Legal Co-Cane? Go Ahead, Try Some!
Infidelity
a pattern of behavior that seeks self-satisfaction The Woman’s Guide to…
BREATHING SOME WOMEN ORGASM DURING EXERCISE
Premier On Call: From surgery to service
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NATIONAL BANK
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contents FEATURES 6
“BREAK THE SILENCE: END CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE”.
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LIGHT IT UP BLUE - April is Autism Awareness Month
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HEALTH
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Cicatricial Alopecia
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The power of Reflexology
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The future of medicine is in your lifestyle
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Lifelong steps to prevent Cancer
TECHNOLOGY 42
The Facts about Laser Dentistry
LIFESTYLES STEPHEN BEARD
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KATE JACKSON
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Infidelity is a pattern of behavior that seeks self-satisfaction.
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Some women orgasm during exercise
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The Woman’s Guide to…BREATHING
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CHOOSE A PERSONAL TRAINER 11 important questions to ask
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B.V.I.M.A.Seeking to build a world class medical system
FOOD
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Quick and Healthy Smoothies for Kids
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HEALTHY COOKWARE: The healthiest pots and pans for your kitchen
Something to chew on Thanks for picking up a copy of the inaugural issue of Just 4Health magazine. As the Caribbean’s ‘Fresh Health, Cool Life’ magazine, Just 4Health brings you refreshing perspectives of developments in the health industry, as well as the extraordinary stories of people just like you who are challenged to live healthy lifestyles. Just 4Health is a quarterly publication distributed free of cost to ensure that the message of health and wellness reaches far and wide. Lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes account for the highest number of deaths in the Western world. This magazine shares informative, groundbreaking, and interesting articles on
how to live healthy lifestyles and promote long life and wellness. In this edition, we explore the benefits of the coconut fruit, learn about new techniques in dentistry, and chat with a Head of Government who is still a practicing physician! You may also read the inspiring story of the onceparalysed marathon runner, and recount the weight loss journey of a highly motivated woman. We hope that through reading, you will be encouraged to make wise choices and adopt lifestyle habits that will result in a healthy mind, body, and soul. Here’s to good health!
ON THE COVER
Publisher Relyon Marketing Group Editor Denise Clarke
The Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith. Photo by: Dame Peters Prodigy X Photography www.prodigyxphotog.com
Just 4Health Magazine is powered by Relyon Marketing Group. We reserve the right to edit, rewrite, or refuse material and we are not responsible for the accuracy and effectiveness of products which appear in this magazine. The entire contents of this magazine is copyrighted and may not be used without the written consent of the publisher.
Advertising Elton Callwood relyongroup@yahoo.com Graphics Visualeyes Fort Lauderdale Fl. Contributing Writers Denise Clarke Lorna Dawson Stacey Stoutt-James Stephanie Johnson Dr. June Samuel Dr. Jeranomo Dr. Harlan Vanterpool Nadine Battle Keiyia Jackson-George Dr. Trevor A C Connor - DDS Photographer Visualeyes Just4Health April - June 2013
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FEATURE
Break the Silence: End Child Sexual Abuse By Stacie Stoutt-James Programme Director, Social Development Department
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hild Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month is once again upon us. The theme for 2013 is “Break the Silence: End Child Sexual Abuse”. This year, the Department with the support of UNICEF has launched its “Break the Silence Initiative.” This initiative is a multi-pronged approach to protect children against child sexual abuse. During the month of April, Social Development Department joins with other child protection agencies in an effort to raise awareness on the subject of child abuse and neglect whilst encouraging individuals, organizations and communities to support and advocate for vulnerable children and families. Child sexual abuse has been known to originate in several spaces including the home, homes of relatives and family friends, schools, religious institutions and community locations. Family, Children & Protective Services within the Social Development Department has observed an increase in these reports over the last three years. The reality of sexual abuse and sexual violence against our children in the Virgin Islands is disturbing. It goes way beyond the repulsive stories we all read or hear in the media. For the past three years, fifty two (52) reports of sexual abuse have been reported to the Social Development Department. Some may say that for a population of a little over 28,000 the numbers are not alarming. However, if we look at it in the context that one live touches a family, and each family touches a community, in some way, then all of us would be touched and negatively affected by even one case of child sexual abuse in our community, therefore, one case is too many. The World Health Organization has called sexual abuse of children in the Caribbean a “silent
Silence is acceptance. Together, let’s break the silence! emergency.” This is a topic that you have probably read about numerous times, but one that we should never stop talking about so long as our children are being preyed on. What is Child Sexual Abuse? While there is no universal definition of child sexual abuse, one central element is the dominance and power play of an adult or older peer who forces or coerces a child into some form of sexual activity. Children who are sexually abused may have had their genitals fondled, forced to masturbate, may have had oral stimulation of their genitals by their abusers, or forced into vaginal and/or anal intercourse. In addition, it is important to recognize that sexual abuse doesn’t always involve body contact. Exposing a child to sexual situations or materials, encouraging children to behave in sexually explicit ways and involving them in watching sexual material is sexually abusive, whether Just4Health April - June 2013
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or not touching is involved. While news stories of sexual predators are scary, what is even more frightening is that sexual abuse usually occurs at the hand of someone the child knows and should be able to trust. And contrary to what many believe, it’s not just girls who are at risk. Boys and girls both suffer from sexual abuse. In fact, sexual abuse of boys may be underreported due to shame and stigma. All girls and boys are at risk of sexual violence. Knowledge is the first step towards prevention and intervention. Prevention is a tool that is underutilized in many areas of care. Prevention is providing education before, not after the fact, to equip persons with the tools needed to prevent child sexual abuse from happening. We as a territory must not only protect our boys and girls but also empower them with the necessary education to help prevent and stop incidences of sexual abuse. We must encourage them to report abuse and also assure them that they will be protected from their perpetrators when they do. What are some effects of sexual abuse on children? A child who is sexually abused may develop low selfesteem and feelings of worthlessness and may have a distorted view of sex. Very often, there are no signs of sexual abuse and it is only a doctor who may detect signs of sexual abuse. However, parents should be vigilant for other signs that may develop after a child has been abused. These include:
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• Problems falling asleep • Withdrawal from family and friends • Refusal to attend school • Behavioural problems at school • Unusual aggressiveness • Fear that something is wrong with the genitals • Depression • Unusual interest in or avoidance of all sexually related things • Fear of persons of the opposite sex • Secretiveness How can parents prevent or reduce the chance of child sexual abuse? • As parents we are in the position to have the most influential role in our children’s lives. Maintain an open and trustworthy relationship with your child. Mothers and fathers, talk to your daughters and sons about appropriate and inappropriate touching. No one should touch your child in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Let your children know that if anything makes them feel uncomfortable about the way someone touches them they have the RIGHT (no matter who it is) to tell that person they don’t like it. Let them know you will help them. Teach them about personal space. • Teach your children the appropriate terms for their genital parts, rather than using nicknames. It is important they know their anatomy so that if a situation does arise
and they are disclosing abuse it will be clear to those they are disclosing to. • Coach your children in saying assertively simple things such as “NO!” or “STOP!” if someone is doing something to make them feel uncomfortable. Instilling children with the confidence to say “NO!” may be just enough to scare off a perpetrator. • Your children must know and believe that you will protect them. Assure them that no matter what anyone tells them, no matter what threat is made by an abuser, they will be protected. Often time’s abusers threaten to harm the child or members of the child’s family if they disclose the abuse. It is important for our children to know they can come to their parents, teachers, doctors, aunts, uncles (any adult whom they trust) for help and support. Child sexual abuse is one of the most gut wrenching revelations any parent would want to know and in the heat of it all, a parent may want to cause harm to the alleged perpetrator. However, in the Virgin Islands, the Children & Young Persons Act 2005 mandates outside of educators, social workers and health care professionals, parents and immediate family members to report any case of suspected child maltreatment to the police. What should parents do if they think their child/ren has been abused? • Most importantly BELIEVE your children if they disclose sexual abuse to you. They need to know you support them. They need to trust you. They need to feel validated. If you don’t validate them they may feel even more helpless. Worse, the abuse will continue. • Do NOT blame your child for the abuse. It is a myth that a child might have somehow done something to bring the abuse upon them. The abuser is ALWAYS at fault. By law, no child under the age of sixteen can consent to sex. • Know what steps to take if you suspect your child is being abused or they disclose abuse to you. Contact the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and report the matter. Members of the Family & Juvenile Unit are trained to handle cases of child sexual abuse. They may be reached 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at 468-9647. Social Development Department may also be contacted at 468-3650. Social Workers there will provide support and resources to parents and victims affected by child sexual abuse. They may be contacted in an emergency at 468-YES1(9371). • Support the Social Development Department and their child protection efforts during April and throughout the year. Visit us at our offices in Road Town, email us at childrenandfamilyservicesbvi@gmail.com or visit us on facebook at breakthesilencevi. Get involved, make an individual commitment to be an advocate in our Virgin Islands community; our children are depending on us. Child Sexual Abuse: there are no innocent bystanders. Silence is acceptance— Together, let’s break the silence! Just4Health April - June 2013
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FEATURE
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Lorna Dawson Programme Director Autism
April is Autism Awareness Month
Lorna Dawson - Programme Director Autism
Autism is one of a group of serious developmental disorders called Autism Spectrum Disorders or ASD. Other conditions which are a part of the spectrum include Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified and Rett Syndrome. ASD affects the normal functioning and development of the brain and can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. It is more commonly found in males than females. The effect of autism on an individual can range from mild to very severe. There are also individuals with ASD who are very high functioning. Just4Health April - June 2013
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I
t is said that all autisms originate from before birth but may be present in different ways. You may see:
Early onset - The child may lack eye contact and social interaction which should begin during the first few months of life. Regressive - Where the child may develop normally during the first year of life. Then, after age one, they begin to regress. They stop using the few words that they know, they lose eye contact and social interaction diminishes. Halted progression - Sometimes a normally developing baby does not regress, but he/she stops progressing after age one. Although there is not a cure for autism, early intensive intervention can make a big difference in the lives of many children with the disorder. Individuals with autism often have difficulty with social interaction, communication, and responding appropriately to their surroundings. Social Interaction In the area of social interaction, individuals with autism may: • Seem isolated or not appear to care about others • Not be able to read body language or understand the need for tact • Behave or speak inappropriately or oddly • Avoid eye contact • Dislike physical contact • Have difficulty responding appropriately to the thoughts and feelings of others • Have difficulty starting and maintaining social interactions In the area of communication, individuals with autism may: • Have fluent speech with poor comprehension or have delayed or absent spoken language • Have an unusual tone, pitch and inflection of speech • Have echolalia which is an immediate or delayed repeating of something they heard • Take language literally and not understand sarcasm or humour • Seem argumentative, stubborn, or angry …or overcompliant, agreeing to anything even if untrue • Seem inattentive or unresponsive Individuals with autism may also have difficulties responding appropriately to their surroundings. They may: • Show resistance to any changes in
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their routine • Engage in activities for long periods of time without becoming bored • Make repetitive movements or posturing of body, arms, or fingers, such as flapping and spinning • Have special interests that can become obsessions • Like set rules and overreact when people break them • Find it difficult to imagine another person’s point of view. The year 2012 marked a historic moment for persons with autism living in the Virgin Islands. With the official opening of the Autism Centre on October 29, 2012 persons with autism living in the VI were able to begin receiving diagnostic as well as intervention services within the territory rather than having to seek those services overseas. Services are offered to children and adults with a diagnosis of ASD, as well as to their parents, family members, teachers, counsellors, clinical specialists, employers and caregivers. The centre was established by the Government of the Virgin Islands under the Ministry of Health and Social Development with initial funding from the Maria Memorial Trust in Barbados and technical support from Kingwood Trust in the United Kingdom. The centre provides services that help persons with autism spectrum disorders reach their full potential through the development of skills and interests that promote independence leading to an enhanced quality of life. They learn skills that help them improve their ability to communicate, improve their social interactions and they also learn to respond more appropriately to their surroundings. The centre offers a safe and nurturing environment in which children and adults can receive individualized support. Children receive services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while adults receive services on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Persons at the centre as well as individuals from the education system are part of an intervention team and have been trained to provide initial assessment as well as intervention for persons suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder. To make a referral for the evaluation of a person you suspect may be on the autism spectrum, please contact the centre to receive a referral form. A member of the intervention team will then be assigned to provide initial screening and determine if the person qualifies for a full diagnosis. If a full diagnosis is required, the centre will arrange for this to be done. Upon completion of the diagnosis, a multidisciplinary approach will be used to develop an intervention plan for the individual. The centre takes referrals from professionals, as well as families and caregivers. The centre is located upstairs the Rainbow Children’s Home in Lower Estate. If you have any queries concerning autism or the services offered by the centre, do not hesitate to call us on 468 3672/5 or email us at autism@gov.vg Remember, everyone with an autism spectrum disorder is a person first. It is important to know each person, what they can do and what they find difficult and work with them accordingly.
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W
e love moms who get down with yoga and tote their kids along to their own soccer games, but let’s face it: Not everyone’s mom is a health nut. Still, many of us would rather give her something healthy to show we care–instead of showering her with candies and treats that will ultimately make her less healthy. Just because she won’t appreciate a yoga class pass or gluten-free granola doesn’t mean you can’t give her something that will boost her health. Here are a few gifts she’ll enjoy, even if she’s doesn’t exactly share your interest in wellness, nutrition, or fitness:
Spa Gift Certificate She might not be psyched to get a free pass to the yoga studio, but most moms appreciate a trip to the spa. Even if she’s not into massage (which we can’t imagine, but we’ve heard is possible), she can find a soothing treatment to help her de-stress...which is always a healthy treat.
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Bath & Body Products Who doesn’t love a nice body scrub or sweet bubble bath? It’s slightly cliche, but go ahead and give mom some bath products this year, just make sure they’re not full of toxic chemicals. If you get her good stuff, you might just trick her into cleaning up her entire beauty routine.
Teas Most teas are packed with health benefits, but you don’t have to be a health nut to appreciate the way they taste. Pick varieties she can brew and chill for a healthy summer drink.
Diffusers Moms can often use some help chilling out and getting enough sleep; get them some pretty aromatherapy to put on their nightstand.
Potted Herbs Having fresh herbs on hand is always a good incentive to cook (which is nearly always healthier than eating out), but even if they don't get into a meal, the plants will help purify the air and brighten up mom's home far longer than a vase of cut flowers.
Cute Shopping Bags Grocery shopping—at the neighborhood supermarkets has become a drag, especially when you have to do it for an entire family and pay 15 cents for a plastic bag. Make it slightly more enjoyable for your mom with cute reusable shopping bags (and then offer to give her a hand).
Stylish Water Bottles Staying hydrated (and BPA-free) is so much more fun when you have something pretty to drink out of. Mom deserves a cute bottle or two to keep her in the habit this summer. Just4Health April - June 2013
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HEALTH
DR. A. GERONIMO JONES (B.Sc., M.B.B.S., M.Sc., DERM)
Specialist in Skin, Hair & Nail Disorders
Cicatricial Alopecia
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he term cicatricial alopecia refers to a diverse group of rare disorders that destroy
the hair follicle, replace it with scar tissue, and cause permanent hair loss. In some cases, hair loss is gradual, without symptoms, and is unnoticed for long periods. In other cases, hair loss is associated with severe itching, burning and pain and is rapidly progressive. 16
You can be affected by a variety of medical conditions that can cause injury and destruction of hair follicles. Some of these conditions may be associated with symptoms such as itching or irritation or soreness, but with others you can lose hair and develop scarring without knowing that it is going on. Sometimes you will have a bald spot or area of hair loss detected by your hair stylist without you knowing that it was there. Cicatricial Alopecia primarily affects women of African ancestry, and may occur in several women in the same family. Clinical evaluation
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of the scalp is important, but a scalp biopsy is essential for the diagnosis of Cicatricial Alopecia and is the necessary first step, as it can be hard to know the diagnosis for sure without a biopsy. Treatment of Cicatricial Alopecia involves use of anti-inflammatory medications. The goal of treatment is to decrease or eliminate the lymphocytic inflammatory cells that are attacking and destroying the hair follicle. Oral medications may include steroids. Topical medications may also include steroids. Hair will not return once the follicle is destroyed. However, it may be possible to treat the inflammation in and around surrounding follicles before they are destroyed, and for this reason it is important to begin treatment as early as possible to halt the inflammatory process. Minoxidil solution (2% or 5%) applied twice daily to the scalp may be helpful to stimulate any small, remaining, unscarred follicles. The progression of hair loss is unpredictable. In some cases, progression is slow and there is always sufficient hair remaining to cover the affected scalp areas; in other cases, progression can be rapid and extensive.
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HEALTH
The Power of By Stephnie Johnson ( Hons ) LPN, B.cm Member of Reflexology Association of Jamaica which reports to the council for professions supplementary to medicine. Author of the Book The Study of Reflexology in the Caribbean telling evidence based cases how reflexology changed lives.
T
he healing art of reflexology dates back to Ancient Egypt, India and China. However, it wasn’t until 1913 that a man called Dr William Fitzgerald introduced it to the West and called it ‘zone therapy’. He observed that reflex areas on the feet and hands were linked to other areas and organs of the body within the same zone. In the 1930’s Eunice Ingham researched zone therapy to a greater extent with reflexology being the result. She observed that congestion or tension in part of the foot was mirrored in corresponding parts of the body. 18
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What is reflexology? Reflexology is a technique which involves applying gentle pressure to parts of the feet, which correspond to precise reflex points in the body. It revolves around the understanding that there are over 7,000 nerve endings, or reflex points on each of the feet (or hands) that relate to the tissues, organs and systems of the body. Applying gentle pressure to these reflex points may influence the body in many ways. For example, reflexology has been found to reduce stress and tension, relieve pain, improve bodily functions and generally restore the body to a better state, so improving physical well being. How can reflexology help me? The healing art of reflexology can be used to help restore the body’s natural equilibrium. This gentle holistic therapy encourages the body to work naturally to restore its own healthy balance. Whilst reflexology does not claim to cure, diagnose or prescribe, many health problems have been helped including:
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• • • • • •
Arthritis Asthma Anxiety Back Pain Chronic fatigue syndrome Digestive disorders (Constipation & IBS) • Hormonal imbalances • Headaches, migraine • Insomnia (Sleep disorders)
• Low energy • Menstrual disorder (PMS, Menopause) • Mild depression • Nerve disorders • Pregnancy management • Stress related disorders • Skin disorders (Eczema, Acne, Psoriasis) • Muscular aches and pains
Reflexology induces a state of deep relaxation and since it has been estimated that 75% of disease is stress related, this is a major contribution to the return of health As treatments continue over time, this state of relaxation becomes deeper and more established. As well as being used to help relieve specific disorders, reflexology may also be used to maintain the efficiency of the body. It helps to stimulate the body’s own healing abilities bringing it back into natural balance. Reflexology is a very safe treatment with very few conditions where it would be inappropriate to treat. All ages can benefit, from very young babies to the elderly. Reflexology also benefits healthy people, as it helps to detox the system, boosts the immune system and acts as a good prevention against illness. What happens at a reflexology session? At your first appointment there will be an initial consultation when questions will be asked about your health and lifestyle. You are then required to remove your socks and shoes and make yourself comfortable on the couch. The treatment then starts working from one foot/hand to the other. The treatment generally lasts between 45-60 minutes. Reflexology is complimentary to traditional medicine so both the medical doctor and the reflexologist work in harmony in the hospital settings in Jamaica , China and Denmark . A decrease in health cost is reported in Denmark.
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The
FUTURE
By Dr. Edlyn B. Jones Medical Director Jones Wellness and Skin Care, Atlanta, GA Owner, Florencia Cosmetics, BVI
of MEDICINE is in YOUR
LIFESTYLE
“To find health should be the object of the Doctor, anyone can find disease” Andrew Taylor Still, Founder of Osteopathic Medicine
D
o you know that the foods you’re eating now could put you in an early grave? I don’t mean to be so gruesome but I have to tell the truth. We have all heard the statement “life is short”, but it is shorter for those of us who don’t make healthy lifestyle choices. How does one find good health? Is it found in a pill or a special exotic juice or fruit? Does it exist in your youth and fade when approaching age 50? The World Health Organization defines health as “the state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity:” In reality one’s health is not a static entity, it is a process. To achieve health one has to make intelligent lifestyle choices on a daily basis. There is a saying, “You are born then you die. It is what you do in between that make the difference”. Many of us are born with the absence of deformity or infirmity. We observe the behaviors of our parents, siblings, community and the media. Eventually we mimic their habits, some good ones and some bad ones that have a significant impact on our health outcomes. Many of us continue to
perform the bad habits we learned day in and day out. Eventually our bodies begin to experience the effects of these poor choices and habits. Our blood pressure becomes elevated, our blood sugar levels are out of control and the effect of aging begins to manifest itself. Many of us rush to the doctor to find out what is causing our symptoms. If something is found, we may be given a pill. The symptom might improve, then another one develops and more pills may be added. There may be some benefits of taking the medications but sometimes many suffer side effects. The condition gets worse and this becomes a source of confusion for the patient and the medical professional. The cost of health care is constantly rising and many individuals lose their life savings after becoming ill. A major problem with current medicine and medicine in the past is that it focuses on the symptoms and not the cause. Medication, surgery and other devices are used to help the symptoms get better but often times these do not cure the
disease. Research has shown that the causes of many of the chronic diseases of today; heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity are caused by lifestyle choices. Studies now report that if we improve or change our poor habits we can influence quality of life. Sure there may be some genetic component or environmental factors to influence this but our lifestyles may act as the trigger on a loaded gun manifest these diseases. The body
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is a unique machine. Its individual parts work together as a whole to keep it going. We have to know how to take care of it. We only live once and our journey through life should be enjoyable. We may have many accomplishments or millions in the bank but if we don’t have good health, if we do not take care of our bodies we have nothing. The world then is at a loss from our valuable contributions. What are we teaching our children at home and in our schools? We teach them how to read and write; how to drive a car but we do not teach them how to take care of their bodies. The fact of the matter is that we ourselves do not know how to do this. It is a shame that we can take care of material things but when it comes to our own bodies we are often clueless. We do not know the basics as to what to put in our mouths to keep us from and early grave. Medicine has been involved in sick care for too long. It is not until one presents to the emergency room; has a stroke or heart attack that we begin to take action. We have to take
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responsibility for our health and be in charge of our health destinies. It is not the responsibility of the Doctor, Government or the health insurance company. How can we begin to take care of ourselves? We can take care of ourselves through lifestyle choices such as exercise, proper diet, adequate water, sunlight (use sun screen) and reducing our stress levels. Lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension are silent killers. Our diet plays an important role in the manifestation of these diseases. Too many orders of chicken and chips, burgers and fries, butter and bread….and the list can go on. Increasing the use of vegetables and fruits, eating more whole grains and nuts, adding an early morning or evening walk could create a life extension. We pay later for what we put in our mouths today. It really is not the poor choices of foods that are eaten now; it is the ones eaten yesterday, last week, last year and the ones that will be eaten tomorrow, next year and the
years to come. Increased cholesterol and fat begins to build up in our blood vessels and over a period of time can clog important arteries to your heart and brain. This can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Too many carbohydrates on our plate at one time (macaroni, rice, and potato salads); from cookies, pasta and sodas could cause one to develop diabetes. People are getting these diseases at younger ages. Making healthy choices in foods can help our mind and body function optimally. This is vital to building strong communities and healthy nation. Food acts as fuel that keep our bodies going. We must make the best selections. Many people are now in the grave because they chose the wrong kinds of foods. We have heard the saying “life is a journey not a destination”. Let’s think of our health as journey. We have to work on achieving optimum health every day. Each morning is a new beginning. Don’t neglect the most important asset - YOUR HEALTH. “Live your life Well”
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HEALTH
Lifelong steps to prevent
CANCER
By Nadine Battle, RN, BSN, MPS - Certified Colon Hydrotherapist - Certified Natural Health Professional
C
ancer is a leading cause of death here and in the Western Hemisphere. A complex disease, cancer can strike at any age. When cancer strikes, normal cells in the body undergo a mutation, which causes them to multiply out of control. This mass of abnormal cells forms a tumor. Cancer cells from this tumor can break away and travel to other parts of the body, spawning more tumors. This activity results in disruption of normal organ function wherever the tumors spread. The good news is there is much you can do to protect yourself and your family from cancer. Here are some preventative steps that if taken can lessen your chances of getting this disease. Keep all your body parts clean – It is important that we help our children keep all their body parts clean. Each is important and it is usually the immune system that sees an early assault. The tonsils and adenoids are very important parts of the immune system: they stand as soldiers around the throat. Their job is to keep harmful substances such as bacteria, viruses and other germs from gaining entrance into the body and doing harm. This position allows them to trap germs that could enter the body through the mouth or the nose. When they are swollen and considered “infected” it is a cry from them for support not removal. When the tonsils and adenoids are removed it leaves a lifelong gap in the defense system of the body. This is true for the appendix as well. The appendix as the tonsils is made from lymph tissue that exerts a cleansing and defensive action on the body. It has been said by some, that the appendix does not have a function in the body. However I do not think God put anything in us that does not have a function. I will explore this further with you in an upcoming article
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The third body part that is so often eliminated is teeth. When teeth are extracted, it leaves the gums as potential breeding sites for bacteria and other pathogens. This causes the immune system to work over time leaving little reserve for more serious issues that they may need to address. The over growth of bacteria leaves the body acidic. This is the kind of environment that supports bacteria and abnormal cell growth. It is important to know the medicinal herbs as well medicinal benefits of culinary herbs that are perhaps already in your kitchen. Garlic is a potent natural antibiotic, antitumor fighter among other properties. Sage helps with inflammation in the mouth. Onions are high in sulfur (that’s what makes you cry) and fights many different kinds of bacteria in the body. In the area of medicinal herbs, elderberry is one that should be on hand at all times. It comes in a chewable form for children. This may be suitable for the elderly as well. It is also available in capsules for adults. For children the chewable probiotic will help keep the gut bacteria balanced. 70 % of the immune system is found within the digestive system. It is also essential to be sure the bowels are free so toxins are not stored in the body. The body is warm, dark and moist, an ideal environment for the overgrowth of germs and parasites. These are some of the many steps that can be taken to keep the body healthy with an internal alkaline environment that will support the healthy functioning of the body’s cells and support an environment that is hostile to the growth of germs and abnormal cells. If you would like a copy of “Foods that Fight Cancer”, please e-mail me at healingherbs@surfbvi.com. Nadine Battle is the owner of Healing Herbs Wellness Center, Tortola Ice Bldg., W’cay ll.
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FEATURE
Mixing coconut water with cane juice and that’s top of the line now. We call it co-cane, the only legal place you could come and buy co-cane is here… buy it right here and it’s a good drink.
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Legal Co-Cane? GO AHEAD, TRY SOME! By Denise Clarke
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On a busy street corner on the island of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, 86 year old Wilfred Turnbull opens his shop everyday. He only sells the good stuff –coconuts and almost every imaginable derivative from the tropical fruit – which he swears is good for everything from common ailments and to stave off illnesses.
T
he coconut water-cane juice mixture he has cleverly labeled ‘Co-Cane’ is just the latest product the seasoned entrepreneur has developed. CoCane is 50% pure coconut water, and 50% sugar cane juice. But even if the proportions are a little off, the mixture, Wilfred insists, will always be 100% natural! A firm believer in the benefits of the coconut, Turnbull has created and sold a wide range of its products, from 86 year old Wilfred Turnbull of Green Bank , Tortola and owner of Sweet Corner Juice Factory in St. Thomas
“Look, I could tell you if you got a headache and you rub coconut oil on it,it going to help you; if you got a toothache and you put some on it, it will help you. Because I’m not taking it from somebody I telling you about what happen to me. I use coconut oil for everything in my ESSENCE OF THE ISLANDS: Pure coconut oil made by Mr. Wilfred (Willie) Turnbull at his juice factory in St. Thomas.
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body. It treat me good, I don’t be sick. Anytime I feel a pain or here itching me, I put some on it.”
One of Willie’s employees mixing with coconut jelly with coconut water for one his regular customers
coconut oil to coconut flour – many of which he learned from childhood. In this shop you will also find several books written by Dr. Bruce Fife, owner of the Coconut Research Center and a well-known lobbyist for the health benefits of the coconut. Born in Green Bank, Tortola, Wilfred migrated to St. Thomas more than 50 years ago. Before he got the idea for a coconut business, he did odd jobs, picking up whatever he could to provide for his eight children. In 2001, Wilfred decided to immerse even deeper into the business, learning the wonders of coconut and sharing the knowledge with his customers. As a child, he had observed his grandmother making the precious oil, but back then he paid little attention to what she was doing. Now, it was time to brush up on his knowledge. “A fellow come here and ask me if I know how to make it. I tell him yes, but in essence I didn’t know. I know when my grandmother used to make it I used to go around and see one thing - that crust that use to remain in the bottom of the pot; I go after that and I don’t care about nothing else. But the day he tell me he want some coconut oil, much as I could make he’ll buy it from me and so I went home and I think how she use to make it.” At first, he wasn’t sure if he had the right formula to make coconut oil. So Wilfred visited a health food store to
Photos: Elton Callwood
Cassava Bread made with cassava flour and coconut flour. Adding coconut flour leaves the usually hardened cassava bread soft and easy to eat without dipping, not to mention the flavour.
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check out their version. He wasn’t impressed. Somehow, it didn’t smell like the coconut oil his grandmother used to make. It was then that he decided his would be the authentic product, and after several tries, he got it just the way he remembered. “That’s where I start with this thing... the very first bottle I made right there, 15 oz. and I wanted to keep as a souvenir. I know it was oil, I test it, I had it walk with me not selling; and a lady come to me saying she heard that I’m making coconut oil…she got a son with a ringworm and somebody told her that if she could get some coconut oil, it would heal that.” Wilfred had planned to keep his first bottle as a souvenir, but he could not deny the pleas of this woman who was asking for his help. “I wanted to keep my oil but she begged me so I let her have it. She take it on a Tuesday and she came back on Friday and said to me ‘Mr. Turnbull the ringworm is gone’; I said yes, this is good for me, so from then I start making that stuff.” Now that he had gotten the formula right, Wilfred’s next goal was to fill the order for this mysterious gentleman who would buy all the coconut oil he could make. He produced 14 gallons, stocked the shelves and waited for his customer until it became apparent that the man was never coming back. Now stuck with dozens of bottles of coconut oil, Wilfred’s children, who were living in the United States, offered to help and he sent them several bottles to sell. That didn’t go well either. “What happen when you send it there, with the temperature it froze up and they figure it wasn’t no good. So I tell them send back my coconut oil for me.”
I look on the internet and I see you don’t throw away nothing in coconut and that’s how I make coconut flour. It’s much more healthier, it’s more expensive than any flour you think about. You take out the oil, and then you make the flour. You put it to dry and then you grind it up in a machine and then you sieve it and that’s it.” Mr. Turnbull sitting in his factory on the corner below WSTA Radio Station at Subbase St. Thomas
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From that disappointing start, the business slowly grew and these days the demand for coconut oil is far greater than he can supply. “Now I don’t have hand to make it. The faster I could make it, it gone… I only need some time to get coconut and to get it out. And it’s even more when you work with the moon; when it comes to the full moon it’s good time to make it, somehow you get more then.” Retailing coconut oil from $5 up to $28, Wilfred has been making a decent living for more than 10 years selling coconut oil, and other coconut products. It doesn’t hurt that he is a staunch advocate of its benefits. “Look, I could tell you if you got a headache and you rub coconut oil on it, it going to help you; if you got a toothache and you put some on it, it will help you. Because I’m not taking it from somebody I telling you about what happen to me. I use coconut oil for everything in my body. It treat me good, I don’t be sick. Anytime I feel a pain or here itching me, I put some on it.” He explains his simple but time-tested method of extracting the oil from the nut. He uses a meat grinder to shred the coconut into tiny bits, to which water is added, and the ‘milk’ extracted. Next, the liquid is stored overnight, allowing the oil to rise to the top. Here is where Wilfred’s methods get a little unorthodox. “What I do to be faster, I put it in my freezer, the whole big five gallon bucket; in about two hours it come hard, I take a knife cut it up and put it in the fire again, so that’s
The benefits of coconut
L-R: Mr. Turnbull’s cousin, Joyce Garren AnderIsaac now retired is the Quality Assessment (Q&A) and Marketing person, hugs one of their most faithful customer Debbie Christopher. the easiest way. When we take it off the fire then we let it cool, put it in a cheese cart, ready to go.” He also believes in utilizing as much of the fruit as possible. The Co-cane is just his latest in a string of coconut related foods he has produced. “Here we doing a new product, mixing coconut water with cane juice and that’s top of the line now. We call it cocaine, the only legal place you could come and buy cocaine is here… buy it right here and it’s a good drink. So in addition to Co-Cane, there’s pure coconut water and coconut oil. But coconut flour? “I look on the internet and I see you don’t throw away nothing in coconut and that’s how I make coconut flour. It’s much more healthier, it’s more expensive than any flour you think about. You take out the oil, and then you make the flour. You put it to dry and then you grind it up in a machine and then you sieve it and that’s it.” And business has been good. With health and lifestyle being the buzz words in the nutrition business, coconut is getting a good rap as advocates worldwide tout its benefits. “Coconut oil don’t fatten you,”Wilfred insists, boasting that only fresh coconuts find their way into his manufacturing process. And if you doubt the freshness and authenticity of his product, all you have to do is take a smell. “If you know anything about coconut oil, you know that’s coconut. Put some in your hand!” He offered. “Smell it!” he smiled.“That’s coconut oil.”
Dr. Bruce Fife, N.D.operates the Coconut Research Center and is the author of numerous books, including The Coconut Oil Miracle (formerly titled The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil), The Palm Oil Miracle, Coconut Lover's Cookbook, and Eat Fat, Look Thin. According to Dr. Fife, coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Coconut oil possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. The Coconut Research Center lists coconut oil as being useful in the following ways: • Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses. • Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases. • Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections. • Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites. • Provides a nutritional source of quick energy. • Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. • Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose. • Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes. • Improves digestion and bowel function. • Reduces inflammation. Source: www.coconutresearchcenter.org
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Premier On Call: From
SURGERY to
service
By Denise Clarke
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COVER STORY
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The Adventists have one of the largest medical missionaries in the world of any denomination. This of course influenced me as a young child, and I think from an early age, that call had enveloped me and made me think that was what I wanted to do. To be a medical doctor and help people...
T
he Illustrated History of Medicine’ by JeanCharles Sournia keeps company with a report of the June 2012 G-20 Mexico Summit on a large coffee table in one corner of the room. It’s an unlikely combination, with only the sophisticated presence of a crystal vase separating the two. For Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Premier of the British Virgin Islands and practicing physician, the two publications peacefully coexist in the marriage of his two callings – medicine and politics. Since taking office in November 2011, it’s been Dr. Smith’s job to keep the British dependency on a sturdy economic path, with both finance and tourism – the country’s two main bread-and-butter sectors – falling squarely on his shoulders. But even with a country of 30,000 citizens to run, he is still Dr. Smith – a licenced physician albeit with greatly reduced office hours. Daniel Orlando Smith was born on August 28, 1944. A Seventh Day Adventist youth, he developed an early interest in medicine, watching medical missionaries travel the world to offer healing to sick bodies and souls. “The Adventists have one of the largest medical missionaries programme in the world of any denomination. This of course influenced me as a young child, and I think from an early age, that call had enveloped me and made me think that was what I wanted to do. To be a medical doctor and help people; to be a missionary as well but the missionary part is on hold,” Dr. Smith remembers. He would later attend the University of the West Indies in St. Andrew, Jamaica to pursue his dream of studying medicine. In 1970, he returned home to the British Virgin
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Islands and began his career at the Peebles Hospital. “It was good, it was exciting, it was busy, because in those days junior doctors worked in rotation like every other night on call and every other weekend. Nowadays, things have changed and the physicians aren’t expected to work those times, but in those days that was the case and we’re a small country so it was necessary to work long hours. But it was also rewarding because you are able to see the results of what you do, and be able to assist people with their health concerns,” he recalls. After a year, the young doctor departed BVI to be trained as a general surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons in Scotland and the Royal School of Public Health in London. Dr. Smith returned to the Peebles Hospital as a fulltime surgeon, serving as Chief Medical Officer from 1978-1995. It was a challenging time for healthcare in the British overseas territory, but led by a passion to help the people of his homeland, Smith and his colleague doctors found ingenious ways to carry out their duties despite the shortcomings. Stories abound of Dr. Smith being called in to assist with a wounded goat, and of the day he used a jug of water to stabilize the spine of a patient who’d suffered a broken neck until the patient could safely be transported to neighbouring Puerto Rico for treatment. “We were at a stage where many of the fundamental examination and laboratory tests we were not able to do, but we were still able to perform surgery and get good results. We’ve now grown in our capacity to be able to perform most of the necessary tests in order to give patients the best care possible,” he says. But even while bent over the operating table, Dr. Smith had a deep yearning to lead the decision-making process that would allow for the type of health services he
“It was good, it was exciting, it was busy, because in those days junior doctors worked in rotation like every other night on call and every other weekend... ...but in those days that was the case and we’re a small country so it was necessary to work long hours. But it was also rewarding because you are able to see the results of what you do... Just4Health April - June 2013
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envisioned. For the 68-year-old silver-crowned grandfather, he So it came as no surprise when he stepped into the will always be a physician. He performs a delicate political arena and was first elected to Parliament in balancing act – giving a voice to his small country 1999, serving as Leader of the Opposition National in the international community and (surprisingly) Democratic Party (NDP). By 2003, the NDP had tending to patients every week! won the parliamentary elections and Dr. Smith was “I don’t miss being on call every other night!” he appointed Chief Minister. He would occupy the post chuckles. a second time when the NDP swept the elections in “But I do have an office, I like to do a couple hours 2007, this time to the office of Premier – the title each week. I don’t do that much surgery right now but which had replaced that of Chief Minister. I’m still licensed and I still do regular consultations “It was a kind of natural progression, not envisioned and readings to keep current with what’s going on. at all but a progression. Because when I returned as Surgery of course is something I enjoyed, I liked a physician and as a surgeon what obtained was because of what it could do, how it could affects that I was able to assist people individually I could people, how it could make people better. But I’m see one person who working in another needed my surgical area where, I don’t miss being on call every other skills and be able hopefully, myself night! But I do have an office, I like to to help that person and my colleagues and that was good. we can affect the do a couple hours each week. I don’t But then there was lives and make the a wider population lives of the people in do that much surgery right now but whom I thought I the country better, I’m still licensed and I still do regular would be able to help from growth in our better if I was in a economy to health consultations and readings to keep different position.” and education.” “And so I became And the medical current with what’s going on. the Chief Medical training has certainly Officer and in that come in handy in position was able to his post as leader have more influence on the direction of health care, of the government. With his soft voice and gentle but then you find that there’s still somebody else demeanour beckoning with grandfatherly warmth, making the decisions about what actually happens; some feel it is the Premier’s ability to bring this how much money is allocated to health care, what ‘bedside manner’ into his political persona that has kind of service we do have, and those are the factors endeared him to this supporters. that kind of suggested or urged me to become “They tell me one of the jobs that you’re doing is involved to seek service at a higher level.” the qualification for being a politician!” he jokes. From his office, Premier Smith commands a But he did concede that being a medical doctor had spectacular view of the harbor and the cruise ships made him more sympathetic to the needs of those that form a major part of the island’s tourism and he serves. Plus, forty years in the medical field has one of its biggest economic earners. And as someone taught him a lot about management. with a background in medicine, he is insistent that “You know there’s various schools of management access to quality health care is available to the and as you go through medical school, you develop residents he serves. a system of management, you manage patients, Hence, his government has been advocating for a manage health care services, you can transform National Health Insurance that would be mandatory that into the way you manage, the way you look at for all employers to provide for their workers. This, things, and the basic thing is you have empathy the Premier feels, would ensure that everyone in the towards the people of the territory,” acknowledges Territory has access to healthcare. However, there Dr. Smith. has been strong criticism from some who feel that He paused to reflect on the question of how he would such a move would create financial burden for the like to be remembered. Of all the roles in which he’s business sector particularly small enterprises. served, Dr. Smith – physician extraordinaire and “What we’re doing is we have presented to the charismatic leader - would like to be remembered people an option as a discussion and we are getting as someone who served the citizens of British Virgin feedback on that option and once we get feedback Islands and served them well. from all that discussion, we can look and then say “Basically what I’m concerned about is giving this is the way forward. For something as important service to the country, helping people in whatever as this, I think consultation with the people of the way I can, and now helping to develop the country territory is important and that’s what we are doing the BVI - so that all the residents of the Territory can right now,” Dr. Smith insists. have a better life.”
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“Basically what I’m concerned about is giving service to the country, helping people in whatever way I can, and now helping to develop the country - the BVI - so that all the residents of the Territory can have a better life.”
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FEATURE
Coming Back from
Paralysis
The Inspiring Story of Stephen Beard By Denise Clarke
Photos: Dean “The Sportsman’ Greenaway Just4Health April - June 2013
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Y
Always with a smile, once-paralyzed runner Stephen Beard pushes on in the recently held BVI Half Marathon.
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I thought that walking would probably be pretty much impossible because I was in a wheelchair and I was on crutches. ou can’t help but notice the limping runner at the back of the pack, or the obvious effort Stephen Beard puts into each stride. But you would have to know the story behind this remarkable man to appreciate that his race is not one of speed but of courage and endurance.
A series of unfortunate events is what Stephen describes besieged him about four years ago. First, he awoke one morning to find he had suffered a stroke during the night. Medical attention came quickly. However, not yet fully recovered from the stroke’s debilitating effects, he would fall victim to a motor vehicle accident just a few months later, which left him with serious injuries to his head and feet. Faced with the possibility that he may never walk again, he slipped into a deep depression. “To know that you left in this state and you don’t know what’s gonna happen, whether the outcome is gonna be that you will never walk again. I was depressed and now I’m back from that and that’s a bad place to be,” Stephen shares. “I thought that walking would probably be pretty much impossible because I was in a wheelchair and I was on crutches. It was bad,” he recalls. It was in this sad, dark place, lying on his back wondering if he should come to terms with a lifetime of paralysis, that Stephen got the audacious idea that he could run a marathon. As he recounts his experiences, he admits it was a sheer will to stay positive and overcome the physical challenges caused by his injuries that aided his recovery. “I was lying down as paralyzed people do, looking at television and in tears, and on the television comes the Puerto Rico half marathon and I’m looking at these guys run this thing top speed and I thought you know that’s gonna be my dream from now on. I need to have a good dream.” At first, the after effects from both the stroke and accident made it difficult for him to even walk without crutches. But little by little, lap by lap he began to run. Soon, he felt that he had gathered enough strength to participate in a race event. “I was asked to do the college classic two miles and I remember the first time I walked and I struggled through the entire thing, and that has become a warm-up for me now. That was the first race I ever did. It wasn’t even a race; it was a race against myself. And a year later I felt strong enough to attempt the 5K which I did, and it was hard and I hurt,” he
remembers. But he stuck with it, and just a year later completed the 10k race. So last November, it came as no surprise to those who know him that he seized the chance to participate in the BVI Half Marathon; and though the spotlight was on the winners, it was perhaps Stephen who achieved the greatest accomplishment – coming back from paralysis to finishing the 13-mile race. He credits strong family support for helping him to overcome mental and physical obstacles to achieve his dream. “My family has been great. I think they’ve tried to let me test my limitations and I’m proud of them for letting me do this. I know that the half marathon was pretty tough and I didn’t think that a lot of people thought that I could do it, probably including my parents but they’re very proud of me. They’re proud of all my accomplishments,” he adds. Stephen still suffers physical challenges as a result of his injuries. There’s no movement below the ankle, and the stroke has left him unable to write. Still he is grateful for the little things, like being able to run every day, and the man who has learned not to take anything for granted has a very positive outlook on life. “I just knew that I didn’t want to be in such a depressing place as I was before. I’ve always been high on life, everything’s good, everything’s fine, and now it’s even worse because I just have the lighter side of everything. I laugh at everything,” Stephen says. The Trinidadian native, who enjoys sailing and cooking, has made Tortola his home for the past 30 years. With all that has happened in his life in the past few years, he has a few words of wisdom for persons who may be facing physical or other obstacles in their lives. “I would tell them you never know when you’re going to get better but you are going to get better. As a West Indian you’re stronger than everybody thinks you are. Some days it might seem like you’re going backward, but just don’t give up... you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. An opportunity is going to present itself; you just have to see it coming. Take it, regardless of how afraid you might be. Things will work out for the best.” Just4Health April - June 2013
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TECHNOLOGY
The Facts about
laser
Dentistry By Dr. Trevor A C Connor - DDS Owner BarcesPlus, St.Thomas, USVI
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L
aser periodontal therapy (LPT) is a laser based approach to treating gum disease. The Nd:YAG free running pulsed lasers have been used effectively and safely in the periodontal pocket for over 12 years. Laser periodontal therapy is patterned after the excisional new attachment procedure (ENAP). With this procedure, diseased and necrotic tissue is selectively removed using a scalpel. The laser has now replaced the scalpel and provides us with a minimally invasive alternative to the original resective and subtraction surgeries that usually carried with it a high degree of pain and discomfort. Laser periodontal therapy removes only the diseased tissue without removing any of the healthy tissue. The height of the tissue around the teeth is maintained and you no longer have the traditional periodontal surgery problem of exposed and sensitive roots and long looking teeth. used for a variety of procedures, lasers are high-technology devices that generate a beam of concentrated light in short pulses to remove areas of the infection or tooth decay with great precision. They are pain-free and vibration-free and generally eliminate the need for anesthetics. The laser beam also sterilizes the affected area and seals off blood vessels, minimizing the chance of infection or bleeding. The most common types of lasers found in the dental office fall into three categories of use, depending on the area treatment. 1. Hard tissue (teeth) 2. Soft tissue (gums) 3. Aesthetic dentistry procedures such as curing of tooth-colored filling materials and tooth whitening.
Are Lasers new to Dentistry?
Shortly after their invention in the early 1960s, lasers were used experimentally on the teeth and gums, followed by use in dentistry to treat periodontal (gum) disease and perform oral surgery. In 1997, however, the FDA approved the use of a new laser that treats tooth decay, calling it “medicine for the 21st century.� Today lasers are being used by dentists all over the world to the great satisfaction of the patients.
Are Lasers safe?
In the hands of a skilled, specially trained dentist, laser are considered safe. Because dental lasers are low-powered, they are appropriate for treating the delicate tissues of the mouth. In addition, the controlled heat and light of the laser destroys many bacteria and viruses found in the mouth.
What types of procedures can the laser perform?
At varying power levels, the laser can remove tooth structure, decay, enamel or the underlying dentin. At the present time, the laser is not used to remove old metal fillings.
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What are the benefits of laser dentistry over hissing sound of an air jet attached to the laser. You will feel the touch of the handpiece and a spray of water once traditional treatment? Laser dental patients report feeling much more comfortable during and after treatment. In many cases, the need for anesthetics injections is eliminated along with their associated side effects. In addition, patients spend less time in the dental chair! Other benefits include: Greater precision - Faster healing - Reduced risk of infection - Decreased sensitivity - Less bleeding during gum surgery - Less post-operation pain - Less noise than traditional dental drills - No vibration - Eliminated aluminum oxide residue (left by air abrasion methods) - Increased conservation of healthy tissue
Does Laser treatment take less time than conventional procedures? Yes. Without the time required to administer anesthetic and wait for it to take effect, routine fillings can usually be performed faster. For cosmetic procedures, tooth-colored fillings, inlays, onlays and sealants can be hardened in about one quarter of the the time required by conventional means. Laser whitening can be achieved in hours instead of days or weeks.
Will I still need a local anesthetic with laser treament?
Most patients tell us they are very comfortable throughout the laser treatment. However, we willl review your individual situation personally before treatment to provide you with the option that’s most comfortable. In some cases, we may recommend local anesthetic prior to treatment.
What sensations will I feel during the laser procedure? You will hear a quiet popping and the slight
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the treatment begins.
Will my insurance pay for laser dental services
Pre-approval may be necessary. Check with your insurance company for coverages of laser treatments. In some cases, your insurance will only cover the equipment of a conventional restoration.
How will I know laser dentistry is right for me?
Ask us! Upon thorough examination and resulting diagnosis, we can help you determine if laser dentistry is an option for you.
LIFESTYLES
By Dr. June Samuel Just4Health April - June 2013
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I
nfidelity is a pattern of behavior that seeks self-satisfaction at the expense of commitment to another. It strikes at the core defining characteristics of marriage: • Two people determine to share themselves with each other in a way that is unique to them and not shared by others. • They agree that the levels of trust and accountability expected of each other will be greater than found in any other of their relationships. • They share physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual intimacy, not found in other relationships. • Their relationship is permanent and unconditional. • For Christians, marriage also constitutes a commitment to God, to protect the unique relationship given to them. What is infidelity? Infidelity occurs whenever a person engages in a relationship with another that violates these characteristics of marriage. This happens when the new relationship results in a breakdown of trust; develops intimacy with another outside the marriage; when
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experiences are shared with the new person that become more important than the shared experiences in the marriage. Infidelity can occur without sex. Simply stated, marriage is a commitment to seek mutual fulfillment, to make your own satisfaction contingent on your spouse’s. The first steps taken when infidelity occurs are 1) to decide to seek fulfillment through someone else and, 2) to decide to do this secretly. In a sense, whatever a person decides to give to a new partner outside the marriage is taken from his or her spouse: time, money, special experiences, confidences, or intimacies. A person might experience a similar sense of betrayal if their spouse becomes compulsively involved in alcohol, work, or various activities. In these cases, the element of secrecy is usually not as devastating, and there is not another person alienating the spouse from the marriage. Infidelity is always destructive. Infidelity is always destructive, and often fatal, to a marriage. It is possible to avoid allowing infidelity to
bring a marriage to an end, however. Redemption and healing always begin with a person acknowledging their need, and accepting responsibility for what they have done. Nowhere is this truer than in the case of infidelity. Healing from adultery first requires that the betrayed spouse recover from the trauma. Discovering the betrayal and anticipating the potential loss of the person most important in your life causes great distress. Unlike the trauma of death, which has an end and can be compensated for by positive elements in the relationship, infidelity undermines all that is good in the relationship and the pain seems to have no natural end point. Although not welcomed, death is to be expected at some point in a marriage. Betrayal is not. The victim of betrayal questions if the spouse ever loved them, and if so, what they might have done to lose it. It is as if the adulterous spouse has thrown dirt in the river of their marriage contaminating the water behind them and before them. To recover from trauma, a victim has
a natural tendency to go back to the traumatic experience, questioning, going over details repetitiously: “What did you do? Where? When? How often?” The traumatized spouse must go over the events until the emotional distress caused by them becomes manageable. They must reach a point where they feel there are no more surprises. Often, the betraying spouse wants to get things over quickly, after admitting to their infidelity. They must develop empathy for what the betrayed spouse is experiencing, and be willing to live with the pain of guilt, until genuine healing can occur. In addition, the betraying spouse may learn something about them self in the questioning process. They may begin to see their own motives, vulnerabilities, and selfishness. If both spouses can tolerate and control the emotions involved, they may come to a joint understanding of how the infidelity occurred, signaling the beginning of a more substantial
level of recovery. Recovery from Infidelity Recovery from infidelity involves husband and wife restoring each other as the core of their marriage. While this sounds obvious, we often don’t realize how far we can stray from the value placed on each other at the beginning of marriage. Besides conflict and selfishness, a spouse can be lost in an array of inherently good things that come into our lives, including children, service, and friends. While it isn’t realistic to return to the “in love” phase of marriage, each person needs to communicate to the other that they are of primary importance, through action and words. Forgiveness Forgiveness is an obvious necessity if recovery from infidelity is to last. While not desirable, problems less significant than infidelity can go unresolved, or make do with
a superficial level of forgiveness. Infidelity requires the real thing. Forgiveness is a commitment rather than an emotion. Forgiveness is not a one-time event. It is a repeated process that may be mental more often than verbal, forgiving the offender each time the thought of his or her offense occurs. Although forgiveness is not the same thing as forgetting, forgiveness involves a commitment to avoid dwelling on the offense; perhaps replacing painful and anger-inducing thoughts about the infidelity with positive thoughts. Forgiving infidelity involves some specific things, such as not bringing up the adulterous behavior whenever it is useful, not refusing to ever trust again, and not keeping distance from the offending spouse indefinitely. Obviously, this kind of forgiveness is not easy. For more information about infidelity, please visit Five Doctors Medical and Wellness Center, at the Prospect Reef Plaza, Tel: 494-6757.
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LIFESTYLES
My weight loss journey: How Kate Jackson shed the pounds and became a marathon runner By Denise Clarke
T
Kate Jackson - Before
“My life has changed ake one look at for the better; I am now Kate Jackson My life has changed for the better; probably the healthiest I now and you’d I am now probably the healthiest have ever been in my life. My never guess eating habits are completely that for years I have ever been in my life. My different to what they were this health nut battled like five years ago. I used to with managing her eating habits are completely get really back lower back weight. different to what they were like five pain which now very rarely At her heaviest, Kate bothers me,” Kate adds. weighed in at a solid 240 years ago. I used to get really back But soon, losing the pounds; she was lethargic weight was not enough. The and the excess pounds lower back pain which now very new health conscious Kate resulted in nagging back rarely bothers me. was still highly motivated pain. Plus the stress and was now determined of carrying around all that fat put a strain on her lungs and aggravated her to maintain a lifestyle of physical activity. So she set herself a new goal – long distance running. asthma condition. “It was personal achievement more than anything,” Kate felt like she was missing out, and dreamed of Kate recalls. “I never thought I would be able to run a one day losing the weight. Five years ago, she finally mile so I set myself this goal…. then it became to run got up the courage to do something about it. 5K (3.1 miles)…then I became addicted and the next With the help of a nutritionist and a personal trainer, goal was 10K and so on.” Kate set a goal to shed the fat and adopt a healthy In April 2012, Kate decided she was fit enough to try lifestyle. a half marathon, and by November, after months of “Surprising I had to eat a lot more but of the good training, she accomplished this feat in Puerto Rico. stuff not the bad stuff,” she explains. “Slowly over “As I finished I swore I will never do that again…but time my intake decreased... I would exercise five days sure enough once I have recovered and my legs were a week, either in the gym, a class, swimming in the back to normal I was looking for the next location.” ocean or simply walking the dog.” The next location would be New York City, and Kate After a year of disciplined dieting and exercise, Kate began training for the famous Half Marathon. The big had lost 65 pounds, and her lifestyle habits were far day came on March 17, 2013, when she joined 20,000 cry from what she had been accustomed to. Exercise other runners on the streets of the Big Apple. was now a regular part of her daily activities, but an Unperturbed by below freezing temperatures, Kate even bigger motivation was that her health problems basked in the experience, even stopping to take a had virtually disappeared!
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photo in Times Square. For someone, who just a few years earlier would be breathless after just a few steps, it was like a dream come true. “It was absolutely amazing! New York is one of my favorite cities in the world…running around Central Park and then down 7th avenue all the way through Times Square, then headed east to run down towards Wall Street. The atmosphere was incredible… I would definitely do it again but maybe when a little warmer!” she exclaims. Now that health and fitness has become essential features of her daily activities, Kate has a few tips for those who want to adopt similar lifestyle changes. • Set achievable goals - start small and progress. • Don’t diet – make a life style change as this is much easier to maintain. • Daily exercise for at least 30 minutes five times a week.
Surprising I had to eat a lot more but of the good stuff not the bad stuff...
Kate Jackson - Now
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LIFESTYLES
Some Women Orgasm During Exercise
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ome women reach orgasm during exercise, especially those that involve the core abdominal muscles, researcher Debby Herbenick, and J. Dennis Fortenberry, M.D., both from Indiana University, wrote in the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy. Exercises most likely to be associated with female orgasms are abdominal exercises, weight lifting, spinning/biking, and climbing poles or ropes, the author added. The researchers explain that “coregasm” - reaching an orgasm from exercising the core abdominal muscles - has been mentioned in the media for some time. However, they add that the findings in this latest study are new. Herbenick said: “The most common exercises associated with exercise-induced orgasm were abdominal exercises, climbing poles or ropes, biking/spinning and weight lifting. These data are interesting because they suggest that orgasm is not necessarily a sexual event, and they may also teach us more about the bodily processes underlying women’s experiences of orgasm.” Herbenick, and Fortenberry carried out online surveys which included 124 adult females who said they had had an orgasm while exercising, known as EIO (exercise-induced orgasm), and another 246 who reported having experienced exerciseinduced sexual pleasure (EISP). They were aged form 18 to 63 years, the majority of whom were either married or in a relationship. Approximately 69% of them said they were heterosexual. The researchers found that: Approximately 40% of those who had experienced an orgasm or sexual pleasure during exercise had done so at least ten times.
Those who reached orgasm while exercising said they felt self-conscious when exercising in public places. About 20% of those who experienced orgasm while they exercised said they were not able to control their experience. The majority of those who reached orgasm during exercise said they were not having any sexual fantasy or thinking about an attractive person during their experience In the EIO group, 51.4% said they reached orgasm in connection with abdominal exercises they had done during the previous ninety days 26.5% of those in the EIO group linked their experience to weight lifting 20% of the EIO women associated their experience to yoga 15.8% of the EIO females linked their experience to bicycling 13.2% of the EIO women connected their experience to hiking/running The most likely abdominal exercise to produce a female orgasm was the “captain’s chair”. The exerciser rests her elbows on padded arm rests with her back against a support - her legs hang free - she raises her knees upwards towards her chest several times. Herbenick says that nobody is sure what mechanisms are involved during exercise to induce an orgasm or sexual pleasure. Future studies, hopefully, will be able to determine that. The authors hope that women who experience either orgasm or sexual pleasure during exercise may feel, after reading about this study, that their responses are normal experiences. Whether or not specific exercises may help improve a female’s sexual experiences was not an aim of this study. The authors caution readers to make no assumptions until other more specific studies have been carried out. Just4Health April - June 2013
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LIFESTYLES
The Woman’s Guide to…
BREATHING (Part 1)
Yes! It’s ok. You have the right to BREATHE. 52
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By Keiyia Jackson-George, Avid Fitness Enthusiast
No, not breathing in the normal and natural sense, but to take a break. Exhale. Pause. With all that you juggle day to day, it’s ok. You deserve it. Now, let’s get cracking.
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ake a minute and think about all you have done for the day thus far. Just woke up? Well, congratulations for taking the time for yourself to do some reading (we appreciate this magazine being your first choice). Now think about all you did yesterday, left undone, or planned for today. How many items are on your mental list? 5? 10? 20? More?
That’s exactly what I’m talking about. How can you possibly have time to do ANYTHING else because you are so busy doing something for someone else and yet you are expected to…well…now make a list of the expectations upon you! If you are anything like me, your day starts meeting someone else’s needs: a child’s, a husband’s, a loved one’s…someone’s. The only way you get time to yourself is by waking up early, before everyone, but how in heck are you able to do that when you went to bed late doing something for someone. Ok. Breathe again. I didn’t mean to give you an anxiety attack with all these lists and thinking about lists. It was only meant to help you conceptualize your tasks so that you will see that there is absolutely no time in your busy schedule for YOU. Still don’t see it? Write it down. Take a count. How many pages are filled? It’s ok to be a little selfish – your mental and physical health needs it. So with all of the tasks you have going on, where does it say you can exercise? Look to see if there is a spa session for you? Yoga class? Salon appointment? Lunch with friends? Time to do absolutely nothing?
It’s not there, is it? How can we fix this? Simple: schedule it into your schedule. Every morning when I get to work, I have a reminder from my calendar telling me that
it is My Time: time that I spend doing whatever I want to do to start my day. This may sound like the time is spent lollygagging and wasting my company’s time, but it’s actually time to do the things that don’t have the highest priority, so I keep putting it off. It’s the time to do the things that are not on my list of tasks aimed to accomplish today. It’s My Time to productively use how I want to productively use it. After this period expires, I open my task list and start the first item. This may not be the best example since this time isn’t actually spent doing something for me, but it feels good scratching things off my to-do list. Therefore, this was for me, but that’s a whole other topic we can talk about later. The endorphins released during the onset of success are enough to carry me well into my lunch break where, depending on the day of the week, I have another block of time slotted for myself. It may be lunch with my spouse, friend, or even just a time to sit and get some fresh air. I admit. I hardly leave my desk when I arrive to work, but those days that I have carved time out for lunch are enough to carry me on through the day. What this means is I have plenty to give my family upon reaching home. I’m not cranky. I’m not stressed. I am well prepared to do yet another task for someone else. Remember, part of our journey to health involves mental health, and leaving our day job relaxed prepares us for a peaceful night job and hopefully a peaceful night’s rest. This guide is far from completion. Grab the next issue for more regarding the journey to BREATHING. See you then.
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Choose a Personal Trainer 11 important questions to ask By Nicole Palacios, BSc, ACE
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orking out with a personal trainer is a great investment in our health and fitness, but it can be tricky to know how to choose the right one. Here are the top questions to ask when deciding whom to hire. The benefits of a personal trainer
With the festivities behind us and the credit card bills paid, there are no more reminders of the holidays— except maybe the few extra pounds around our midsections. When this is the case, many of us consider hitting the gym to burn off those extra calories. But when we’re unsure about what to do once we arrive at said gym, it’s a great idea to hire a personal trainer.
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A trainer understands the way the human body moves and which exercises are best for each specific body part. With their knowledge and experience, we’re in good hands on our fitness journeys. However, a laundry list of questions to ask a prospective trainer regarding background, education, and experience is necessary; we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we neglected to interview our trainers before putting them to work.
These are the most important questions to ask when looking for someone to hire.
1. Are you certified?
This seems like a pretty obvious question, but unfortunately, there are trainers out there who are not qualified through a certifying body. To become certified, a personal trainer has to go through coursework and standardized testing, as well as CPR and first aid training.
2. Are you specialized?
A 20-year-old healthy woman has different needs than a 75-year-old osteoporotic woman. Trainers need to understand these differences, and if they specialize, they can cater to those specific needs. “Specializations give me the knowledge to help people with various physical conditions, improving their
be unreliable or unsafe. It takes time to get fit!
quality of life,” says personal trainer Lucy Anderson, who is a joint replacement specialist and cardiac rehabilitation instructor, among other things.
3. How long have you been in the industry?
Experience is important! Every year, we all learn more about the field we’re in, and fitness is no different. The more workshops, networking, and courses trainers take part in, the more knowledge they have. Take into account your needs and goals, and consider looking for someone who has put in at least two years in the field.
4. Can I call your past clients for a reference?
Any time we hire someone, we usually receive references, so why not with a personal trainer? If a trainer is happy to share his references, this means his clients back him up and enjoyed his services.
5. Do you have a blog/ website I can check out?
These days, most businesses and professionals have an online presence with a blog or website. If a personal trainer updates her blog with current events she’s hosting or sends out monthly newsletters, it shows that she is the type of person
to go that extra mile to keep clients informed.
6. Can I try before I buy?
Many trainers are happy to give a session gratis before clients decide to hire them. This is a way to try out their services before committing to a package that can run into the hundreds of dollars. This is not a new concept for trainers, so they should not be surprised if asked.
7. Do you keep up your continuing education?
Did the prospective trainer get certified 20 years ago—or more? If so, he needs to be current on today’s fitness trends and not the trends of the past generation. Continuing education is an essential part of being a professional personal trainer. Not only that, but CPR and first aid training also need to be updated at regular intervals.
8. How long will it take for me to reach my goals?
A trainer should give a realistic time frame with no quick fixes guaranteed. Going in with a little knowledge can ensure that our expectations are realistic, and the trainer’s theories on when we’ll get there match our expectations. If a trainer guarantees we’ll be down two sizes in a week, his methods may
9. Are you insured? This keeps everyone safe, and it’s mandatory for trainers to have insurance if they are independent. Some gyms will cover their fulltime trainers. If we were ever to get injured, we know that we will be covered.
10. Do you have any success stories?
If a trainer is seasoned and has satisfied clients in her past, she should have at least one great success story to share. She should be excited to tell about her past clients’ successes and hope that she can add more clients to her roster of successes.
11. Why you?
With all the personal trainers out there nowadays, what makes one individual trainer stand out from other personal trainers with the same qualifications? It’s so important to find a certain “wow” factor with a trainer for it to work out. Trainers and clients need to be compatible on many levels, whether it be that the trainer specializes in a specific need, is relatable, or just has a similar moral code. These things do matter! Don’t be afraid to ask a prospective personal trainer as many questions as possible; trainers and clients spend a lot of up-close-and-personal time together, and when your trainer is in your face telling you, “Do 10 more!”, you won’t mind quite as much if you like him. Just4Health April - June 2013
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B.V.I.M.A. SEEKING TO BUILD, A WORLD CLASS MEDICAL SYSTEM
Dr. Harlan Vanterpool, President of the BVI Medical Association. [Photo by Elton Callwood]
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The British Virgins Islands Medical Association (B.V.I.M.A) has just recently been revived under the present leadership of Dr’s Harlan Vanterpool, Craig Stoutt, Dexter Penn, Brandon Frett, Heskith Vanterpool, Mitchell Penn, Shakima Stoutt-Vanterpool, Hubert O’neal, Vincent Scatliffe, Dawn Brewley and Omari Dawson.
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he Association has remained active since its inception more than 20 years ago, however, it has gone through varying challenges, including low membership numbers. It is therefore the hope that with the current number of local physicians within the Territory being the largest in years, a robust and active association may again be possible. President of the association, Dr. Harlan Vanterpool, noted that the BVIMA like any other association requires strong leadership and membership in this current time to be effective. Therefore, for the first time in its history, the association would be open to all duly registered and actively practicing physicians within the territory. “My immediate goal as president of the association is to increase membership to at least thirty physicians and to actively raise the profile of the association.” “Clearly, the time has come to take a more proactive approach with regards to functioning of the BVIMA” Dr. Vanterpool noted. The aims and purpose of the association as outlined by Dr. Vanterpool are as follows: “To promote the medical, dental and related arts and sciences within the territory as a unified body; To maintain the honour, and standards of the medical profession, while promoting and protecting the interests of the medical professionals within the territory; To provide technical and other assistance aimed at improving the standard of medical care provided by both public and private medical facilities within the territory; Provision of assistance grants for students pursuing degrees
in medicine and other allied health fields; To provide opportunities for continuing medical education and training to all members of the association; Provision of an avenue for the airing of grievances and concerns related to the practice of medicine within the territory and administer self-discipline for practitioners registered under the same; Promotion of the general health and wellbeing of the general populous of the B.V.I.” In order to achieve the goals of the association a number of initiatives and activities are slated to be staged throughout the current calendar year. The association has adopted as its theme for this calendar year the following slogan “Health and Well Being for All, We have got to make the Call.” We therefore, as an association will be embarking on a number of community out-reach efforts. We hope to partner with varying service organizations’ to achieve this and our intention is to start this drive with a health and wellness fair. Such efforts are critical when considering the ultimate goal of fostering a healthy community. Our first annual fundraising gala and awards dinner is slated for the month of May, where five longstanding physicians who have served this community with unwavering fervour and dedication will be honoured. The association hopes to make this a hallmark event in our annual calendar with the funds raised going toward our medical education assistance grant programme. We have commenced our efforts to promote the medical and related arts by meeting with and having discussions with a group of students attending the Hamilton Lavity Stoutt Community College. These students are currently enrolled in the sciences and other programmes at the college and a number of them have expressed an interest in pursuing medical or related careers. These students will be followed up by members of the association periodically to provide support and encouragement and even mentorship as they pursue their career choices. Other initiatives being considered by the association include producing a television programme with a focus on health and wellbeing. This programme will draw heavily on the varying expertise and support services available within the territory. When asked, where does he see the BVIs Medical Association in the next few years? Dr. Vanterpool responded, that he fully expects the BVI Medical Association to become a fixture within the medical community of the B.V.I; and should provide technical, educational, legal and other support to the medical and wider community. In addition, he took the opportunity to again extend an invitation to all practicing physicians within the territory to join the B.V.Is Medical Association, as we seek to build together, a world class medical system. Just4Health April - June 2013
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FOOD
Quick and Healthy Smoothies for Kids It’s often a challenge to get your children to eat healthy as some kids are picky eaters when it comes to fruit. Make sure your children get their healthy intake and blend fruits together for a delicious morning drink! A refreshing smoothie is a terrific boost for kids and if the right ingredients are used, they are filled with vitamins and nutrients. They’re also flavourful and colourful, so kids will love this with their breakfast. 58
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Name the smoothies with fun and interesting names so that your kids become excited to find out what smoothie they’ll be having in the morning. Here are a few refreshing smoothie ideas to enjoy any day of the week: Banana-Choc Smoothie Combine some banana, chocolate drink powder, ice blocks and some milk for this blended concoction. Children love this smoothie, and as a parent you get to sneak in healthy bananas, perfect yummy smoothie to start the day. PB and J Smoothie Peanut Butter is something most kids love. Some kids even scoop out peanut butter onto a spoon and eat it straight! Blend bananas, milk, ice cubes, peanut butter and some honey together for this energy booster. To make it a PBJ (peanut butter and jelly) smoothie, simply add chopped up strawberries onto the top when serving Berry Yummy Smoothie Next time you’re at the supermarket, make sure to buy a bag of frozen berries. They’ll come in handy when making this smoothie. Most frozen berry mixes include blue berries, raspberries and strawberries. For this smoothie, you’ll just need banana, berries, plain yogurt, honey and ice blocks. Tropical Smoothie This tropical drink allows you to have fun with the type of fruits you choose. You can use tropical fruits like papaya, pineapple, mango, kiwi , banana and granadilla. Blend at least 2 of the fruits together with ice blocks and some plain yogurt. Mean Green Smoothie This smoothie includes a leafy vegetable to achieve the green colour and is filled with iron and fibre. Blend up fresh spinach leaves with green apple slices, vanilla yoghurt, green grapes and banana. This healthy smoothie is ideal for kids that have an iron deficiency and the fun colour is a bonus! Just4Health April - June 2013
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FOOD
Healthy Cookware: The Healthiest Pots And Pans For Your Kitchen Having your pantry stocked with healthy foods is only one part of creating a healthy kitchen. Not all cookware is created equal, and it is important to ensure that your pots and pans are made from the healthiest materials available.
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ost people have already heard about the possible dangers of using nonstick cookware in the kitchen. Nonstick cookware is made up of a host of synthetic chemicals that have been undeniably linked to some serious potential health conditions. PFOA is the main ingredient that is present in nonstick cookware. It is used to create the coating that prevents the food from sticking to the pots and pans during cooking. This coating, called polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and commonly referred to as Teflon, is not present on the coating itself. However, when the coating is exposed to heat, it can create a gas that contains the dangerous chemicals. The substance is currently listed as a possible human carcinogen; however, the EPA has recommended that it
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Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), an artificial chemical commonly used in non-stick cookware, can disrupt hormonal balance and lead to early menopause in women. be upgraded to the likely human carcinogen category. Many of the major Teflon manufacturers have voluntarily committed to eliminating PFOA exposure from their products in the coming years. The health risks that are associated with nonstick coating are undeniable. In animals, PFOA has been shown to cause cancer of the testicles, pancreas, mammary and liver in animals. Workers who are routinely exposed to PFOA are at risk of developing and/or dying from pancreatic cancer and cancer of the male reproductive tract. There are many studies that have proven a link between PFOAs and altered reproductive hormones in men. This can lead to elevated estrogen levels and an imbalance in testosterone levels. There is also evidence that PFOA damages the thyroid gland. There are newer nonstick pots and pans on the market that are made from PFOA-free and PTFE-free ingredients. This nonstick cookware is commonly referred to as green nonstick cookware or simply green cookware. The most common line is the Thermolon line. Manufacturers of this new nonstick cookware are claiming that it is the first ever PFOA-free and PRFE-free nonstick cookware that is not only healthy to cook with, but is also good for the environment. It relies on ceramic-based materials that come from nano nonstick technology. Some top home magazines and celebrity chefs have given this line the seal of approval. Before you run out to purchase this new line, consider that the nanotechnology that is used to create the nonstick cookware is still relatively new, and there are not many research studies available yet. More time will be needed to test for safety and determine if there are any dangers associated with this type of cookware. Cookware that is not non-stick often requires some additional effort for proper care and maintenance, however, many cooks are willing to put in the extra work in order to have peace of mind regarding food safety. If you make the decision to replace your existing non-stick cookware with one of the safer alternatives listed below, look for a local metal recycling business in your area. Non-stick cookware is in the “dirty aluminum� category, which means they can be recycled and a small fee is often paid by metal recyclers in exchange for your used non-stick items. Just4Health April - June 2013
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FOOD
Ready for debut:
Fruit-juice-infused
chocolate with 50 percent less fat
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lready renowned as a healthy treat when enjoyed in moderation, chocolate could become even more salubrious if manufacturers embrace new technology for making “fruitjuice-infused chocolate,” a scientist said disclosed. The presentation was
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part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society. Stefan A. F. Bon, Ph.D., who led the research, explained that the technology would allow manufacture of chocolate with fruit juice, vitamin C water or diet cola replacing up to 50 percent of the fat. The juice is in the form of micro-bubbles that help chocolate retain the lush, velvety “mouth-feel” — the texture that is firm and snappy to the bite and yet melts in the mouth. The process also prevents “sugar bloom,” the unappetizing white film that coats the surface of chocolate that has been on the shelf for a while. “We have established the chemistry that’s a starting point for healthier chocolate confectionary,” Bon said. “This approach maintains the things that make chocolate ‘chocolatey’, but with fruit juice instead of fat. Now we’re hoping the food industry will take the next steps and use the technology to make tasty, lower-fat chocolate bars and other candy. Chocolate’s high fat and sugar content is a downside, compared to its high levels of healthful plant-based substances
termed antioxidants or flavonoids, Bon explained. A 2-ounce serving of premium dark chocolate may contain 13 grams of fat ― 20 percent of the total daily fat recommended for a person who eats 2,000 calories per day. Much of that fat is the unhealthy saturated variety. Substituting fruit juice or cola also reduces the overall sugar content of the candy. The technology works with dark, milk and white chocolate. Bon’s team at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom has made chocolate infused with apple, orange and cranberry juice. “Fruit-juice-infused candy tastes like an exciting hybrid between traditional chocolate and a chocolate-juice confectionary,” he said. “Since the juice is spread out in the chocolate, it doesn’t overpower the taste of the chocolate. We believe that the technology adds an interesting twist to the range of chocolate confectionary products available,” according to Bon. “The opportunity to replace part of the fat matrix with water-based juice droplets allows for greater flexibility and tailoring of both the overall fat and sugar content.” Bon’s team used fruit juices and other food-approved ingredients to form a Pickering emulsion, named for British chemist Percival Spencer Umfreville Pickering. In 1907, Pickering discovered a new way to stabilize emulsions ― combinations of liquids like the egg yolk and oil in mayonnaise that normally would not mix together. Chocolate is an emulsion of cocoa butter and water or milk combined with cocoa powder. Lecithin appears on the ingredient label in many chocolates because it is an emulsifier that fosters the process. Pickering’s method used solid particles rather than an emulsifier, and Bon’s team embraced that century-old approach in their work.
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