April 2019
Branching out Landrigan demonstrates his wood-carving equipment and loon-making process in the workshop next to his home on Big Mantrap Lake. Hanging on the walls are examples of his colored-pencil work on handcarved bread boards. (Photos by Robin Fish/Enterprise)
of art as a never-ending process of discovery. His carvings of loons, wood ducks, avocets and other aquatic birds Nine of 10 years of the Chili are based on sketches and tracChallenge benefiting the Hubbard ings of photographs that he found County Food Shelf, Bob Landrigan and sometimes scaled up or down. has supplied a loon, hand-carved Years of research and trial-and-erfrom butternut wood, as one of the ror honed his craft. drawing prizes. Sketches on wood, using one color In a recent interview, Landrigan of pencil, led to full-color drawings. recalled how often, while selling Discussions with members of the tickets for that drawing, someone Colored Pencil Society of America has asked him, “How long did it (CPSA) tightened his focus. Mistake you to make that loon?” takes, such as choosing a wood with After a gesture suggesting he an open grain that broke up his finds the question hard to answer, Landrigan said, “A woman asked this the other pencil strokes, led him to pay closer attention to the materials he was choosing. day. It’s almost like time doesn’t count.” Basswood, he said, is the preferred wood for “But the number you tell them is 40 hours,” his people to draw on because it has no open grain. wife, Elaine, reminded him. “But for me,” Bob persisted, “and I think for a “That little mill over there at Two Inlets might lot of people that fiddle with a lot of activities, it’s have the finest in the country,” he added. Landrigan didn’t study at an art school. He found the little learning process that continues, and time his own way by experimentation and research, kind of melts away.” During a tour of the workshop where he carves with a little advice from like-minded friends. “The stain took me years to figure out,” he said. the loons, mixes and applies stain extracted from the green husks of walnuts, and shapes basswood “But when you’re drawing with pencil, you’re planks into bread boards and two-foot-long decWOOD CARVING: Page 3 orative paddles, Landrigan returned to the theme
Landrigan says learning process is fun
Inside this issue... 2 Odd growth on a cyclamen, quackgrass in strawberries and controlling creeping Charlie 4 More tips for communicating with someone with dementia 6 Embrace the flavors of the season with Winter Fruit Salad 8 Does Medicare cover vision services?
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Odd growth on a cyclamen, quackgrass in strawberries and controlling creeping Charlie Growing Together BY DON KINZLER Columnist Q: Here is a picture of my cyclamen plant. Can you tell me what the round growth is? It’s not a flower bud. — Willard Hiebert, Moorhead A: Thanks for the interesting photo. The round ball shape at the end of the stalk appears to be a seed pod. Cyclamen flowers, located atop a slender stalk, usually wither and fall without forming a seedhead. In nature, cyclamens are usually pollinated by insects. Indoors, without these busy insects to transfer pollen within flowers, potted florist-type cyclamens don’t usually produce seed pods. Occasionally, though, through plant movement or leaves rustling against flowers, some pollen gets transferred to the right locations within a flower, even in the absence of insects. Instead of petals dropping, leaving a bare stalk, the pollinated flower remains active after petals whither, with the ovary gradually enlarging. If all goes well, viable seeds will form within the pod. Q: You responded to a recent question about quackgrass in asparagus by suggesting two brands of weed killer, which were Bonide’s Grass Beater and Hi-Yield’s Grass Killer. Would these work for quackgrass in strawberries
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also? — Debby Wagenman, Dent, Minn. A: I checked the product labels, and both Hi-Yield Grass Killer and Bonide Grass Beater indicate they can be used for grass control in strawberries. The waiting period between the time of application and time of berry harvest is listed as seven days. Quackgrass usually starts growing in spring long before the first berries would be harvested, so a preferred method would be to apply the herbicide in early spring to actively growing quackgrass that’s reached at least 6 inches in height. The active ingredient in both these herbicides is the same, sethoxydim, with Hi-Yield Grass Killer containing 18 percent of the active ingredient and Bonide Grass Beater
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listed at 13 percent. Because herbicide labels are legal documents, it’s a legal requirement to use the product only on crops specifically listed, and in this case, both products may be used on strawberries. Q: I had a creeping Charlie problem at my Minnesota lake home years ago and was advised by a hardware store salesperson to simply use borax mixed with water in a spray bottle and it eliminated the weed. The same person advised me to use Dawn dish soap mixed with water to treat the problem of box elder bugs clinging to my house in the hundreds. It stopped them in their tracks and when it rained, I had a nice clean exterior. — Duane K., Grand Forks A: Dish soap mixed with water is a good remedy for box elder bugs, but I’m afraid borax is no longer recommended for creeping Charlie control. This from the University of Minnesota: “In the past, borax (boron) was a product recommended for eradicating creeping Charlie. However, research has shown that the addition of boron to soil, even in very small amounts, can create an unfavorable growing environment, and make it difficult to re-establish lawn grass. Also, this isn’t a legal application. Any product used in this fashion must be specifically labeled for the weed one is trying to control. Therefore, borax it is no longer recommended for eradication of creeping Charlie.” This is a great example of the value of research, which led to borax being found potentially more dangerous than helpful. If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler at ForumGrowingTogether@hotmail.com. All questions will be answered, and those with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.
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April 2019 WOOD CARVING From Page 1
using a light blue, and you learn something. So, you take a little darker blue, and you learn something. There’s a learning process that is the fun.” In retirement, the Landrigans live in the last house on a point on Big Mantrap Lake that, in bygone days, was the Ladyslipper Point Resort, just east of 3M Wonewok. In the 1970s, when Bob was a science teacher and guidance counselor with the St. Cloud public schools, the lake place was their family getaway. Both of their homes back then were heated by wood stoves. Once a year, Landrigan would take a trailer to buy firewood. After one trip, he realized he had picked up a load of hickory, which he couldn’t burn. That’s how he started carving. His previous, self-taught artworks were mainly paintings of country rail depots, inspired by his father’s background as a depot agent. In 1975, Bob wove a few Nantucket lightship baskets out of strips of black ash, which he pounded flat in the couple’s laundry room in St. Cloud. “I’ve lived with a lot,” Elaine noted. “I peeled off the wood and made that,” Bob said, indicating a basket that he kept. “I stained this oak rim and handle.” When it was done, Bob said, he took the basket to a teacher at his school who had traveled in Vietnam and Afghanistan. “He looked at it and said, ‘That’s really nice. You can compete with the Asians.’”
The right wood
Like many wood carvers, he prefers working with butternut, a wood nicknamed white walnut. In comparison, “basswood is a white wood,” Landrigan explained. “You almost need to add color to do something with it. Butternut was a little harder, but softer than walnut, so it’s fairly nice to carve with, and when
you’re done, you have wood showing.” Unfortunately, the U.S. supply of butternut was decimated by disease in the 1970s and 80s. “When I decided that was my art form, I had to buy butternut,” said Landrigan. “In 1990-91, I started calling. I called the Hutchinson mill, and the man laughed and said, ‘I used to almost make my living selling butternut. I don’t think I’ve seen a piece of that for three years.’” He kept looking until he found a lumber mill in Rushford, south of Winona. “The owner said, ‘I’ve been waiting for your call.’ He had 12 first logs. So, I bought them, and then I had to pay for them.” He paid for them by selling the art he made out of them. “The wood and all his equipment cost about $10,000,” said Elaine. “He’s sold enough to pay for it. Most of it was by word of mouth, in St. Cloud and here.” Bob clarified, “When we were teaching, we didn’t have a lot of money. We had a couple kids. So, I had to pay for it. I worked pretty hard at it.” People noticed the fruits of that hard work. His wood carvings, many of them depicting Minnesota’s state bird, were displayed and sold at various locations ranging the entire length of the Mississippi River, from Schoolcraft Gallery in Lake George to a shop called the Crab Net, on Bourbon St. in New Orleans. Several of the birds reside permanently at the couple’s home. Their grandson liked to ride one
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of the larger loons when he was little. “I only made three or four this size,” said Bob, while Elaine hefted the almost life-size carving. “They’re really hard to make.” A wall of cupboards on the lower level of
WOOD CARVING: Page 5
f
Not all of the birds Landrigan has carved are loons. Other butternut wood creations include wood ducks and shore birds such as this avocet.
Landrigan said he likes best to draw birds native to his home area, using colored pencils on tight-grained basswood, like this paddle.
s and s loon include rnut as well k r o tw te an's ar om but wood. Landrig ds carved fr ings on bass ir w b other ed-pencil dra r as colo
An assortment of colored-pencil drawings on bread boards and paddles hangs in the entryway of the Landrigans' home.
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More tips for communicating with someone with dementia The Family Circle BY LAUREL HED Columnist Did you know that the spoken word provides only 7 percent of any message communicated between two people? Expression and how one says the words account for 35 percent of any message communicated. Body language accounts for 58 percent of any message. This means that more than 90 percent of our messages are communicated nonverbally. Communication with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging and each person with the disease will be unique in what works for them. Some of the retained skills for most people living with Alzheimer’s are music, sense of humor, ability to read non-verbals, long-term memory and social graces. Music and emotion are retained in more than one place in the brain. Using music and rhythm when wanting some to walk or get up or sit down works well. This technique is helpful with someone living with Parkinson’s or Lewy Bodies. Humor can go a long way. Approaching with a smile and light mood can often set the tone for how cooperative the person will be. As I mentioned earlier, most communication is
nonverbal, so your actions will speak louder than words. Pointing, touching, smiling all are generally well received. As someone progresses in this disease, the longterm memory is what will be recalled the most. Looking at photo albums, scrapbooks or home movies are all well-received. Making a memory box of past mementos are enjoyed as well. Typically, people retain their social graces, remembering to say “please” and “thank you.” Some changes in their communication abilities are speaking less often, relying on gestures instead of speaking, reverting to speaking in their native language and swearing. Communicating with a person with dementia requires patience, understanding and being a good
listener. So, how do you help the person communicate? When a person knows in their mind what they want to say, but have a hard time putting it into words, that can be very upsetting. So be patient and supportive and let them know that you are listening and trying to understand. Show your interest with good eye contact and offer comfort and reassurance. Encourage them to continue to try and explain their thoughts. Give them time and be careful not to interrupt. Every time they are interrupted their thought process must go back to the very beginning. Avoid criticizing or correcting, instead listen close and try to understand what they are talking about and when they are done repeat back to be sure you have really understood their message. If you just can’t understand what they are talking about ask them to show you or point to what they may be talking about. It is so important to limit distractions.Turn off radios, TVs and find a nice, quiet place to sit which will help support the person’s ability to focus on their thoughts. Focus on their feelings and emotions. Sometimes the emotions being expressed are more important than what is being said. Look for the feelings behind the words. At times, tone of voice and other actions may provide clues. Laurel Hed is a licensed social worker and geriatric care manager for the elder law attorneys of Thomason Swanson and Zahn Law Firm.
Stroke damage prevents carpenter from doing home projects Minding Our Elders CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist Dear Carol: My husband’s an experienced carpenter, so there’s rarely been a house problem that he couldn’t fix. Now that’s changed because he had a stroke a year ago, which took away most of his ability to use his tools. He gets upset when he notices things around our home that need fixing because he can’t do the work. I can live with imperfections, but seeing the look on his face when our swollen front door sticks or a deck board cracks makes me want to cry. We can afford to hire the work done, but he refuses to consider it. Is it better to just let it be, which hurts him, or should I insist on having things fixed at the risk of hurting him even more? – CT Dear CT: I’m so sorry for both of you. We all know that this is how life can work, yet that doesn’t make
accepting reality any easier when these losses happen to us. It’s essential for your husband to take the time to concentrate on maintaining his health by following his doctors’ directives, which may include diet and exercise as well as physical and/or occupational therapy. The additional challenge of discovering a new normal for his life and for your relationship means that he already has his work cut out for him, but he understandably wants more. Your husband is used to the traditional role of being the fixer around the house. Someone who’s worked with his hands as he has might even view the loss of his ability to use his tools to build and repair things around your home as a major blow to his masculinity and self-esteem. Maybe you could help him understand that while his body may not work as well as it did, he hasn’t lost access to all that he has learned through his years of experience. Now is the time for him to transition from a hands-on role for your home repairs to perhaps a foreman-like role. Since you said that you can afford to have the home repairs and improvements taken care of by others, make a list together consisting of what needs fixing now, and what types of improve-
ments both of you would like to see in order to keep your home safe and comfortable for both of you well into your later years. He could then begin to build a team of people who he can hire to do the manual part of his projects. If he can accept his new role as valid and important, he may also become more accepting of his new normal. People who’ve had strokes are at high risk for depression, so encourage your husband to seek help from a counselor if his outlook doesn’t improve over time. Also, consider a stroke survivor support group. Peers who understand what your husband faces can offer enormous comfort, as well as practical ideas. Carol Bradley Bursack is a veteran caregiver and an established columnist. She is also a blogger, and the author of “Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.” Bradley Bursack hosts a website supporting caregivers and elders at www.mindingourelders.com. She can be reached at carolbradleybursack@mindingourelders.com.
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April 2019 WOOD CARVING From Page 3
their house conceals a still considerable stockpile of wood, individual boards separated by pieces of cardboard to prevent scratching. “I’m just a little bit anal,” Bob said ruefully, looking at all that wood. “He loves wood,” said Elaine. “I think I could draw for seven or eight years, and never go buy another piece of wood because I’ve got it,” Bob said. In tribute to his wife, he added, “She’s a big part of this. The pile of butternut that I still have, she refers to that as the divorce pile. If I ask her to move it again, she’s leaving me.”
We dance
Bob didn’t shape all of the artwork on display in their home. “There’s a gentleman named Dennis Ernst,” said Elaine, holding up a miniature carving of a group of birdhouses. “He made this. Just look at the detail!” Also, one of the birds looking down from atop their kitchen cabinets isn’t carved at all, but stuffed. “That’s a real bird that our son shot,” Elaine asked. Bob mused, “I had a book on ornithology in college, 1962-63. That bird in that book is referred to as an old squaw. Today, the name of that bird is longtailed duck.” Whatever you call it, the stuffed bird doesn’t look much more real than Bob’s carvings. In their yard, on the side of the house facing the lake, stands a wooden sign with an eagle on it, also carved by Bob. Standing atop the sign is a slender dancing figure, supported by a steel rod going up inside its leg. He carved the dancer to remind them of something Joseph Campbell wrote about in his book “The Power of Myth.” “He’s in Japan,” said Bob, “and he’s with a Shinto priest, and he says to the Shinto priest, ‘I’ve seen your shrines. I’ve been in your temples. But I don’t understand your ideology, your theology. What are they?’ The Shinto priest thought for a minute, and he says, ‘We don’t have an ideology or a theology. We dance.’” Landrigan occasionally teaches a class about colored-pencil drawing. He also seemed to enjoy describing how he carves and stains his wooden loons. The process involves gluing boards together, mounting them on a bracket in his workshop and peeling off strips of wood with curved-bladed tools until it resembles the pattern he started with. Then comes sanding, painting the details on the loon with liquid latex (which, once dry, protects the painted area from the stain), then washing the entire loon with the stain. “Making the stain is almost like making wine,” he added. “The last batch I made, we steeped down here for a whole winter.”
His recipe for the brew includes a mold-inhibiting chemical byproduct, which keeps the stain from going bad. After the stain goes on, he said, “I dry it with a hair-dryer, and then I rub the latex off. Now it’s raw. Then, I spray it three times with polyurethane, and I take four-ought steel wool, and I buff it. I do that five times, so there’s 15 coats of lacquer on that.” Bob’s shift of focus toward colored-pencil drawings started when he got a new hip. “I wanted to get away from board shaping, and I had this ‘eureka’ idea – I’ll carve two-foot paddles out of basswood, and then I’ll draw on them.” No work bench is needed for this type of project. Once the bread boards and paddles have been prepared, the rest of the project happens in the comfort of an easy chair in the Landrigans’ living room. Holding one of his paddles, decorated with plunging eagles, soaring geese and swimming loons, Bob said, “This is me in action. It’s how I get through TV. I have my pencils, and I draw, and I try to keep the last one I did as a model for my next one.” He added, “When I went to Florida this year, I took this with me. These are things that live on fish, except for these five geese that snuck in here. Then I asked the people out there. I said, ‘Is that what you do? Do you draw your environment?’ The answer was yes.” On other boards, he has drawn barns and country scenes. He even sold one of them to Hanneke Jevons, a leading artist in the CPSA. “I took some boards that I had drawn on, and she said, ‘I like that! Can I buy that?’ It was barns, and it turns out she’s got horses.” Returning to his theme, Landrigan said, “The whole thing for me has been a learning process. Because of what’s going on with drawing, it still is. It’s fun.”
Landrigan reminisces about the process of making this Nantucket lightship basket. He said an art teacher told him that his basketweaving work could stand up alongside Asian craftsmanship.
This wood carving of the weeping figure depicted in an earlier pencil sketch forms the second part of a "before and after" pair of works hanging on the walls of Landrigan's woodworking shop.
The Wizard, the Tree of Life and a colored-pencil farm scene are some of the prized works grouped in a corner of the Landrigans' living room.
New T ransitio na Landrigan's loons are signed on the bottom, and the hole from where they were mounted on his work bench is plugged by either an embossed pewter medallion, as shown here, or a leather one in older works.
aw it, can dr if you step in the t a h t g rned first of the has lea weepin aid he an example awing of a s n a ig Landr carve it. As is pencil dr h n you ca , he keeps t p. s o proces his worksh in figure
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Parable of of a depiction of the the pigs' slop is part p. ng ho ari rks sh wo ure 's fig an n The huma or in Landrig t hangs above a do the Prodigal Son tha
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Keeping active benefits people of all ages Generations on the Move BY KARIN HAUGRUD Columnist People are living longer than ever before. Advances in medicine, nutritional awareness, and improved exercise habits have contributed to the rapid growth of the 65-plus age group. By the year 2030, there will be more people over age 65 than under age 18. Exercise is no less important for those in their 60s and 70s than it is for people half that age. No matter what your age, the benefits of exercise are the same – increased energy and self-esteem, conditioned heart and lungs, improved muscle tone, and greater function of bones and joints. Engaging in regular exercise can also reduce the effects of certain chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Sixty-five percent of Minnesota’s adult population is not regularly active. Because inactivity increases with age, the majority of Minnesota’s older adults are not physically active on a regular basis. Regular physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle, regardless of age. Why is lack of physical activity a problem for older adults? Physical inactivity is a problem for everyone, but it is particularly evident in older adults. Physiological changes occur with aging. When aging is
accompanied by physical inactivity, adults are more likely to be affected by illness, loss of function and loss of independence. There are many sports and activities you can choose from in order to achieve your fitness goals. The best choices, however, will be those activities that you truly enjoy. It’s much easier to stay with something that’s fun to do. Walk, ride a bike or dance. Even things like working in a garden and cleaning the house are good for you. Walking is a great way to achieve overall fitness year-round. It strengthens your cardiovascular system, tones and limbers up your muscles, and burns off unwanted calories. Walking at a brisk pace gives you the same aerobic benefits as jogging. Walking also reduces blood pressure, improves sleeping habits, helps digestion, alleviates constipa-
tion, raises metabolism, and helps to reduce loss of bone mass in post-menopausal women. While it is important to stay active, it’s also important to play it safe. Go slow. Build up your activity level gradually. As you become fit, you can increase the sessions to every day, and if you wish, you can make each session longer. If you choose a fairly vigorous activity, begin each session slowly. Allow a 5-minute period of stretching and slow movement to give your body a chance to “warm up.” Exercise at a comfortable, steady pace that allows you to speak to someone without running out of breath. Exercising at this pace gives your muscles time to relax between each repetition. At the end of your workout, take another 5 minutes to “cool down” with a slower exercise pace. This lets your heart rate return to normal and helps your muscles and joints remain flexible. If you experience any shortness of breath, dizziness, cold or clammy skin, nausea or chest pains while exercising, stop exercising immediately and contact your physician. It’s never too late to increase your physical activity or start an exercise program. Get an okay and some guidelines from your physician before you start. This article is made possible with Older Americans Act dollars from the Land of the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging. Call the Senior LinkAge® One Stop Shop at 800-333-2433 to speak with an information specialist, or check out our website at MinnesotaHelp.info. MinnesotaHelp.info is an online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help.
Embrace the flavors of the season with Winter Fruit Salad By Sarah and Tony Nasello Forum News Service This week’s Winter Fruit Salad showcases ingredients that are readily available in winter — like apples, oranges, fennel, walnuts, celery and fresh mint — to create a weekend brunch dish that is simple, elegant and delicious. The apples are the star of this salad, and Pink Lady is my top choice for this recipe. Pink Lady apples are sweet, juicy and perfectly tart, and with their wonderful pink hue and firm, crisp texture, they bring flavor, color and substance to this dish. To prepare the apples, use a sharp knife and make four vertical cuts around the apple, coming as close to the core as possible without including it. Then, cut each quarter into quarter-inch slices, leaving the peel on for added color and nutrition. I typically slice the apples just before serving the salad to prevent discoloring of their flesh, but you could prepare them up to four hours in advance and soak them in a mix of cold water and lemon juice for up to 3 to 4 hours. This recipe calls for two oranges, and while navel oranges will work just fine, for this dish I’ve chosen a combination of cara cara and blood oranges, which are still available in our local markets. The oranges are cut into sections, which you can create by using a sharp paring knife to carefully remove the fruit from between each section of the orange. Don’t worry if you end up leaving some fruit attached to the sections, as the remaining portion will be used to flavor the vinaigrette. Fennel is one of my favorite winter ingredients, and for this dish I use a food mandolin to shave the fennel bulb into ultra-thin slices. With its signature anise flavor and subtle, peppery undertones, fennel is a great complement to the sweetness from the apples and oranges. And, to bring a bit of crunch to this salad, I’ve added sliced celery and toasted walnut pieces. To round out the dish, I toss all of the ingredients with a minty cider vinaigrette using a ratio of three parts apple cider vinegar to one part extra virgin olive oil. The vinaigrette also includes Dijon mustard, a favor-
ite of mine when it comes to making great dressing, as well as fresh mint, honey, garlic powder and the juice from the sectioned oranges. I love the ease of this recipe, as most of the prep can be done even a day in advance of serving, save for the apples. The dressing can be made up to one week in advance and the acid from the citrus and vinegar will help keep the salad fresh for up about two to three days after making. So, rather than bemoaning our never-ending, snow-filled winter, I’ll gently encourage you to embrace the flavors of the season, instead, with this lovely, nutritious, easy to make and delicious Winter Fruit Salad. 2 Pink Lady apples, cut into 1/4-inch slices 1 fennel bulb, thinly shaved 2 stalks celery, cut on the bias (on the diagonal) 2 oranges, sectioned 1 cup walnut pieces, toasted For the dressing 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon fresh mint, finely chopped 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons honey Pinch of garlic powder Juice from leftover sectioned oranges Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper
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Winter Fruit Salad
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In a small bowl, prepare the dressing first by whisking together the oil, vinegar, mint, mustard, honey, garlic powder and orange juice until well combined. Whisk in a half-teaspoon of salt and a quarter-teaspoon of black pepper; taste and add more seasoning as desired. Dressing may be made several days in advance and refrigerated until ready to serve. Makes about 1 cup. In a medium bowl, add the sliced apple, fennel, celery, walnuts and orange sections. Just before serving, pour half of the dressing over the ingredients and toss gently until evenly coated. Add more dressing as necessary. Transfer the salad to a shallow serving dish and enjoy. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days. Serves four to six.
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April 2019
Is the Keto diet for you?
Is the Keto diet for you? By Teresa Farrell Dietician, Essentia Health With the Keto diet being very popular right now, you may be thinking about trying it yourself. Is it the right diet for you? Before deciding, what exactly is a keto diet? The diet is characterized by a dramatic reduction in carbohydrates and a LARGE increase in fat intake. A classic keto diet is 87 to 90 percent fat, with the other 10 to 13 percent being a combination of protein and carbs. Without carbs (the body’s typical go-to fuel), the body goes into ketosis, in which the liver breaks down fat for energy. Most people try the keto diet to lose weight and/or improve blood glucose/sugar control. There is evidence that this diet works for those purposes. However, the bulk of evidence for the effectiveness of the keto diet is for people who have drug-resistant epilepsy. The question becomes can you stick with a diet plan that eliminates bread, pasta, rice, beans, corn and other starchy vegetables, fruit, milk and sugar? Fats (0 carbs) should make up the bulk of your diet; recommended fats are olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocado oil, butter, coconut oil, cheese and animal fats. Note that the American Heart Association recently warned that coconut oil is loaded with saturated fat and may raise LDL/bad cholesterol. A keto diet can be followed without the use of coconut oil. Also allowed are small to moderate amounts of protein, such as fish, eggs, seafood, poultry and meat. Small amounts of low-carb vegetables are allowed as well – leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cucumber, celery, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and herbs. While there is no calorie counting involved, carbs need to be carefully tracked to maintain the state of ketosis. In my weight-loss-counseling experience, a significant decrease in a macronutrient group (carbs, fat and protein) is very difficult for most people to follow long term. And, numerous studies show that what’s most important for long-term weight loss success is adherence. Generally, for most people trying to lose weight, I don’t recommend diets that are very high or low in specific macronutrient groups. There are easier, more balanced approaches to weight loss. Plenty of evidence supports that having a more balanced diet plan, while decreasing calories can help you lose weight. There are some people who prefer and can adhere
to a very restrictive diet long term, and for a small percentage of people the keto diet may be a good choice. Side effects are possible following a keto diet, such as the “keto flu”– fuzzy thinking, nausea, fatigue and headaches in the first four to five days as your body begins to adjust to your new way of eating. People may also experience hypoglycemia/low blood sugar, dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, kidney stones and GI issues, such as constipation. Vitamin and mineral supplementation is recommended. There are pre-made ketogenic specific vitamins available. Here are some Keto-friendly recipes: Chicken-and-Cheese-Stuffed Peppers 4 large green bell peppers, washed 3 cups shredded chicken breast 5 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup mayonnaise 4 tablespoons cream cheese 8 ounces salsa verde Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Cut peppers in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Arrange the pepper halves in a baking dish, cut side up. Mix the shredded chicken, mayonnaise and cream
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Jen Keller O.D.
100 Huntsinger Ave, Park Rapids 732-3389 107 6th St., Walker 547-3666 Murry D. Westberg, O.D. Jen Keller, O.D. R.W. Helm, O.D.
1-877-700-3389 www.prweyeclinic.com
cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fill pepper with chicken mixture. Generously drizzle the peppers with the olive oil. Top with the shredded cheese. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until they are done to your liking. Servings: 8 Naked Fish Tacos 1 cup coleslaw mix 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 green onion, sliced 1 teaspoon chopped, seeded jalapeno pepper 4 teaspoons canola oil, divided 2 teaspoons lime juice 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided 1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided 2 tilapia fillets (6 oz. each) 1/2 medium ripe avocado, peeled and sliced Place first four ingredients in a bowl; toss with 2 teaspoons oil, lime juice, cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Refrigerate until serving. Pat fish fillets dry with paper towels; sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat; cook tilapia until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, three to four minutes per side. Top with slaw and avocado. Servings: 2
Dermatochalasis (Droopy Eyelids)
Most commonly found in patients over 50 years of age, dermatochalasis is a condition involving excess skin of the upper and sometimes the lower eyelids. What are the symptoms of dermatochalasis? Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the condition. The most common symptoms include brow ache, eye fatigue and reduced peripheral vision. Many patients will notice their lid skin resting on their eyelashes, and may see their eyelid or lashes interfering with their superior visual field. Patients may report their eyes and upper eyelids get tired later in the day, and they struggle with reading and other tasks due to fatigue. Many of these patients will also have horizontal wrinkles across their forehead, from constantly lifting their brow to help hold their eyes open. What treatment options are available? The excess lid skin in dermatochalasis can be removed in a minor outpatient procedure called a blepharoplasty. During the procedure, a wedge of skin is removed from the upper lids, and the lids are sutured back together. Occasionally during this surgery, the patient’s upper eyelid muscles are also tightened to assist with lifting the lids. Where do I start? If you are having symptoms of dermatochalasis, your first step is to see your optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam. If your dermatochalasis is significant enough, we will have you perform a visual field test to determine what effect the lids are having on your peripheral vision. We will then send all your information to a lid surgeon, who you will see to discuss treatment options. In many cases, if the lids are having a negative effect on your vision, medical insurance may cover a portion of the surgery.
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Does Medicare cover vision services? The Savvy Senior BY JIM MILLER Columnist Dear Savvy Senior, I will be enrolling in Medicare in a few months, and would like to know how Medicare covers vision services? I currently have vision insurance through my employer, but will lose it when I retire. ~ Looking Ahead Dear Looking, Many people approaching 65 are unclear on what Medicare does and doesn’t cover when it comes to vision services. The good news is that original Medicare covers most medical issues like cataract surgery, treatment of eye diseases and medical emergencies. But, unfortunately, routine care like eye exams and eyeglasses are the beneficiary’s responsibility. Here’s a breakdown of what is and isn’t covered. Eye exams and treatments: Medicare does not cover routine eye exams that test for eyeglasses or contact lenses. But they do cover yearly medical eye exams if you have diabetes or are at high risk for glaucoma. They will also pay for exams to test and treat medical eye diseases if you’re having vision problems that indicate a serious eye problem like macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, eye infections or if you get something in your eye. Eye surgeries: Medicare will cover most eye surgeries that help repair the eye function, including cataract surgery to remove cataracts and insert standard intraocular lenses to replace your own. Medicare will not, however, pick up the extra cost if you choose a specialized lens that restores full range of
vision, thereby reducing your need for glasses after cataract surgery. The extra cost for a specialized lens can run up to $2,500 per eye. Eye surgeries that are usually not covered by Medicare include refractive (LASIK) surgery and cosmetic eye surgery that are not considered medically necessary. Eyeglasses and contact lenses: Medicare does not pay for eyeglasses or contact lenses, with one exception: If you have had a conventional intraocular lens inserted during cataract surgery, Medicare will pay for eyeglasses or contact lenses following the operation.
Ways to save
Although original Medicare’s vision coverage is limited to medical issues, there are ways you can save on routine care. Here are several to check into. Consider a Medicare Advantage plan: One way you can get extra vision coverage when you join Medicare
is to choose a Medicare Advantage plan instead of original Medicare. Many of these plans, which are sold through private insurance companies, will cover routine eye care and eyeglasses along with all of your hospital and medical insurance, and prescription drugs. See Medicare.gov/find-a-plan to shop for plans. Purchase vision insurance: If you get routine eye exams and purchase new eyeglasses annually, a vision insurance plan may be worth the costs. These policies typically run between $12 and $20 per month. See Ehealthinsurance.com to look for plans. Check veterans benefits: If you’re a veteran and qualify for VA health care benefits, you may be able to get some or all of your routine vision care through VA. Go to Vets.gov, and search for “vision care” to learn more. Shop around: Many retailers provide discounts – between 10 and 30 percent – on eye exams and eyeglasses if you belong to a membership group like AARP or AAA. You can also save by shopping at discount retailers like Costco Optical, which is recommended by Consumer Reports as the best discount store for good eyewear and low prices – it requires a $60 membership fee. Walmart Vision Centers also offer low prices with no membership. Or consider buying your glasses online. Online retailers like WarbyParker.com, ZenniOptical.com, and EyeBuyDirect.com all get top marks from the Better Business Bureau and offer huge savings. To purchase glasses online you’ll need a prescription. Look for assistance: There are also health centers and local clinics that provide free or discounted vision exams and eyeglasses to those in need. To find them put a call into your local Lions Club (see Directory.LionsClubs.org) for referrals. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.