluten or lactose intolerance.

At WellcomeMD, we also use genomic testing to help optimize diet and nutrition recommendations. In almost every patient there is a need for high-quality prebiotics and probiotics.

When a patient comes to me at WellcomeMD/Naples with GI concerns I ask a lot of questions about diet, stress, symptoms, and medical history—including other treatments that have already been tried—so that I can better understand the patient as an individual. The answers help guide me in developing the best personalized plan of treatment and prevention. And because membership at WellcomeMD/Naples is restricted so that each patient has far more access to my time, I have more opportunities to discuss new research and healthy lifestyle changes with my patients.

When evaluating membership medicine, also known as “concierge” medicine, consider the value of early detection of serious health problems and the savings in avoiding preventable disease. I’m able to have unhurried, 30-minute consultations or video conferences, or just a quick call, as needed. Our members even have my cell phone number for emergencies.

Whether you’re dealing with gut health or other issues now or looking for a comprehensive health plan to avoid problems in the future, ready access to a doctor who knows you well can be a rare bargain. •

Melissa MacVenn, MD, is a board-certified family concierge medical physician with over 10 years of experience treating patients with complex medical conditions. She and her team offer complimentary consultations to answer any questions you may have on how Dr. MacVenn can help you achieve your optimal health. For more information, visit WellcomeMD. com/naples-florida or contact our Membership Director, Tara Greenberg 239.880.2562 or tara.greenberg@wellcomemd. com. 11181 Health Park Blvd., Naples. See ad on page 13 >

SPRING 2022

overall microbial diversity, with stronger effects from larger servings, the authors state.

Four kinds of immune cells showed less activation in the group that ate and drank fermented foods. Nineteen inflammatory blood proteins also diminished, of which one protein, interleukin 6, has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and chronic stress. “This is a stunning finding,” one of the authors, the microbiologist-immunologist Justin Sonnenburg, proclaimed. (Although the verdict of “stunning” should perhaps await more evidence, the test results were strong and confirm other, similar work.)

Health

A Science-Backed,

Natural Way

ESSENTIAL Naples

to Fight Osteoporosis

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32

By Dr. Rikin J. Patel, DO

“We can now prepare our bodies for aging by strengthening our skeletal frame so that no matter how long we live, we can do so with greater vitality, strength, and balance.”

— Dr. Rikin J. Patel, DO

O

ften called the silent killer, osteoporosis— contrary to popular misconception—does not only affect women. Osteoporosis, or loss of bone density, is a disease that impacts every one of us in our form and function. It impacts how we move, how we perform, and the quality of our everyday living. Our bones generally begin the gradual descent to fragility after our 40s. Ten million Americans currently have osteoporosis and another 44 million are at increased risk of developing it. Postmenopausal women are more susceptible to osteoporosis because bone loss is closely related to hormone estrogen deficiency during the menopausal transition period. In the US, 1 in 4 women over the age of 50 will experience osteoporotic compression fractures, as will 1 in 4 men over 50.

Maintain That Chassis

Our skeletal system is the frame on which we move. Like the chassis of a car, it supports us throughout our journey of life. My 2006 Honda Odyssey hit 150k miles recently and the engine still hums, but the frame rattles like the roof is about to fly off. In our own lives, the importance

of maintaining our chassis was never as critical as it is today. In the 1960s, life expectancy was around 70. By 2000, it was 75. And today, life expectancy is over 85 years of age.

In my ten years of practicing orthopedics and spine care, the trouble that I have seen is that while your engine will go, your chassis will begin to say no. This leads to pain, frailty, and compromised quality of life. So, what can we do to maintain our frame? We can now prepare our bodies for aging by strengthening our skeletal frame so that no matter how long we live, we can do so with greater vitality, strength, and balance.

Science has shown that our bones strengthen when compressed. This can be done in different ways, usually associated with impact: jumping and sprinting are common methods to compress bones.

This concept is known as osteogenic loading. The issue with those repetitive activities, though, is that they can be detrimental to our joints and lead to pain, functional impairment, and disability. In addition, there are several medications to improve and/or preserve bone density that are often considered the gold standard for treating osteoporosis. However, aside from being costly, many

of those medications come with undesirable side effects or risks that many would prefer to avoid. In addition, many of us take calcium and vitamin D supplements thinking we are preventing bone loss; however, those supplements simply provide the building blocks for bone health without a stimulus that will use those key nutrients to build bone. In short, increased bone density requires intense osteogenic loading.

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33 SPRING 2022

Dr. Rikin Patel is board certified in both physical medicine and rehabilitation with subspecialty board certification in both sports medicine and pain medicine. He is specialized in non-operative orthopedic and spine care.

OsteoStrong is a science-backed system for strengthening bones, joints, and muscles. Sessions are short, painless, and results are measurable and happen quickly. OsteoStrong Naples Vanderbilt is located at The Shoppes at Vanderbilt and offers a free session.

Contact them at 239.788.1043 or www.osteoct.com.

Helping to normalize assisted travel so that seniors or anyone who needs assistance can travel, whether it’s to visit family, for necessary medical appointments and treatments, for relocation purposes, or simply because they want to.

ESSENTIAL Naples

A newly developed robotic muscular development system has allowed us to emulate the force required to stimulate the growth of new bone tissue without the risk of injury, with minimal effort and maximum outcome. This new robotic technology, called the Spectrum system, is available at OsteoStrong centers, a US franchise focusing on strengthening bones, joints, and muscles with 150 locations worldwide. The Spectrum system consists of four machines that only require a short session, once a week, to increase bone density, muscular strength, and balance.

A force of 4.2 times our body weight is the minimum required load to trigger bone growth in the hip joint (the most important place to avoid fracture). Peak forces in conventional resistance exercise for adults usually show 1.26 to 1.54 times our body weight, which is not enough to stimulate the growth of new bone tissue. The Spectrum robotic system allows you to experience the required load while minimizing your risk for injury. In 2015, In the Journal of Osteoporosis and Physical Activity, Jaquish et al. demonstrated that the Spectrum system provides a more significant increase in bone density in postmenopausal women than conventional exercise or pharmaceuticals.

The benefits of osteogenic loading go beyond building strong bones. Improvements can be seen in balance, posture, strength, and athletic performance for any age group, as long as you are at least 4’11” tall. Furthermore, while it may be a little premature to proclaim, in my opinion this may turn out to be the key to a future of pain-free living. •

We provide an individualized, whole-body approach to health care including:

Carol L. Roberts MD, ABIHM

• Preventative Medicine & Health Optimization • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy • IntellxxDNA™ Genomic Testing • Nutritional Analysis & Food Sensitivity Testing

Eduardo Maristany, MD

• Immune & Digestive Disorders Treatment • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy • Infusion Therapy • Brain Health & Memory Support

Lindsey Berkson, MA, DC, CNS, DACBN

800 Goodlette Rd. Suite 270, Naples, FL 34102 NaplesCFM.com | 239-649-7400 < Page 28 “Optimizing Testosterone Levels...” BY DR. EDUARDO MARISTANY, MD

Health

Move Further from the

Shadow of Alzheimer’s

By Dr. Melissa MacVenn, MD

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“The key point is this: if you want to avoid memory loss and extend the time you have to enjoy your activities, your life, and the people you love, then move more.”

—Dr. Melissa MacVenn, MD

or primary care physicians, an unfortunately common task is to alert patients to deliver the bad news of lurking health trouble. A far happier task is to bring positive news: new research indicates strongly that we can improve our odds of warding off Alzheimer’s disease, with its memory loss and other cognitive storms.

More than one in ten Americans over 65 suffer from Alzheimer’s, and many are so desperate about Alzheimer’s that they fall victim to online scams. The FDA recently issued warnings to firms illegally selling 58 ineffective, unsafe, and unproven products that claim to help with Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

I have been a physician in Naples for the past four years, with predominantly mature patients.

How I wish I could prescribe a miracle pill for this brain disease. The newest drug for Alzheimer’s has troubling side effects and costs about $56,000 a year. Its effectiveness is so open to question that five members of the FDA’s advisory committee resigned to protest its approval. Not, perhaps, a miracle pill.

A New Hope

Fortunately, there is hope, as a new article in the Journal of Neuroscience illustrates. For this study, scientists at several medical research institutions used data from hundreds of people—mostly in their 80s—who took cognition tests and wore activity monitors. Some participants were much more physically active, and this research is an unmistakable endorsement that confirms prior studies: those who moved more were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

These were big differences, not subtle ones. The key point is this: if you want to avoid memory loss and extend the time you have to enjoy your activities, your life, and the people you love, then move

more. Just move. You don’t have to run marathons or lift barbells. Start with achievable goals. An hour a day of modest activity is an excellent starting point. Not only that, but even if you have already started to notice some memory issues, walking and moving may actually help reverse some of that brain fog. Intuitively, you may have noticed that the more active people around us are generally healthier, both mentally and physically. Now there is great science behind that conclusion.

The Right Provider Makes a Difference

In your efforts to warding off Alzheimer’s and other disease, having a primary care physician who takes the time to listen, understand, and work with you is of utmost importance. At WellcomeMD, we have time to pay attention to up-to-date research—we limit membership, allowing our physicians to see patients with same-day or next-day appointments.

Appointments aren’t rushed—longer and more frequent visits mean that our patients are able to establish a proactive relationship with their doctor. And because we stay on schedule, we have a “waitless” waiting room—time spent waiting to see your physician is negligible. Additionally, my patients have my email address and office phone number for day-to-day needs and questions. For after-hour/weekend/holiday emergencies, I also give patients my direct cell phone number.

We are currently open to new members in Naples. Our annual fee includes a very thorough yearly physical exam and follow-up monitoring— we’re proactive about health, with extensive bloodwork and genetic testing to assess for potential health problems that can be prevented before the condition requires sick care. If this sounds consistent with your or your loved ones’ health goals, let’s meet and talk. •

Melissa MacVenn, MD, is a board-certified family concierge medical physician with over 10 years of experience treating patients with complex medical conditions. She and her team offer complimentary consultations to answer any questions you may have on how Dr. MacVenn can help you achieve your optimal health. For more information, visit WellcomeMD.com/naples-florida or contact our Membership Director, Tara Greenberg 239.880.2562 or tara. greenberg@wellcomemd.com. 11181 Health Park Blvd., Naples. See ad on page 13 >

Health

Float Your Way to Improved Mental Health

ESSENTIAL Naples

By Sabrina Pajares

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The Science of Floating

Flotation began in the 1950s, when Dr. Jay Shurley and Dr. John Lilly from the National Institute of Mental Health began research to determine how the human brain would respond

to an environment without any external sensory input. The first float tank was built in 1957, and in 1972, the first tank was commercially available. Since then, many studies have revealed that float therapy effectively treats anxiety, depression, and PTSD without the harmful chemicals and various side effects from traditional pharmaceuticals. Improving mental health and pain management is critical in reducing the national dependency on opioids.

A float pod is a sound- and light-proof alternative therapy used to treat mental and physical health issues. During a float session in water containing medical-grade Epsom salt with magnesium, you will experience a relaxing, healing weightless sensation. Magnesium is a natural relaxant that supports muscle and nerve function, energy production, and a healthy immune system.

In addition, float therapy aids cortisol levels and releases stress from the body, which permits deep body relaxation.

The soothing nature of the magnesium-laden water in the float pod can be a powerful ally for our mental health. Floating helps individuals achieve a deep meditative state within just a few sessions and significantly improves sleep quality as well.

Help your mind and body relax, recover, and reset when entering a clean and serene environment of float therapy. •

“Floating helps individuals achieve a deep meditative state within just a few sessions and significantly improves sleep quality as well.”

—Sabrina Pajares

Want a more pain-free, relaxing lifestyle? Add to your health by floating at Cloud9 Float Spa and Wellness Center in one of our sanitary pods containing 10 inches of water and 1,000 pounds of medical-grade magnesium sulfite. Call 239.887.4161 or email info@c9floatspa.com to make your appointment today to improve your quality of life. Cloud9 Float Spa & Wellness Center, 13710 Metropolis Ave. Suite 104, Ft. Myers, FL, 33912. www.c9floatspa.com. SWFL’s Only Float Spa. See ad on page 41 >

35 SPRING 2022

e are all searching for a state of relaxation in our increasingly fast-paced world, and float therapy, or floating, may be the answer.

Floating is a powerful therapeutic tool that offers countless health benefits, including helping manage anxiety, improve symptoms of depression, relax muscles, improve blood flow, increase pain relief, manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and support a healthy sleep pattern.

Floating has been proven in many cases to reduce chronic stress as well.

Stress is one of the most debilitating mental health disorders people struggle with, and those with an autoimmune disease may experience added stress. Autoimmune disease is associated with a malfunction of the immune system, which causes the body to attack its own tissues. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety or stress disorder, flotation therapy could be a beneficial practice to add into your wellness routine. Those who practice float therapy regularly often report a significant reduction of stress, a boost of energy, and an overall improved sense of well-being.

Finance

Important Steps for

Domicile Tax Savings in the Sunshine State

By Nina Azwoir, First Vice President of Investments, Wintrust Wealth Management ESSENTIAL Naples

A

SPRING 2022

36 “As a financial advisor with clients’ best interest always at the top of mind, I am always excited to share the news that Florida does not have a state income tax—and on top of that, sharing that Florida has no estate, gift, or inheritance tax as well.”

—Nina Azwoir

re you one of the lucky Americans considering a move to the sunshine state? If so, you are not alone. Over the last decade, there have been more than 350,000 individuals annually who have changed their domicile to Florida. It’s not an easy decision to leave your home state and embark on the “sunshine and low taxes venture”; however, Florida flirts with many—and more often than not, wins them over.

Florida is a preferred destination for sunshine, amusement parks, some of the best beaches in the world—and no state income tax! Due to the numerous advantages, many people choose to make this great state their home. The intention to make Florida your permanent residence is called “domicile,” and it can have many perks.

Trading State Income Tax for Vitamin D?!

Let’s look at why savvy people such as yourself choose to domicile in Florida (did we mention the part where there is no state income tax?). I can’t stress this enough—at this time, our country is experiencing a rolling 12-month inflation that is now the highest it has been in 30 years.

Not paying state income tax can make a critical difference in your financial well-being. Add to that the vitamin D you get each time you walk out the door, and it’s no wonder so many are unable to resist Florida’s incessant charms.

As a financial advisor with clients’ best interest always at the top of mind, I am always excited to share the news that Florida does not have a state income tax—and on top of that, sharing that Florida has no estate, gift, or inheritance tax as well. Many of my clients from Illinois and New York know all too well the impact some of these tax burdens

can have on their legacy and livelihood. However, though Florida presents a strong case for domicile, you should still do a side-by-side evaluation with your accountant, attorney, and financial advisor.

Benefits Beyond Sunshine and Warm Breezes

Digging a little deeper to look at several benefits individually, we find that one of the most notable benefits of domicile is the homestead exemption. This gives you up to $50,000 exemption and limits your property value to be raised by only three percent per year, or the change in the Consumer Pricing Index, whichever is lower. This alone can result in savings of $750 annually and is portable if you later choose to move within the state. However, we have to be diligent and play an active role, as this benefit is not automatic.

You need to have owned the home in the year you apply for this exemption by January 1 and apply by March 1. With this you also get Florida’s infamous Homestead Creditor protections. Please contact me or a professional for more details.

The perks don’t end there. For residents who have chosen Florida as their legal domicile, you are granted protections by state for annuities and life insurance cash value. So perhaps it’s time to calculate your “northern tax”—but beware and compare. Keep in mind that if you have income from a business or a rental property in a state with income tax, income tax in that state may continue, although some can be moved. A property may be placed into an LLC to change the character from real estate to an intangible property, but only in certain states.

Federally, the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) is currently capped at $10,000.

5 Important Steps to Making Florida Your Home

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Dr. Diane interviews Essential Naples’ Expert Contributors in uplifting discussions about natural therapies, life purpose, green living, and how to live a healthier lifestyle with tips you can easily integrate into your daily life.

Thursday, April 21, 11 am

Dr. Diane Interviews Tom Paladino, Scalar Light Researcher

Thursday, May 5, 11 am

Dr. Diane Interviews Dr. Melissa MacVenn of WellcomeMD

Thursday, May 19, 11 am

Dr. Diane Interviews Chris Edwards of TriCore Wellness

Thursday, June 2, 11 am

Dr. Diane Interviews Mindy DiPietro of NES Health

Thursday, June 16, 11 am

Dr. Diane Interviews Theresa Edmunds Certified Health Coach

Thursday, July 7, 11 am

Dr. Diane Interviews Denise Pancyrz of Reverse My Diabetes

Thursday, July 21, 11 am

Dr. Diane Interviews Betsy Opyt, RD of Healthy Concepts Consulting

More Dates Coming!

Visit www.essentialnaples.com to Register for all Podcasts.

37 SPRING 2022

Nina Azwoir, First Vice President of Investments, Wintrust Wealth Management. © Morningstar 2020. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

This information may answer some questions but is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the topic. In addition, such information should not be relied upon as the only source of information, competent tax and legal advice should always be obtained.

Securities, insurance products, financial planning, and investment management services offered through Wintrust Investments, LLC (Member FINRA/ SIPC), founded in 1931. Trust and asset management services offered by The Chicago Trust Company, N.A. and Great Lakes Advisors, LLC, respectively. Investment products such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are: NOT FDIC INSURED | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT A DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

Podcasts

ESSENTIAL Naples

If you are ready to make sunscreen and tax savings part of your everyday life, here are five steps you should take: 1. File a Declaration of Domicile at your local courthouse.

2. Change your motor vehicle registration and driver’s license.

3. File for your Florida homestead exemption.

Don’t wait too long in an environment where property values are still rising.

4. You should also start cutting ties to your former domicile state. Make sure you execute or update your wills and trusts to make them current to Florida law.

5. File a final tax return in your prior state and if you need to keep filing there, begin filing as a non-resident.

Other things you can do is find local doctors, attorneys, financial advisors, professional memberships, and even a new place of worship.

Make sure to have your mail delivered to your Florida address and open a local bank account.

Individuals have been audited by states that are losing income tax dollars by the day to our sunny state, so spend as much time as possible in this area. A general rule of thumb is to be here for six months plus one day. Finally, don’t forget to register to vote in Florida!

For a comprehensive list to help you with your decision to domicile, please reach out to me at nazwoir@wintrustwealth.com. I am happy to be your resource as we welcome you to this sunny community. •

Dr. Diane

Health

Treating Sinusitis Naturally ESSENTIAL Naples

and Effectively

By Steven Frank

SPRING 2022

38

“The balanced holistic approach to sinusitis rests with using the right active agent, in the right concentration, in the right place and with the right protocol.”

—Steven Frank

I

f you suffer from chronic sinusitis and have been through multiple courses of antibiotics, then you know the ills of the antibiotic approach. The antibiotics may leave you with intestinal problems and yeast infections while only ridding you of the sinus infection for six months or so. The next time it comes back you have to try a different antibiotic, this one costing you more and making you feel worse. Why is this cycle escalating?

Antibiotics Do More Harm Than Good

Unfortunately, the antibiotic solution does more harm than good. It shifts the fauna and flora of bacteria in your sinuses to the ones that are not so easily killed by the antibiotics and leaves you with a more formidable foe after each round.

Additionally, the antibiotics are taken systemically, which means they are coursing through your entire body when you only need them in your sinuses. This distorts all the fauna in your body and can lead to a yeast infection. What’s a sinus sufferer to do?

The problem is two-fold. First, you are fighting what is a symbiotic relationship of fungus and bacteria with an active agent that kills only the bacteria. Second, the active agent that you are using to kill the bacteria kills only some of the bacteria.

The ones that are not susceptible to your chosen antibiotic will take over the feeding grounds of the

ones that you have killed, leaving you with a fauna of germs that you cannot kill.

Let’s explore the first point: Your sinuses are host to many fungi. They thrive on the muco-polysaccharides (mucus) that line your sinus passage and produce exotoxins that irritate the sinus membranes. Your immune system does its best to kill these invaders, but this is a constant battle—every breath you take will contain molds. What makes this problem worse is the fact that the fungus acts as a platform of insulation on which the bacteria can live and thrive. The bacteria can digest the conversion of the muco-polysaccharides by the fungus and live on top of them. In this manner, they are insulated from your immune system and from the drugs that you would take to reach them by distribution through your microcapillary bed.

So you see, approaching the problem of sinusitis with merely an antibiotic to kill the bacteria would be only half the solution. You need an anti-fungal as well to attenuate the population of molds (fungi) that inhabit your sinuses. It is these molds that insulate the bacteria, keeping them out of reach of your immune system.

Choose an Antimicrobial That Kills All the Bacteria

Now for the second part: It is very important to choose an antimicrobial that will kill all the

The Right Concentration with the Right Protocol

Over the past 20 years, Steven Frank has directed and participated in more than a dozen clinical studies, written numerous papers, articles and books relating to natural solutions for health. His many hours in the clinics and labs have generated patents on respiratory antisepsis and enhancement of colloids. www.

MyNaturesRite.com. See ad on page 49 >

H

ave you ever thought about how amazing and intricate the human body really is? How our hearts beat, how our cells communicate, how all the physiological things happen minute by minute that we have no conscious knowledge of or control over? In fact, these all-important functions are withdrawn from the domain of our conscious mind by design. Can you imagine if you actually had to think about making sure your heart is beating regularly?

Although many of these cellular and physiological processes happen beyond our control, there are other processes that we do have control over. Most people believe they have no power over the health of their body and whether they end up with a disease. Most think it’s genetic— or worse, that it’s fate. Few sick people have any idea how much they can really do for themselves.

There is an old saying that everyone is either “a fool or his own physician at 40.” Every function of your body is governed by your conscious and subconscious mind—before you can move a muscle, your brain directs your body to move. Your subconscious mind keeps all your vital processes working during the day and while sleeping. Therefore, it makes sense that the mind controls all the bodily functions, including new cell growth, metabolism, replacing old tissue, and eliminating dead or diseased cells.

What image are you holding in your mind? Is it one of sickness or fear? If so, you will reproduce that in your physical reality. If

you think your physical organs hold the power, you depend on them and make yourself a slave to your body. When an organ ceases to function properly, the common solution is to “fix” the organ, when the part that truly needs “fixing” is your mind. When anything seems wrong with the functioning of your body, the first place to investigate is your subconscious mind. Your stomach, heart, liver, or any other organ has no intelligence of its own.

Your muscles are not self-acting. Look at what happens to an Alzheimer’s patient once most of the brain function is lost—they forget how to eat, how to speak, and how to move. All disease is due to the belief that the body is the master and that it can become diseased without the consent of the mind. If you believe your mind has the power over your body, you can destroy all fear of disease, and therefore, all disease itself. •

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD, is an entrepreneur, mindset warrior, perspective shifter, and unshakable optimist. She started Natural Nutmeg and Essential Naples magazines with nothing more than passion, a laptop, and a dream, and has created a socially conscious print and digital platform that has touched thousands of people over the past 16 years. She holds a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Maryland. She is a professional speaker and travels nationally to present spiritual and personal development workshops.

39 SPRING 2022

Of course, since you have a sinus infection, the mucosal flow is rather significant. This will flush the antimicrobial from the area in less than 10 minutes. If it’s not there, it’s not working. It is paramount to the success of this therapy that you spray every 20 to 30 minutes. Using the neti pot in the morning and evening for 10 minutes is also advised. Bacteria and fungi can double in number every 20 minutes.

The balanced holistic approach to sinusitis rests with using the right active agent, in the right concentration, in the right place and with the right protocol. If this is done, you will attenuate the fungus and the bacteria while not shifting the fauna and flora. You will re-establish the balance of power in your sinuses. I suggest that you look for an enhanced aqueous silver colloid product that offers sinus relief or some Super Neti-Juice for your neti pot. Colloids that espouse concentrations of 250 ppm and 500 ppm are compounded and, in my testing, have performed horribly. Look for 35 ppm to 50 ppm pure colloids. •

Dr. DI’ss CORNER

ESSENTIAL Naples

bacteria. Antibiotics work in three discrete manners and can kill three different groups of bacteria. Each type of antibiotic will kill only a portion of the fauna leaving the survivors to take over the nutritional sinus tissue that the bacteria you killed have abandoned. What you want is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that kills all types of bacteria as evenly as possible so that you don’t just kill the easy ones.

Clinical studies have shown that an enhanced aqueous colloid of silver (EACS) of 35 parts per million or more is able to terminate sinus infections in a week or less, and this is far better than sinus surgery or antibiotics. What’s more, it can be sprayed directly into the sinuses, so it doesn’t have to be taken systemically. You apply it only where the infection is occurring—in your sinuses. To reach the deeper sinuses, it is best to use a neti pot.

You can fill your sinuses with the solution and then close off your nose with your fingers. Sitting this way for 10 or more minutes will kill more bacteria and fungus than a week of antibiotics.

Purpose

Mental Wellness

How Staying Healthy Starts with Mindset

ESSENTIAL Naples

By Chris Edwards, B.S., CFT, SFN, SSN

SPRING 2022

40

“Having a positive mindset, constructive self-talk, and reduced anxiety and stress can help amplify anyone’s fitness and wellness goals.”

—Chris Edwards, B.S., CFT, SFN, SSN

Mental Wellness Assessment

Mental Wellness Membership

Mental Wellness Checkpoint

W

hen making a habit change, you must first make the decision to commit to this change. This commitment to changing your habits starts with your mindset. I have been in the fitness and wellness industry for over 18 years and have seen many people have success, but I have also seen many people fail in their fitness and wellness goals. Why is it that some people are able to reach their goals and others are not?

While there are a lot of forces that factor into this, one of the strongest forces in success is mindset and state of mental wellness.

What if someone is not mentally ready to make a commitment? What if on the surface they believe that they are, but in reality they are dealing with things in the background that hold them back from grasping certain concepts in health and wellness or from allowing them to be coachable? What if they have an addiction or a trauma that has created bad habits that they are therefore having a difficult time changing?

interactions, motivation, gut health, and more—it all plays a part with your fitness, nutrition, and recovery. Mental wellness is an essential factor in everyone’s health and performance goals. This is the reason TriCore developed a Mental Wellness Program. At TriCore, we have a very high success rate with clients due to our proprietary programs and processes that are focused around habit change and accountability. We integrate technology, health data, and professional coaching together to provide our clients the awareness and guidance they need to reach their goals. We also have industry-leading mental wellness services that are focused around taking action and taking control. We believe in helping our clients through communication, accountability, and education to help them improve their physical, mental, and emotional state.

When researching how best to address mental wellness, we found that many health and wellness companies provide content and education to help with mental wellness. At TriCore we wanted to take it a step further—to also help clients take Physical Fitness Begins with action toward improving their mental health.

Mental Health To that end, we have designed services that will As we continue to collect information about the create the support system needed by our clients to retention and success rate of our clients, we help them take action on what they need to do to are finding that mental health, addiction, PTSD, improve their mental wellness: stress, and mindset are directly correlated to 1. Mental Wellness Assessment (See QR Code) success or lack thereof in their health and wellness goal. Having a positive mindset, constructive 2. Mental Wellness Membership (See QR Code) 3. Mental Wellness Checkpoint (See QR Code) self-talk, and reduced anxiety and stress can Each of these services are designed to meet peohelp amplify anyone’s fitness and wellness goals. ple where they are and determine the key issues Unbalanced mental wellness can have a trementhey need to address to improve their mindset. dous impact on your hormones, interpersonal

As a company, TriCore does not provide counseling or therapy—we provide Mental Wellness Coaching, which is a non-clinical practice in addressing items that can support a positive and optimal mental wellness state. As part of our TriCore Mental Wellness Assessment, we can identify if our clients need to work with a counselor or therapist for clinical reasons. We have a referral system of highly qualified professionals that can help them address clinical mental health needs if needed.

What Can Improved Mental Health Do for You?

Chris Edwards is a fitness and wellness professional with over 18 years of experience specializing in personal fitness and wellness management. Chris is a graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University with a B.S. in Business Management, with a concentration in Sports Management. He holds multiple certifications and achievements in the fitness and wellness industry and is owner, founder, and managing director of TriCore Wellness. TriCore Wellness is located at 848 1st Ave N, Ste. 220, in Naples.

For more information, visit www.TriCoreWellness.com, call 239.877.1481, or email Info@TriCoreWellness.com.

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For more information on TriCore’s services, check out the Mental Wellness program at tricorewellness. com/mental-wellness/ and the Corporate Wellness program at tricorewellness.com/corporate-wellness/.

Are you tired of hearing your doctor tell you to diet and exercise?

ESSENTIAL Naples

Improving your mental wellness can lead to: • Lower stress levels • Clearer thinking • Greater sense of calm • Increased resiliency • Increased confidence • Increased self-esteem • Flexibility to learn new skills • Sense of contentment • Increased productivity • Increased creativity • Improved relationships TriCore is ready to help! If you are looking for a mental wellness component to your health and wellness plan, we are here for you. Additionally, if you are with an organization or business looking to provide your employees the mental wellness support they need, TriCore can provide this with our Corporate Wellness program.

The importance of mental wellness as part of your overall health cannot be overstated. If you feel this is the component that has been missing from your wellness journey, contact us to discover more about how we can help. We look forward to hearing from you! •

Do you struggle with high glucose levels from type 2 diabetes?

Health

Find Relief from the Pain of Peripheral Neuropathy

ESSENTIAL Naples

without Addictive Drugs

SPRING 2022

42

By Dr. Richard Hiler, DABCN

“Thankfully, physical medicine provides alternative therapeutic and rehabilitating procedures that can significantly improve the condition, offer pain relief, and limit drug dependency.”

—Dr. Richard Hiler, DABCN

O

ver 116 million people suffer from various types of chronic pain disorders, 20 million of whom have peripheral neuropathy—a number that is speculated to be much higher due to patients not getting a proper diagnosis.

Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a complex condition.

Peripheral nerves run from the spinal cord to the arms, hands, legs, and feet, and damage to and signaling of these nerves are the issue in peripheral neuropathy. A comprehensive plan can be customized to regenerate a patient’s nerves, cells, and tissues by finding the root cause. High blood sugar levels, along with low blood, oxygen supply, nutrient deficiency, high toxicity, and inflammation, damage the nerves throughout the body.

This damage generally affects the long peripheral nerves that feed sensations to the legs, feet, and toes through communication with the brain. If your condition has progressed, you may feel nerve damage sensations in your upper extremities as well. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:

• • • • • • • • • • •

Numbness Tingling Burning sensations Painful aching Joint inflammation Joint damage Balance issues Skin discoloration and texture changes Muscle cramps Feelings of stiffness Non-healing foot and ankle ulcers

Stop Masking Symptoms and Pain

The most common treatment for nerve pain and numbness is to mask it with narcotic prescription pain medications. Narcotics like opioids are highly addictive, and our state is currently leading the country in abusing and overdosing on opioids. Thankfully, physical medicine provides alternative therapeutic and rehabilitating procedures that can significantly improve the condition, offer pain relief, and limit drug dependency:

• Red LED and low-level infrared light therapy help heal and regenerate the small nerve endings that are damaged in peripheral neuropathy • Gentle electrical stimulation therapy improves nerve function, reduces pain, and improves movement • Stem cell allografts • Platelet rich plasma (PRP) • Spinal decompression therapy • Ozone therapy • Peptide therapy • Therapeutic ultrasound • Natural supplements to regenerate myelin sheath

Plant-Based Personal Chef - Chef Lisa Brown

In-Home Personal Chef & Catering Services Health Coaching

Neuropathy Treatment at Feel Amazing Institute

lisa@freeflowinghealth.com www.freeflowinghealth.com

< PAGE 10 “5 Tips for Eating with Intention” BY CHEF LISA BROWN

43 SPRING 2022

Dr. Richard Hiler, DABCN, and his medical team offer a complimentary telephone consultation. Feel Amazing Institute proudly serves the Naples area with comprehensive physical medicine, regenerative medicine, and chiropractic services since 1998. For questions or to schedule an initial consultation the office can be reached at 239.330.1000. We also offer a complimentary telephone consultation to answer any questions. www.FeelAmazing.com. 3031 AirportPulling Rd N., Naples. See ad on page 15 >

(646) 642-0083

ESSENTIAL Naples

Clinical studies show that 88% of the people who undergo neuropathy treatment at Feel Amazing Institute experience excellent results with one or more of the following: • Reduced pain and cramps • Reduced tingling and numbness • Ability to experience normal touch without pain • Reduced cold or burning sensations • Improved balance and coordination • Lowered dependency on medications • Improved sleep • Reduced sensation of restlessness in the legs Several people also experience reduced local swelling and inflammation, increased range of motion, increased blood flow to the extremities, decreased tension, and decreased muscle spasm.

An important side benefit to the treatment is that it reduces the risk of falls significantly by improving balance and position awareness of the feet.

Whether you suffer from chronic pain, are recovering from an injury, or are seeking overall improved health and performance, Feel Amazing Institute has the skills and experience to help you work toward your goals. If you are looking for a chiropractor to treat bulging discs and/or herniations, neck or back pain, knee, shoulder or hip pain, sciatica, or neuropathy, you have found the right place for your health care needs. For more information or to schedule your initial consultation, call us today! •

< PAGE XX “Article Name” BY DR

SPRING 2022

ESSENTIAL Naples

Health

44

Find Your Flexibility Again with

Robotic Muscular Therapy

By Theresa Edmunds, CHC

O

The pectoral is a large muscle, covering the chest and ribcage, beginning at the sternum and attaching to the joints in the shoulder and along the ribcage. The main function of the pectoral muscle is to provide range of motion to the arms and facilitate actions such as pushing or pulling with the arms and raising and lowering of the shoulders. As this large muscle shortens, it pulls on other smaller muscles.

Our muscles start off long and pliable, giving us the ability to move freely and allow us full range of motion. As we engage in repetitive motion or certain postures our muscles start to contract, not only shortening the muscles but also causing them to lose their flexibility. Large muscles in the body

Healing under Pressure

Robotic Muscular Therapy can give us back our flexibility. Using a computerized robotic arm, this non-invasive, passive therapy involves a machine that applies gentle static pressure to a specific area of the muscle at programmed intervals. This gentle but sustained pressure to the pectoral muscle relaxes and softens the tissue, lengthening the fibers of the muscle and returning the muscle to its natural shape. This allows for better posture—as the shoulders are no longer being pulled forward, the pressure is taken off the upper back, allowing the head to come back into more natural alignment, alleviating stress on the neck.

This lengthening process not only relaxes the muscle but also alleviates the tension on the bone structure and nerves. Once this occurs, mobility is restored and pain is alleviated. The therapeutic value of this technology is beneficial in many ways.

Not only are tissues returned to their normal state but normal circulation returns, toxic waste build-up is released, and the body can begin to heal. In a relatively short period of time, this therapy helps people recover faster with less pain and offers long-lasting results.

Considering the physical effects of our modern lifestyle, Robotic Muscular Therapy is something everyone should experience. In addition to correcting imbalances and alleviating pain, we see reduction in tension, improved sleep, and a general feeling of well-being. •

“Our muscles start off long and pliable, giving us the ability to move freely and allow us full range of motion. As we engage in repetitive motion or certain postures our muscles start to contract, not only shortening the muscles but also causing them to lose their flexibility.”

—Theresa Edmunds, CHC

Theresa Edmunds is a Certified Health Coach and co-owner of Precision Robotics Muscular Therapy. She is passionate about helping people feel better inside and out. In addition to bringing this patented muscular technology to the Naples area, she enjoys coaching individuals and family to a healthier lifestyle. To make an appointment for Robotic Muscular Therapy or for a free 20-minute health coaching session, contact Theresa at 734.308.7105 or theresa@theresaedmunds.com.

See ad on page 11 >

45 SPRING 2022

Regain Your Flexibility

are difficult to relax once contracted. It takes pressure to soften these muscles, but generally, neither stretching nor manual massage can apply enough sustained pressure to release the pectoral muscle.

The problem is that once we have this posture, it tends to be difficult to correct.

ESSENTIAL Naples

ne of the most common complaints health care professionals see from patients today is neck pain. Our modern lifestyle, including computer and cell phone usage, has a significant role in this problem—as we use our cell phones, we are engaging in unnatural posture.

Not only are we constantly looking down, straining our neck and trapezius, we are also rounding our shoulders. Even doing work with our hands in front of us for prolonged periods, such as cell phone use, working on computers, and driving leads to an imbalance in the structure of the body.

The prolonged forward positioning without much involvement of the back muscles leads to poor posture. With our arms in a sustained position in front of the body, our pectoral muscles begin to contract and shorten, eventually pulling our shoulders into a rounded position, which in turn causes the head to come forward. This poor posture then strains the muscles of the upper back and neck.

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ASSISTED TRAVEL GOMO Travel

Kerri Johnson, RN, CDP, EMBA Cape Coral 904.395.7500 www.gomotravel.com GOMO Founder Kerri Johnson, RN, brings the ideal mix of healthcare knowledge, travel experience, and business savvy to her role of CEO. Whether you or someone you care about has mobility issues, suffers from anxiety, requires medical assistance, or just doesn’t like traveling alone, GOMO’s travel companions for hire make traveling anywhere you want to go a reality again.

BIOLOGICAL DENTIST Josephine Perez, DMD

Naples 239.692.9623 www.puredentalnaples.com Dr. Josephine Perez, DMD, has been practicing dentistry for 29 years.

She is a graduate of Tufts University School of Dentistry in Boston and interned at New Orleans Coast Guard/Navy Base. Her holistic approach to dentistry encompasses each person’s unique and entire (or whole, therefore holistic) state of physical and emotional well-being. The ability to maintain health through preventive measures and treatments of oral disease is her priority. Dr. Perez focuses on the underlying condition, rather than only treating the symptoms. She tests for biocompatibility to find pathways to reduce inflammation.

Denise A. Pancyrz Naples 888.848.1763 www.ReverseMyDiabetes.net Denise@ReverseMyDiabetes.net The conventional approach to managing type 2 diabetes long term is not effective. Holistic lifestyle coaching helps to reverse the effects of diabetes, guiding you away from counting carbs and diets and leading you to recognize factors that affect your glucose.

Lower your A1c, stabilize glucose levels, increase your energy, and lose weight naturally.

DIAGNOSTIC BODY SCAN Aesthetic Treatment Centers Mindy DiPietro Naples 239.322.3790 www.ATCNaples.com

Aesthetic Treatment Centers have something for every guest, whether it be relaxation, results, or both. We strive to offer organic product lines that are impactful and results oriented.

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Wintrust Wealth Management Nina Azwoir, First Vice President Naples 239.697.5204 www.nazwoir.wintrustwealth.com nazwoir@wintrustwealth.com Nina Azwoir is a licensed Financial Advisor with over 17 years of industry experience in the realm of wealth management, financial planning, and retirement solutions.

Nina has the knowledge and perspective to help keep her clients and their financial future on a steady course as they navigate through life and retirement. Her highest priority is her clients and their families. Reach out to Nina for your complimentary financial plan.

FLOAT SPA

Cloud 9 Float Spa Fort Myers 239.887.4161 www.c9floatspa.com Floating, also known as Flotation Therapy, has been used for years for its mental, spiritual, meditative, and physical benefits and has a vast amount of published research to support its claims.

HEALTH COACH

Theresa Edmunds, CHC Naples 734.308.7105 www.theresaedmunds@hotmail.com Educating clients about all aspects of natural health. Truly healthy food, living chemical-free and detoxing, healthy home, emotional well-being, reducing stress, movement, supplements/homeopathy. Helping you recover, enhance, and protect your health. Providing the foundation that you need to live your best life full of energy and vitality.

HOLISTIC FUNCTIONAL HEALTHCARE WellcomeMD

Dr. Melissa MacVenn, MD Naples 239.880.2562 WellcomeMD.com/naples-florida.com tara.greenberg@WellcomeMD.com Melissa MacVenn, MD, is a board-certified family concierge medical physician with over 10 years of experience treating patients with complex medical conditions. She and her team offer complimentary consultations to answer any questions you may have on how Dr. MacVenn can help you achieve your optimal health.

Omni Balanced Life Center Naples 239.234.1608 Office@omninaples.com www.omninaples.com

Omni Balanced Life Center brings a revolutionary style of healthcare to the marketplace. Our unique team style approach combines the expertise of multiple practitioners offering traditional and holistic treatments and services designed to bridge and transform the mind, body and soul creating lasting healing and harmony within. We work alongside western medical teams, collaborating to offer the most advanced information available in research and science from all areas of medicine.

Naples Center for Functional Medicine Naples 239.649.7400 info@naplescfm.com www.naplescfm.com

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INTEGRATIVE & FUNCTIONAL REGISTERED DIETITIAN Healthy Concepts Consulting

Betsy Opyt, RD, LD/N, CDE Naples 239.297.8844 www.healthyconceptsconsulting.com betsy@healthyconceptsconsulting.com

KOMBUCHA

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SWFL’s first Kombucha brewery and Tap Room uses healthy, gut-friendly microbes and plants as alternative medicine and creates a N/A, probiotic-rich, immune-boosting beverage full of micronutrients, B vitamins, and amino acids. Stop by and see us, or available by delivery and in 25+ resale locations and farmers markets.

MEDICAL SPA

Aesthetic Treatment Centers Dr. Kathleen Marc and Mindy DiPietro Naples 239.322.3790 www.ATCNaples.com Aesthetic Treatment Centers truly have something for every guest, whether it be relaxation, results, or both. We strive to offer organic product lines that are impactful and results oriented.

METAPHYSICAL PRODUCTS Mystical Bookshop

David & Wendy Kaplan Fort Myers 239.338.7816 www.mysticalbookshop.com contact@mysticalbookshop.com

Therapy on the Gulf Anthony Hansen, LMT Naples 239.262.8722

Anthony Hansen, LMT, founder of Therapy on the Gulf. We specialize in myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, and lympatic drainage. We do aromatherapy massage, pregnancy massage, and other types of massage and energy work. I am also a qigong and Reiki Master. Candace VanRee, LMT and Teresa Kennedy, LMT are both highly qualified and do the same things that I do. For further information, please feel free to call us at Therapy on the Gulf.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS Nature’s Rite

Online 800.991.7088 www.mynaturesrite.com

PRIVATE CHEF

Free Flowing Health Chef Lisa Brown, Owner SWFL 646.642.0083 https://www.freeflowinghealth.com lisa@freeflowinghealth.com Lisa Brown is a whole-foods, plant-based chef, certified health coach, and yoga instructor. She also holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology. Lisa combines her work as a chef, coach, and educator to help people achieve greater levels of health, happiness, and harmony.

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

Spine, Joint, and Neuropathy Care Richard A. Hiler, DABCN Naples 239.330.1000 www.FeelAmazing.com DrRHiler@aol.com Oftentimes, to simply inject a joint or nerve with stem cells for pain, inflammation, and degeneration is not enough. Boost regenerative capability and capacity with the addition of ozone, PRP, growth factors, peptides, myoneural therapies, and physical reconditioning.

Chadwick C. Prodromos, MD Naples and Chicago 847.699.6810 www.thepsci.com care@thepsci.org Dr Prodromos received his MD from the Johns Hopkins Medical School, served a surgical internship at the University of Chicago, his orthopaedic surgery residency at Rush and a fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He was a pioneer in surgery of the ACL and served as editor in chief of the first and only comprehensive textbook on the ACL for orthopaedic surgeons.

RELATIONSHIP COACH

Relationship Secrets for Singles Dana Lee, CLC Naples 239.776.4350 www.relationshipsecretsforsingles.com relationshipsecretsforsingles@gmail.com Dana Lee is a Certified Life Coach and owner of Relationship Secrets for Singles. If you’ve almost given up and need someone on your side, send me an email and we can set up a free online zoom “Meet N Greet” session to see if this program is a right fit for you.

SCALAR ENERGY HEALING Tom Paladino, Researcher 805.364.3051 www.scalarlight.com

Tom Paladino has developed scalar energy instruments that are able to negate the molecular bonds of pathogens and their associated toxins, thereby providing relief for pathogenic disease. Scalar energy is the natural energy of the Sun as well as the stars.

WELLNESS MANAGEMENT TriCore Wellness

Naples 239.877.1481 www.TriCoreWellness.com TriCore Wellness is a SwaS (Software with a Service) company that specializes in wellness management and high-performance health coaching. We are focused on the integration of technology, health data, and professional coaching. We capture and analyze information about your fitness, nutrition, and recovery to develop plans, coaching strategies, and detailed analysis to help you achieve any health and performance goals.

47 SPRING 2022

Maddy Eagle, Owner Inside Millenial Brewing downtown Ft. Myers www.flyingeaglekombucha.com

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE/ MASSAGE

The Prodromos Stem Cell Institute

ESSENTIAL Naples

Betsy is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian as well as a Certified Diabetes Educator, Integrative & Functional Medicine Nutrition Therapist, and RYT200 yoga teacher.

She specializes in nutrigenomics, gut health, food sensitivities, detoxing, inflammatory diseases, and longevity living. Betsy is a professional speaker and advocate for healthy living. She is available for individual consultations, group programs, and speaking engagements.

Helping you help yourself, we specialize in products and information that light your path. Our passion and focus is offering books ranging from Energy Medicine, Self-Help, Sacred Sexuality, Natural Medicine, and Ancient Wisdoms. We also offer jewelry, crystals, Yoga, and workshops. Visit us in store or purchase online.

Essential NAPLES

HAPPENINGS SPRING 2022 Saturday, April 2

Regenerative/Cellular Therapy

12:00–1:00 pm; free.

Learn about regenerative medicine treatments, including stem cells combined with other natural treatments. How these treatments may help conditions such as knee pain, back pain, and peripheral neuropathy.

Feel Amazing Institute 3031 Airport-Pulling Rd., Naples, FL 34105 Register by calling 239.330.1000

Friday, April 8

Golden Goddess Fundraising Event— Part of Naples Fashion Week

7:00–9:00 pm, $88 Limited spots, so sign up early! You don’t want to miss this fashionable event where you can showcase your inner goddess glow!

Come and ignite your feminine power and uplift other women while supporting the Youth Haven of Naples.

ESSENTIAL Naples

Betsy Opyt 4 Elements Yoga, 7935 Airport Road Suite 215, Naples, FL 34120 239.297.8844 www.yoga4elementsyoga.com

Tuesday, April 12

Regenerative/Cellular Therapy

12:00–1:00 pm; free Learn about regenerative medicine treatments, including stem cells combined with other natural treatments. How these treatments may help conditions such as knee pain, back pain, and peripheral neuropathy.

Feel Amazing Institute 3031 Airport-Pulling Rd., Naples, FL 34105 Register by calling 239.330.1000

48 SPRING 2022

Friday, April 15 Breath and Body

Essential Naples Wa n t s Yo u !

We are seeking a positive, enthusiastic, goal-oriented advertising sales/marketing professional. Responsible for networking, generating leads, and consultative sales.

Candidate should be self-motivated and be able to work on a collaborative team.

Work from home opportunity and commission only.

Please send cover letter and resume to Dr. Diane Hayden diane@essentialnaples.com.

5:00–6:00 pm, $25 The only outdoor balcony yoga studio in Naples, experience the elements at 4 Elements Yoga Naples. The 30-minute breathwork class is followed by a Zen yoga sequence, unwinding you from the week and preparing you for a relaxing weekend.

Betsy Opyt 4 Elements Yoga, 7935 Airport Road Suite 215, Naples, FL 34120 239.297.8844 www.yoga4elements.com/

Saturday, April 16

Full Moon Venus Circle

7:00–9:00 pm, $88 Cycle with the moon and circle with other women to celebrate the celesterial sister. This closed container will allow for sharing, healing, and bonding with your feminine flow. This group is led by the Light Goddess Astrologer, sharing her knowledge on the stars, moon, and your astrology sign. Includes a personal reading.

Betsy Opyt 4 Elements Yoga 7935 Airport Road Suite 215, Naples, FL 34120 239.297.8844 www.yoga4elements.com/

Friday, April 29 Bro-YoGa

6:00–7:30 pm, $40 Bend and Brew.… Boys can do yoga too! The only balcony experience in Naples and a male-led class with men in mind, this yoga class is for those who think only women do yoga. Created for all levels, stretch and bend with a brew from a local brewery.

Must be 21 for the beer, but all ages, genders, and yoga experience welcome! Enjoy the sunset from the balcony after class!

Betsy Opyt 4 Elements Yoga, 7935 Airport Road Suite 215, Naples, FL 34120 239.297.8844 www.yoga4elements.com/

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ESSENTIAL Naples

Order online at MyNaturesRite.com or call 800-991-7088

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< PAGE 38 “Treating Sinusitis Naturally and Effectively” BY STEVEN FRANK

49 SPRING 2022

EVIDENCE-BASED, SAFE, WORLD-LEADING

STEM CELL TREATMENT in beautiful Antigua. Consultations in Bonita Springs/Chicago/virtually

• Arthritis • MS • Autism • Diabetes • ALS • Crohn’s/UC

• Kidney

Disease • Lupus • ED • Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Spine Pain • Lung • Anti-Aging • Memory • Other

CHADWICK PRODROMOS, M.D.

SCAN ME

Princeton AB Johns Hopkins MD, Harvard Fellowship, U-Chi/Rush Residency

www.thepsci.com www.theforem.org E-mail: care@thepsci.com

(847) 699-6810 < PAGE XX “Article Name” BY DR

Confidence Through Guidance Confidence Through Guidance Confidence Through Guidance

Confidence Through Guidance

Nina Azwoir First Vice President, Investments tel: 239.687.5204 Nina Azwoir Nina Azwoir First Vice President, Investments LOCATED AT Firsttel: Vice President, Investments 3401239.687.5204 Tamiami Trail North

tel: Naples, 239.687.5204 Florida LOCATED AT

3401 Tamiami LOCATED AT Trail North Naples, Floridamanagement services are offered through Wintrust Investments, LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), founded in 1931. Trust and asset management Securities, insurance products, financial planning, and investment

3401 Tamiami Trail North Naples, Florida

services offered by The Chicago Trust Company, N.A. and Great Lakes Advisors, LLC, respectively. © 2020 Wintrust Wealth Management Investment products such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are: NOT FDIC INSURED | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT A DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY Securities, insurance products, financial planning, and investment management services are offered through Wintrust Investments, LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), founded in 1931. Trust and asset management services offered by The Chicago Trust Company, N.A. and Great Lakes Advisors, LLC, respectively. © 2020 Wintrust Wealth Management Investment products such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are: Securities, NOT insurance products, financial planning, and investment management services offered through Wintrust Investments, LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), founded in 1931. Trust and asset management FDIC INSURED | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT A DEPOSIT | NOTare INSURED

BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

services offered by The Chicago Trust Company, N.A. and Great Lakes Advisors, LLC, respectively. © 2020 Wintrust Wealth Management