Wellspring Issue #18 by The Wellspring

WEALTH OF HEALTH CONFERENCE WITH YOEL GROSS OF FIRST CHOICE BABY FOODS

SUMMER PROJECT: REVAMP YOUR HOME How to utilize the summer months to implement a healthy lifestyle

CAN HAND TUBES PREVENT DROWNING? Pool safety tips from seasoned lifeguards

HOW MANY CALORIES DOES SWIMMING BURN? Fitness instructor Syma Kranz on the pros of aqua aerobics

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

GOOD FOOD INSIDE

Understanding how exposure therapy works

Brought to you by: ISSUE 18 JULY 2017 TAMUZ 5777

CRAFTING IN THE KITCHEN: BRING HEALTHY EATING TO LIFE FOR YOUR KIDS

On the sparkling blue horizon Here comes a flavory fleet, Bearing the ingredients To craft a tasty treat.

On fun-filled family trips Campsites or mountain hikes, To be sipped by one and all Adult or teen or tyke.

‘Cross the world they’ve sailed They have been around the block, From Australia to Holland To this bustling Singapore dock.

Should you have a daring spirit A desire to explore, Don’t stand there and suppress it Spread your wings and soar.

Down below the Soupmen hurry For they have no time to waste, They must quickly pack and seal To ensure the freshest taste.

Use that noodle in your head To unlock oodles of delight, Grab that spork or spoon, And let your dreams take flight.

For with a freshness guaranteed There’s no limit where one can go, So hit the great wide open With a Gefen soup in tow.

Gefen soup can take you places it’s no mere broth or stew...

Ask not where you can take it, But where can it take you.

For those with higher standards ℠

Fre Pac shly & S ked eal ed

hand made in wood fired ovens

Tuscanini For The Pizza Aficionado In a small village in Northern Italy where pizza is taken very seriously, individual pies are lovingly prepared in the time honored traditional way. This authentic pizza is carefully made with hand stretched dough, topped with the finest and freshest toppings, and baked in a wood fired oven the way pizza was meant to be made. From that village in Italy, pizza is brought straight to your table…

Amount/ Teneur

Total Fat/Lipides 9g

% Daily Value*

14%

Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value*

Sodium/Sodium 700mg

29%

20% Total Carbohydrates / Glucide 45g 15% Serving Size 1/3 Pizza /Par 133g Saturated Fat/Saturés 4g Servings per Container About 3 / Monounsaturated Fat/Monoinsaturés 1g Dietary Fiber / Fibre 2mg 8% Portions par Contenant Environ 3 Polyaturated Fat/Polyinsaturés 1g Sugars/Sucres 2g Calories/ Calories 300 Trans Fat/Trans 0g Protein/Protéines 13g Calories from Fat/ Calories des Lipides 80 Cholesterol/Cholestérol 20mg 7% Vitamin A/Vitamine A 4% • Vitamin C/Vitamine C 3% • Calcium/Calcium 13% • Iron/Fer 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Calories 2,000 2,500 Less than 65g 80g Total Fat Less than 20g 25g Sat Fat 300mg Cholesterol Less than 300mg Less than 2,400mg 2,400mg Sodium 300g 375g Total Carbohydrate 25g 30g Dietary Fiber Calories per gram: Fat 9 • Carbohydrate 4

•

Protein 4

R’ Hazzan here need symbol YOSHON

INGREDIENTS: DOUGH 55%: Soft Unbleached Wheat Flour, Water, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Yeast, Malted Wheat Flour. TOPPING: TOMATO SAUCE 20% (Tomato Paste, Water, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Sugar, Oregano, Black Pepper), MOZZARELLA CHEESE 25% (Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Starter Culture, Coagulant). CONTAINS WHEAT AND MILK. MADE IN A FACILITY THAT PROCESSES EGGS, FISH AND NUTS INGREDIENTS: PÂTE: Farine de Blé Doux Non Blanchie, Eau, Sel, Huile de Tournesol, Levure, Farine de Blé Malté. GARNITURE: SAUCE TOMATE (Pâte de Tomates, Eau, Huile de Tournesol, Sel, Sucre, Origan, Poivre Noir), FROMAGE MOZZARELLA (Lait Pasteurisé, Sel, Culture Démarreur, Coagulant). CONTIENT DU BLÉ ET DU LAIT. FABRIQUÉS DANS UNE USINE QUI TRAITE ŒFS, POISSON ET LES NOIX

Manufactured for: Kenover Marketing Bayonne NJ 07002 / Distribué au Canada par Altra Foods Inc. Montreal, QC H1E 6W5 / PRODUCT OF ITALY/PRODUIT D'ITALIE

Best Before

KEEP FROZEN UNTIL USE

M A D E I N I TA LY

gourmet pizza

Tuscanini

PREMIUM HANDMADE

Margherita Classic Italian Pizza,

PREMIUM HANDMADE

Nutrition Facts/ Valeur Nutritive

Buon Appetito!

gourmet pizza

Remove pizza from all wrappings and thaw at room temperature. Bake at 420°F (215°C) for about 8 minutes until all the cheese has melted. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, if preferred. COOK THOROUGHLY. NOT SUITABLE FOR MICROWAVE OVENS.

Margherita Classic Italian Pizza,

2898ZP

HEATING INSTRUCTIONS:

Tuscanini

PREMIUM HANDMADE

gourmet pizza

authentic italian flavor b e c a u s e i Margherita t’s made in italy Classic Italian Pizza,

Margherita Classic Italian Pizza,

Tuscanini M A D E I N I TA LY

Personal pizza pie

KEEP FROZEN

net wt./poids net 14.3oz (400g) PREMIUM HANDMADE

gourmet pizza

M A D E I N I TA LY

Tuscanini

GOURMET PIZZA

Margherita Classic Italian Pizza,

M A D E I N I TA LY

Tuscanini

Serving Suggestion / Enlarged to show texture

PREMIUM HANDMADE WOOD FIRED

NE W!

Editor In Chief Shiffy Friedman, MSW, CNWC Nutritional Advisory Board Jack Friedman, PhD • Moshe Weinberger Yaakov Goodman, CN • Shani Taub, CDC Dr. Rachael Schindler • Tanya Rosen, MS CAI CPT Fitness Advisory Board Syma Kranz, PFC • Esther Fried, PFC Feature Editors Rochel Gordon • Liba Solomon, CNWC Copy Editors Gila Zemmel • Faige Badian Food Editor Levia Joseph Food Styling Malky Levine Photography Creative Directors Rivky Schwartz Art Director Chavy Lefkowitz Digital Marketing Simcha Nunez Store Distribution Motty Srugo 718-496-1364 Write To Us: 670 Myrtle Ave. Suite 389 Brooklyn, NY 11205 info@wellspringmagazine.com www.wellspringmagazine.com

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The Wellspring Magazine is published monthly by Maxi-Health Research LLC. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part or in any form without prior written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher reserves the right to edit all articles for clarity, space and editorial sensitivities. The Wellspring Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content or kashrus of advertisements in the publication, nor for the content of books that are referred to or excerpted herein. The contents of The Wellspring Magazine, such as text, graphics and other material (content) are intended for educational purposed only. The content is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider with any questions you have regarding your medical condition.

Find The Wellspring as a monthly insert in Ami Magazine or at your local pharmacy or health food store. For the PDF version and for back issues, visit www.wellspringmagazine.com

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From the Editor

Dear Readers, With two solid months of summer ahead, we’re excited to have you join us in the fun summer project we’ve outlined for you. When the idea of giving readers a plan for revamping their homes to create a healthier space came up in a conversation with the editorial board, I welcomed it immediately, with you, dear readers, in mind. Now that the pace of our routine slows (somewhat-- laundry and suppers still beckon!), we saw this as the perfect opportunity to provide food for thought regarding the small changes parents can make in their homes to ensure that their children are not only provided the technical aspects of a healthy lifestyle, but also an appreciation for it so they can grow up to be strong, healthy adults. Children are incredibly impressionable human beings. The things we can ingrain in them—even from the youngest of age—are boundless. As a mother, I’ve subconsciously taken to pointing out Hashem’s gifts to us in the physical world to my little ones. When I serve fruit, for example, I’ll usually comment on the beautiful color, the perfect texture, and such other details. When we walk out of our building every morning to take them to school, I often throw in a positive observation on the weather. “Look at that blue sky. Doesn’t it look like a painting?” During the evening, when we get to watch the most splendid Yerushalayim sunset from our window, “Who sees the stunning colors of the rainbow there? What a sight Hashem created just for us!” The other day, when we were treated to an especially delightful morning breeze, I was thoroughly enjoying the walk to my two-year-old’s gan. As a gentle gust of wind blew our way, she called out to me from her stroller, “Yummy breeze, Mommy. Baruch Hashem!” At first, I was taken aback by the maturity of her comment, but then I realized that she was merely repeating words she’s heard in the past that have made an imprint in her impressionable mind. As Chevy Reichberg relates in her excellent cover feature in this issue, teaching children about the various food groups and how their bodies work is a lot simpler than we think. Especially during the summertime, when they’re out of school and their hungry minds are eager for an academic fill, all it takes is delivering the concepts in a clear, simple manner (even words like protein) and they’ll catch on in a jiffy. And of course, the best way to transmit the importance of a healthy lifestyle is through modeling. When children see their mother make wise choices in her own plate, they’ll be sure to do the same. In preparing this issue’s Cup of Tea, I was privileged to have an enlightening conversation with mother-daughter lifeguard duo Chana Leah Greenzweig and Roizy Wachsler. My initial connection to these two dynamic women was to Roizy, and from our first conversation, I noted her enthusiasm and positivity. Later, when her mother came into the picture, I understood where it all came from. “She doesn’t cut corners with anything,” Roizy related about her mother after we finished discussing our topic for this issue, pool safety. But Chana Leah was quick to interject. “I must tell you about Roizy. She’s a perfectionist. Whatever she does is just so. I love working with her.” Their effusive comments about one another only reaffirmed my belief that children, no matter their age, constantly grow from their parents’ solid example. May we utilize this summer, and every day of our lives, to serve as role models—in good health and happiness. A blissful summer to you all,

Shiffy Friedman

shiffy@wellspringmagazine.com

Well-Put!

“Knowing that someone else is alive because of their selflessness makes the donors feel amazing, which makes me feel great, too,” says Yossi Ehrman, a volunteer for Matnas Chaim/Gift of Life. Read more about the esteemed organization’s work in arranging bone marrow transplants on page 26. Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 77

Contents

TAMUZ 5777

JULY2017 The next issue of The Wellspring will appear iy”H on August 2nd.

WELL INFORMED

WELLNESS PLATFORM By Rabbi Hirsch Meisels

TORAH WELLSPRING By Rabbi Ezra Friedman

HEALTH UPDATES IN THE NEWS By Liba Solomon, CNWC

FIGURES By Miriam Katz

WEALTH OF HEALTH Conference with Yoel Gross By Sarah Weinberger

DEDICATED TO HEALTH 10 Questions for jay Feinberg By Chana Dunner

32 LIVING WELL

WHEN A BYSTANDER CALLS FOR HELP, IT’S EASY TO FORGET THE LOCATION OR PHONE NUMBER, SO THIS SIGN CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN SAVING A LIFE. - LIFEGUARDS CHANA LEAH GREENZWEIG & ROIZY WACHSLER

ASK THE NUTRITIONIST Virtues in Variety? By Shani Taub, CDC

IN GOOD SHAPE Fitness 101: Aqua Aerobics By Syma Kranz, PFC

COVER FEATURE Revamp Your Home By Chevy Reichberg

HEALTH PROFILE Client: Shana Rubin By Esther Steinmetz

TRIED AND TRUE Skin Saga By Batsheva Fine

MONTHLY DOSE Solving Sinusitis By Yaakov Goodman, CN

PAGE 66

FAREWELL 79

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SUSHI’S STILL GOING STRONG! BUT THIS ONE’S NOT A “LET’S PRETEND WE’RE EATING HEALTHY” ROLL—IT’S THE REAL STUFF. - LEVIA JOSEPH, SEASONED

PAGE 43

EAT WELL WELLBEING 61

CLEAN SLATE Why am I Failing? By Shiffy Friedman, MSW, CNWC

FROM THE GROUND UP 24 Months (2 Years) By Goldy Guttman, Ms. Ed.

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS They're Torturing Her! David H. Rosmarin, Ph.D., ABPP, & Peryl Agishtein, Ph.D.

HEALTH PERSONALITY Chana Leah Greenzweig & Roizy Wachsler By Shiffy Friedman

I WOULD WAKE UP WITHOUT ANY SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER, BUT AFTER 3 PM I’D START SQUINTING AND STRAINING MY EYES. - RIVKY SIMON, INKWELL

SEASONED Crafting in the Kitchen By Levia Joseph

NUTRITION TIDBITS IN THE NEWS By Liba Solomon, CNWC

NUTRITION FACTS IN A SHELL This Month: Peaches By Devorah Isaacson

AGE WELL 71

GOLDEN PAGE By Yaakov Goodman, CN

SENIOR CARE Parkinson's By Rena Milgraum, RN

SAGE ADVICE By Aliza Simon

SERIAL DIARY Entry #8 By Malka Aronson

INKWELL 78

DIARY A Solution in Sight By Rivky Simon

PAGE 78

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 9

Springboard

Letters subject line “New Volunteer.” May we all be zocheh to help one another! Tizku l'mitzvos, Dovid R.

Dear Editor:

Networking Quest for a health forum [Issue #17: Springboard] Dear Editor: I'm writing in response to a letter from one of your readers published in last month’s issue of The Wellspring. The reader asked for help in finding a frum forum with a focus on health in which she could ask questions and obtain advice or suggestions from the community. I’m happy to let all your readers know that we are working on just such a forum, and hope to “go live” by the end of this summer, BE”H. This will be a completely free website that will include a directory listing of all chessed organizations and medical resources worldwide that any patient might ever need. It will include a comprehensive community forum to enable members of the frum community to help each other. Anyone can ask for help or advice regarding any health or medical area, and others who have expertise or experience in that area can respond with valuable feedback.Whoever would like to be informed when this website becomes available can send us an email at ChesedForum@gmail.com with the subject line "Notify Me" and we’ll be happy to let you know when the website is live. Also, anyone who is computer-literate and could volunteer their time (from any location) to help out on this special project would help us launch the project that much sooner. Any interested volunteers can email us at ChesedForum@gmail.com with the 10 The Wellspring | July 2017

I’m writing regarding the letter that someone wrote asking if there is a group where she can share healthy recipes and ask questions. I am part a text group that caters to these needs and am daily gaining knowledge by reading the questions and answers, as well as getting my own questions answered. It was from this group that I learned about Maxi Health’s amazing supplement Maxi Biotic®. To join this group, simply send a text message to 347-622-0513. M. Klein

parts of healthy living that enable us to serve Hashem in our best state. But what brought me to tears was the incredible interview with Esther Kenigsberg of Sparks, and later the Conference with Wheatless Wonders. By interviewing people who are doing great things on behalf of the community, you’ve opened my eyes to what a wonderful nation we are. Many years ago, when my sister suffered from PPD, she had nowhere to turn and the entire family was deeply affected. Thanks for bringing to our attention that there’s finally someone out there who’s here to help those women in the community who need it. And in the interview with Blimi Horowitz, I was once again awed how a business owner is able to take her work to the next level by helping out her newly-diagnosed clients, truly caring about their plight. Mi k’amcha Yisrael. Thank you, The Wellspring, for conveying this message in the most beautiful way. L. Diamant Monsey, New York

Brought Me to Tears A reader’s insight [Issue #17: Conference, Ten Questions] Dear Editor: I confess that I am the kind of person who gets touched easily, but I would never dream that a health magazine would bring me to tears. The last issue, dear editor and amazing staff at The Wellspring, did exactly that. As I was flipping through the pages, enjoying the rich content and beautiful design, I found myself in awe at the quality of the content. Not only does the magazine not focus on the modern-day so-called benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle, primarily external appearance, but it emphasizes the truly important

Looking for a Lab A desperate plea Dear Editor: I’m in a desperate search for a lab that can test an herbal cream for steroid ingredients. I spent hours calling and emailing labs around the US, but have not yet found one that provides this service for private individuals. If you or any of your readers have any leads on this, it would help many people immensely. Thanking you in advance, P.W.

invites readers to submit letters and comments via regular mail or email to info@wellspringmagazine.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. We reserve the right to edit all submissions and will withhold your name upon request. We will honor requests for anonymity, but we cannot consider letters that arrive without contact information.

a l l a g n i Wish

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PRIMARY CARE Pediatrics | Internal Medicine

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Springboard

Letters

An Eye-opener Why did I need something “good” to eat? [Issue #17: Clean Slate] Dear Editor: Just the other day, I asked my friend, “Why is it that every Shabbos afternoon I want something ‘good’?” All week long, I manage to eat healthy and keep my sugar intake in check. But somehow, every week at shalosh seudos time, I feel the need to binge. The article in which Rivky candidly shares her emotional eating experience really rang a bell for me. I decided to take the time to think about what may be triggering this feeling, and I realized that usually, at that time of day, I feel a bit homesick. My husband is not around then, the kids are sleeping, and my family lives in a different city. With no connection to anyone, the feelings of loneliness that I manage to bury all week long come to the surface during this time, something I never paid attention to. The article brought this point to my attention, and I now look forward to learning how to deal with these feelings so that I can feel really good all week long, including Shabbos. Thank you Shiffy Friedman for a very enlightening column. Bracha L.

Dear Editor: I suffer from ongoing sinusitis, and I have seen from your magazine that there’s a wealth of natural solutions for many ailments that we can use without turning to antibiotics all the time. Can you please cover this topic vis-a-vis seeking relief and cure? I and so many others will be very grateful. Thank you, A new fan of yours Editor’s response: As per your request, you will find this important issue covered in this edition’s “Monthly Dose.”

Why Wean? A reader’s perspective on getting rid of pacifiers [Issue #16: Tried and True] Dear Readers: I’d like to share my experience with you. As a young girl, I was constantly sucking my left thumb, and I was also attached to my favorite blanket. I was always criticized for being childish,

which is how I came to realize several important points I’d like to share with you. Firstly, everyone needs a means of self-soothing. We don’t realize how most adults also practice self-soothing methods as they grow up (some people turn to their cell phones, others to chewing gum, etc.). Children follow the lead of the adults in their life. If an adult turns to nosh when she’s angry, why can’t her child turn to his pacifier for comfort? Taking away the pacifier from the upset child doesn’t solve the problem; it only makes it worse. A parent must first understand why the child is acting the way he is and teach him to express how he feels before taking away his source of comfort. As a parent, I’ve found that giving a child the pacifier at night as a means to put himself to sleep and then finding other positive ways for him to selfsoothe by day works best. Ask the child what he enjoys as a replacement for the thumb-sucking/pacifier and engage in those activities with him. The more positive you make the experience, the more the child will want to follow along. Thank you,The Wellspring, for your great work, E. B. Mertz

Quick Question

New feature! Feel free to shoot us your health-related question to receive an answer from one of the health experts at the Wellspring. Question: I’m sending three children to sleep-away camp this summer. Which vitamins do you recommend that I send with them? They are generally healthy and don’t take supplements on a regular basis, but I know that in camp their immune systems are at a greater risk and I won’t be with them to help them out. One child has a sensitive stomach, which is generally not a problem at home, but I can see her being affected by the food the camp provides and by changes in her eating routine. Response: I commend you for taking necessary preventative steps to ensure your children will iy’H have a healthy, happy camp experience. Here’s what I recommend. 1. Maxi Biotic® is #1. While children wait for camp doctors to pay their bi-weekly visit or for their antibiotics to arrive, this supplement will have them covered in the best possible way. 2. Panto C™ is excellent for colds and congestion issues, which often happen when the immune system runs low as a result of compromised nutrition and decreased sleep. 3. Chewable Maxi Digest™ works wonders for stomach pain, bloating, and nausea. It can be taken after midnight snacks and canteen overload and by children who are sensitive to changes in their diet and to camp food. Mimi Schweid, nutritional advisor

12 The Wellspring | July 2017

ATTN. MONSEY CUSTOMERS! We now deliver Sunday-Thursday

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Wellness Platform By Rabbi Hirsch Meisels

AWAY WITH THE PRESSURE

THE NATURAL SOLUTION FOR REDUCING HYPERTENSION PART 2

With 70 million Americans suffering from high blood pressure, this is a topic that deserves extensive coverage. Thankfully, Hashem has planted a host of natural solutions to the disorder within the natural world, many of which can be found in Maxi Health’s all-in-one blood pressure reducing formula Pressure Complex™. This supplement contains vitamin B6, potassium, and magnesium, whose benefits in reducing hypertension have already been described in this column. Similarly, the ingredients allicin (in garlic) and inositol play prominent roles in boosting the cardiovascular system and reducing blood pressure. Countless studies point toward garlic’s blood pressure reducing properties. Of note, the medical journal Integrated Blood Pressure Control published a study on this relationship in 2016. In this double-blind (both the doctors and subjects weren’t aware of which subjects were receiving which intervention), randomized (subjects were unable to choose their intervention) clinical trial, 88 people with uncontrolled high blood pressure were divided into two

groups—one of which received a daily garlic pill and the other a placebo. The remarkable results of this study revealed that the garlic pills helped reduce hypertension in the subjects as effectively as medication. This is a powerful statement regarding the power of garlic in reducing hypertension. In another study, a third group of subjects received medication and the blood pressure levels of all three groups were then compared. Interestingly, a reduction was observed in even those subjects who received a small dose of garlic. And those who received a larger dosage for a longer period of time saw even better results. How does garlic decrease blood pressure levels in the body? Among other benefits, the allicin in garlic relaxes the arteries and makes them more flexible, which benefits the entire cardiovascular system. In order for the healing properties found in the sulfites of garlic’s allicin to emerge, an intensive extraction procedure is necessary. Once garlic undergoes this effective process, as it does in preparation for usage in Pressure Complex™, its incredible power to heal is unleashed. (If you’re taking garlic supplements, regardless of the reason, it’s important to ensure that you’re receiving enough allicin from that particular product.) Another ingredient that plays a role in reducing hypertension is inositol, a B vitamin. Inositol is renowned as a natural relaxant and sleep aide. Simply put, stress and its resulting effects can increase blood pressure, so by reducing tension in the body, the pressure on the arteries decreases, as well. There is con-

crete evidence to support inositol’s role in reducing hypertension. In a popular, oft-quoted study on metabolic syndrome, which I like to call the “unhealthy diet syndrome” because of its root cause, female subjects between the ages of 52 and 82 were given doses of inositol or a placebo for six months. Subjects were not instructed to change their diets. (Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of abnormalities associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, which generally result from obesity or excess weight.) The blood tests and blood pressure examinations that were administered both prior to the study and afterward revealed several astounding conclusions. For starters, the researchers saw drastic improvement (77%) in the metabolic disorder markers in the inositol group, compared to an improvement of only 25% in the placebo group. In addition, insulin levels decreased by 69% in the inositol group versus only 3% in the placebo group. While the HDL (good) cholesterol increased by 28% in the inositol subjects, the other group experienced no change at all. And finally, the inositol group’s blood pressure levels decreased by 12%, whereas no changes were observed in the placebo group. These results indicate the potency of inositol in reducing blood pressure, which makes its presence in a blood pressure reduction formula so vital.

In this column, Rabbi Hirsch Meisels, a renowned expert on healthy living, delivers vital health information culled from his years of experience as the founder and director of FWD, Friends With Diabetes. The information was originally transcribed from his lectures on his hotline, Kol Beri’im.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 15

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Well Informed

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Torah Wellspring: Emotional Health By Rabbi Ezra Friedman

COMING CLOSER

A FLAWED PERCEPTION REGARDING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HASHEM (PART I)

IF YOU ASK SOMEONE who doesn’t conduct himself according to the Torah’s standards to explain his reasoning, you’ll observe an interesting phenomenon. In the majority of cases, it’s because of a flawed perception regarding the relationship we have with Hashem. The person will tell you that after transgressing a violation of the Torah, he lost interest in doing the right thing because he felt that Hashem would not accept him in the same way He did previously; that His love for him wasn’t as strong. It’s human nature that if we feel the other party is distancing itself from us, we reciprocate. Consider what happens when a friend shows you a cold shoulder. How do you react? In other words, when most of us sin, we assume that we’ve diminished Hashem’s level of affection toward us, and then we let go of our side of the relationship as well. This perception of our relationship with Hashem, however, is distorted. No deed in the world, our Sages teach us, can diminish Hashem’s love toward us, even by one iota. Hashem’s love of us is completely unconditional, like the love of a father to his son. Rav Shimshon Pincus zt”l illustrates the depth of this consummate relationship with a powerful parable. Suppose a rosh yeshivah has a prized talmid, the apple of his eye, who spends hours with him conversing in Torah, a student who brings him only nachas and joy. On the other hand, the rosh yeshivah’s own son is a source of heartache and disappointment to his father, disobeying the rules and instigating constant trouble. One night, a blazing fire erupts in the dormitory. As soon as the

rosh yeshivah hears of the catastrophe, he immediately runs into the building. Who, asks Rav Shimshon, does he run to save first—the student whose perfect conduct and brilliant mind brought him so much pleasure, or his own wayward son? The answer is obvious, but the question is why. Why would a father choose to save his disobedient son over the disciple who provided him with only nachas? Because a father/son relationship is unconditional. The love a father bears to his son is not based on the actions the son performs, but on the virtue of their eternal bond. Hakadosh Baruch Hu, says Rav Pincus, has precisely this relationship with every single Jew. “Banim atem laHashem Elokeichem, you are Hashem’s children,” the Torah tells us— and that’s only miktzas shivcho, a portion of our praise. Of course, when we transgress a commandment, we must repent, but that’s only to bring ourselves closer to Hashem and so that we can benefit from the reward awaiting us in the World to Come. Hashem’s heart, so to speak, is always equally open to us, always equally loving and affectionate toward His prized nation. The mishnah in Avos teaches us that if love is contingent on something, it won’t last, but if it isn’t dependent on anything, it will persevere. Because Hashem’s love to us, His children, does not depend on anything, no action we might do can turn Him away from us. A relationship between a human father and son doesn’t even come close to the bond we have with Hashem. As much as a human father may feel un-

conditional love toward his children, he may not always express it. As a human with his own failings, a father may inadvertently conduct himself in a way that masks his love, especially if he believes that the child’s actions are incorrect. Conversely, Hashem’s affection to us is truly unconditional. It is pure and entirely independent of how we conduct ourselves. Indeed, the Gemara tells us of a debate between Reb Meir and Reb Yehudah. While Reb Meir asserted that only if we do Hashem’s will are we considered to be His children, Reb Yehudah argued that we are always His children. The Gemara concludes that although we always accept the teachings of Reb Meir, this is the one notable exception. Once we understand that Hashem’s love toward us can never be diminished, we will find the strength to keep moving closer to Him despite our past mistakes. Shir Hashirim, the holiest of all songs, expresses the deep love between Hashem and His nation. In all other songs in the Torah, there’s a space in the text between stanzas, except in Shir Hashirim. The reason for the uncharacteristic absence of space is that Hashem wants to convey a message to us, His dear children. He wants to let us know that His love to us is always present—it’s a constant, with no spaces (Sha’alos Veteshuvos Hilchos Ketanos). Of course, we are obligated to repent our wrongful actions, because they have distanced us from Hashem (not Him from us). But Hashem never has to be convinced to renew His love for us; it’s always there. L’ilui nishmas HaRav Shlomo Meir ben Efraim Zvi, zt”l. Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 17

Well Informed

Health Updates in the News By Liba Solomon, CNWC

FILTHY MONEY Research reveals the large microbe population found on dollar bills and coins Wherever we are, we’re surrounded by microbes. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses live on our phones, bus seats, door handles, and park benches. We pass these tiny organisms to each other when we share a handshake or a seat on the plane. Now, researchers are finding that we also share our microbes through our money. From tip jars to vending machines to the meter maid—each dollar, passed person to person, samples a bit of the environment it comes from, and passes those bits to the next person. The findings demonstrate how money can silently record human activities, leaving behind so-called “molecular echoes.” In April, a study published in PLOS One identified over a hundred different strains of bacteria on dollar bills circulating in New York City. Some of the most common bugs on our bills included Propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria known to cause acne, and Streptococcus oralis, a common bacteria found in our mouths. The research team, led by biologist Jane Carlton at New York University, also discovered traces of DNA from domestic animals and from specific bacteria that are associated only with certain foods. The foods people ate transferred from fingers to touchscreens, where scientists could recover a bit of their most recent meals. Bacteria that cause food-borne illness—including salmonella and a pathogenic strain of E. coli—have been shown to survive on pennies, nickels, and dimes, and can hide out on ATM machines. Other bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which causes skin infections, are found on bank notes in the U.S. and Canada, but the extent to which they could spread infections is unknown. Try as we may to avoid exposure to germs, they travel with us and on us. But even if disease-causing microbes can survive in places like ATMs, the good news is that most exposures don’t make us sick. And although we don’t know the extent to which money allows diseases to spread, your mother’s advice is probably best when handling cash: Don’t stick it in your mouth and wash your hands.

DEHYDRATION PREVENTION TIPS With the summer upon us, here are four ways you and your family can keep safe and hydrated all day long. • Drink plenty of water before, while, and after you’re active. Take a bottle of water wherever you go, and especially if you’re doing exercise, drink at least every 15 to 20 minutes. Don’t wait to drink until you feel thirsty—thirst can signal a water loss of 1% of body weight and lightheadedness can occur with as little as a 2% water loss. • Stay away from artificially sweetened drinks. Not only don’t they quench thirst, but sugar absorbs water, thus further dehydrating the body. • If you feel dizzy, light-headed, or very tired, move to a cool environment immediately and relax there. Drink plenty of water. • Wear light-colored clothing, preferably of natural materials like cotton.

18 The Wellspring | July 2017

IN TOUCH WITH YOUR HEART Most women with heart conditions avoid seeing a doctor Heart disease is the leading killer of U.S. women, but many women and their doctors don’t recognize the danger. In fact, a recent survey of more than 1,000 women between 25 and 60 years of age found 45 percent were unaware that heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in America. Most respondents said they had had a checkup in the past year, but only 40 percent said the doctor had assessed their heart health. “Eighty percent of heart disease is preventable, yet women’s heart disease is underdiagnosed, under-researched and underfunded,” says British Robinson, head of the Women’s Heart Alliance, a nonprofit organization that paid for the study, which was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. “It is critical that women ask their health-care providers to check their hearts and that health-care providers know that when it comes to heart disease, men and women are different—women’s hearts are smaller, their risk factors are different, and their symptoms may be different,” she adds. While 74 percent of women had one or more heart disease risk factors, the study found only 16 percent had been told so. And 26 percent said having heart disease would be embarrassing, because people would assume they were not eating healthy or exercising. More than 6 out of 10 women admitted they sometimes delay seeing a doctor, and 45 percent said they had canceled or postponed a scheduled appointment because of their weight. “We clearly have a lot of work to do to make women aware that heart disease is a bigger threat to their health than all types of cancer combined,” says study leader Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the women’s heart center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles. So if a woman’s heart is telling her something she’d rather not hear, she knows it’s time to schedule the appointment.

GET WELL SOONER—WITH A HEALTHIER ROOMMATE Interesting new research on how a hospital roommate’s health plays a role in recovery The speed of recovery in a hospital is related to many things. Among them is one you might not consider: the condition of the roommate. A recent study published in the American Journal of Health Economics found that hospital patients who are assigned healthier roommates require less care and are discharged more rapidly, with no negative effects on their health. For example, a patient who rooms with the healthiest roommate has a hospital stay that is about eight hours shorter, requiring 27 percent less medical attention, and costing about $840 less, compared with a patient with the sickest roommate. The study examined a broad range of hospital patients, including those who had surgical procedures—like heart bypasses or joint replacement operations—as well as those admitted for medical conditions like pneumonia or cancer. How does it work? At first glance, there is an apparently obvious explanation for these findings: Patients are typically assigned to room with other patients of similar condition. In particular, healthier people are assigned to rooms farther from the nursing station. Therefore, healthier patients— those who require less care and are discharged more rapidly—also tend to room with relatively healthier patients. But the author of the study, Olga Yakusheva—a University of Michigan economist— controlled for the factors that nurses at the Connecticut hospital she studied use to assign patients to rooms, including diagnosis and specific room assignment. She found that even in a particular room at the hospital and even among patients with a specific diagnosis, those who ended up with healthier roommates fared better. (The study did not include patients who had single rooms.) What’s more, “placing a sick and a healthy patient in one room benefited the sicker patient without ill effects for the healthier roommate,” Ms.Yakusheva says. Had that particular hospital taken fuller advantage of this phenomenon in patient room assignments, it could have reduced total inpatient days by 900 per year, saving about $1 million, for the sample of patients the study examined. So if someone you care for is in the hospital, keep this in mind when speaking to the nurse at your next visit. Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 19

Well Informed

Figures By Miriam Katz

NUTRITION FACTS Data on Junior’s Diet

Between

2003 2010 and

total fruit intake and whole fruit intake among children and adolescents increased. However, most youth still do not meet fruit and vegetable recommendations.

Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to

40%

of daily calories for children and adolescents age 2–18 years, affecting the overall quality of their diets.

Between

2001 2010 and

consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among children and adolescents decreased, but still accounted for 10% of total caloric intake.

Approximately

1/2 The Wellspring | July 2017 20

of these empty calories come from 6 sources: soda, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, grain desserts, pizza, and whole milk.

(Sources: cdc.gov, health.gov, American Heart Association)

900

1,000–1,400 average daily amount of calories that a toddler needs

1,200–14,00 average daily amount of calories that a child between ages 4–8 needs

1,600–1,800 average daily amount of calories that a child between ages 9–13 needs

Recommended Daily Intake for a child between ages 4–8:

average daily amount of calories that a one-year-old needs

1½ 1–1½ 3–4 2 4–5 cups of fruit

cups of vegetables

ounces, lean meat/beans

cups of milk, or dairy equivalent

ounces grains, half of which should be whole grain

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 21

Well Informed

Wealth of Health By Sarah Weinberger

CONFERENCE WITH: hoice C t s E: Fir M A N rk ANY w Yo e N , COMP onsey M : N O TI LOCA 2012 : E C N SI pany : m O o T c T y MO a bab — e c i cho First

Before Joel Gross and his partner Yanki Zayons launched First Choice, the general baby food market was already vast, but it did not offer any products with a heimish hechsher. Thanks to their entrepreneurial and kashrus-focused drive, today’s supermarket shelves are fully stocked with a line of baby foods under the supervision of Hisachdus Harabanim and OU.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO ENTER THE FIELD OF BABY FOODS? When our oldest child was six months old, my wife and I were excited to do our shopping excursion for her very first solids. However, after we scanned the shelves again and again, we were surprised to see that our local supermarket didn’t carry any baby food company with a heimish hechsher. We were taken aback that the shelves were fully stocked with a vast selection of different kinds of foods with a good hechsher, but somehow, that was not the case with the foods that parents were feeding their growing, impressionable children. When I approached the manager to ask if he carried any kind of baby food with a heimish hashgachah, he said he didn’t, but that the store did sometimes import from Israel just for Pesach. At the same time, a cousin of mine, Yanki Zayons, moved back to Monsey from Eretz Yisrael, and he too was surprised with the lack in the market, in stark contrast to the variety of baby foods he had grown accustomed to there. Together, we started doing research. We knew the consumers wouldn’t settle on anything less than the best. And people are pickier for their babies than they are for themselves. One and a half years later, we finally launched The Wellspring | July 2017 22

our product line.

WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE DURING THOSE ONE AND A HALF YEARS? HOW DID YOU BRING YOUR IDEA TO FRUITION? Once we started doing research on producing our own line of baby food, we realized that although it sounded like a simple process to execute, it wasn’t. It’s not simply a list of steps like, “peel an apple or sweet potato, cook, and puree, and you’re all done.” Because we wanted to create truly healthy, nutritious products with no added sugar, preservatives, or additives, it was even more complicated. The less ingredients you put in, the harder it is to make a good product. The produce has to be cooked right and the final product must have a perfect taste every single time. Another priority for us was to use fresh fruits and vegetables, as opposed to already pureed produce. We’ve managed to do that, except for with bananas and mango, which are seasonal fruits and are not available all year round at their peak taste. When it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables, we realized that they taste slightly different every time, depending on the amount of rain they were exposed to and other factors, so that was another part of our learning process—to figure out a way to constantly achieve the ideal taste in every batch.

WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE PRODUCE FOR PRODUCTION, IS IT ALREADY RIPE AND READY TO USE? We have an arrangement with local farmers to sell their fruits and vegetables directly to us in their fully ripened state. The way it usually works is that fruits are picked before they’re ripe, and during the time they spend in the truck

to reach their destination from farm to market, and then to the stores, the ripening process occurs. Because the shape and size of the produce doesn’t make a difference to us, we’re able to focus on only the ripeness of the fruit to ensure that the taste is as its peak.

WHERE DID YOU ORIGINALLY PREPARE THESE ITEMS? We played around in the home kitchen, testing, testing, and testing once again. It was in that kitchen that we calculated how many pounds of each type of fruit we needed per run, and then went ahead to make it work.

WHAT WAS YOUR VERY FIRST PRODUCT? We initially launched with seven products, including sweet potato, apple, carrots, sweet peas, and apple banana jars. We later added more sauces, such as pears and apple mango, and we’re always working on growing the line. We love receiving feedback and suggestions from customers about what they’d like to see.

WHAT WAS THE MARKET’S INITIAL REACTION? People were surprised that our products were so sweet and tasty. They had a hard time believing that we really do not add any sugar. The simple truth is that it all depends on the freshness and quality of the produce used, which is our priority.

HOW MUCH DOES A FIRST CHOICE JAR SELL FOR? While some stores charge 89 cents per jar, others charge 79. We keep the prices competitive with the national brands. All varieties cost the same.

HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS REGARDING YOUR PRODUCTS? People are upset that we’re not approved for WIC in New York (in New Jersey we are). We constantly get requests for that because people would love to give their babies food with a more heimish hechsher, but only the national brands

are covered.

HAVE YOU TRIED TO GET APPROVED? IF SO, WHY HAVEN’T YOU RECEIVED THE APPROVAL? We sure did. We’ve been advocating on the community’s behalf for over four years already, appealing again and again. We’ve shown them videos of the products that line the supermarket shelves and which ones customers prefer, as well as all the information necessary to explain what an important factor kashrus is to the community. We even brought with us copies of school rules that clearly specify which hechsherim are allowed in the heimish circles, but, at this point, they’re still not persuaded that it’s an important enough factor that sets our line apart from the others. When frustrated customers turn to us, we always ask them to voice their disappointment at their own clinics so we can finally get the approval.

YOU’VE ALSO ADDED MEAT JARS TO YOUR PRODUCT LINE. WHAT MADE YOU DO THAT? Speaking of WIC, when we first wanted to get approved, we met with their representatives and they told us that they’d definitely approve our products, but it would be great if we’d also carry meat products. Interestingly enough, they ended up approving this line, but not the fruits and vegetables.

IS THERE A DEMAND FOR BABY PRODUCTS MADE OF CHICKEN AND TURKEY? Meat is an important protein, especially for infants aged 6–12 months. Many people don’t realize that this is the time when their children are developing in leaps and bounds and it’s absolutely necessary for them to get their daily fill of protein, which mother’s milk doesn’t provide in adequate amounts. The meat products, as well as all the others, are FDA approved and USDA approved, with inspectors on-site at all stages of the production, so parents can rest assured that the food is fresh, clean, and highly beneficial for their children’s nutrition.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 23

Well Informed

Wealth of Health

HOW CAN MEAT PRODUCTS HAVE SUCH A LONG SHELF LIFE? IS THE LINE SELLING WELL? That’s a good question. At first, when we introduced the line, many parents had that question. They found the idea of chicken or turkey in a jar to be off-putting, and they weren’t attracted to the product. The interesting thing is that nobody asks how fruits and vegetables remain fresh without preservatives and additives. Why would that be any different? We’ve come to the conclusion that because the community has been accustomed to seeing baby jars made of fruits and vegetables when they were growing up, no one is curious about how the freshness of pureed produce on a shelf is preserved. On the other hand, because First Choice introduced the first pureed meat line to the heimish community only relatively recently, the new concept understandably made people wary, but we’re glad to provide the answers and people are gradually warming up to the idea.

gamur (except for the apple and oatmeal puree), we do have to change one ingredient in the fruit jars. We used to add ascorbic acid, which is vitamin C, for the color, but then we switched to lemon juice concentrate, which is even more natural. In the kosher for Pesach products, we use kosher for Pesach lemon juice.

IN ADDITION TO PUREED FOODS, DO YOU CARRY ANY OTHER BABY FOODS? Our line has expanded to include a snack called rice bites. A rice-based biscuit that melts in the mouth, its relatively large size makes it possible for a baby to hold in his hand and suck on it for a long period of time so it can be enjoyed independently. Adults also enjoy them.

The procedure we utilize to maintain the food's freshness is called the retort process.

SO WHAT IS THE PROCESS? LET US IN ON THE SECRET. Basically, the same process is used in preparing produce jars and meat jars. We keep the ingredients very simple, using either chicken or turkey. We cook and blend the meat, without even adding salt. The only ingredient we add is a bit of corn starch for thickening. Some adults complain that the taste is bland, but babies don’t need more, so why should we introduce them to unnecessary ingredients? The procedure we utilize to maintain the food’s freshness is called the retort process. Simply put, it means that we cook the produce or meat at a temperature and for the perfect amount of time that is known to effectively eliminate all bacteria.

DOESN’T THIS PROCESS COMPROMISE ON THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF THE PRODUCT? We’re very cautious with the procedure, to ensure that we cook the food for just enough time to eliminate the bacteria, but not that long that vitamins and minerals get lost in the process.

WHY DON’T YOU SELL A BEEF PRODUCT? Even in a preserved fresh state, beef discolors quickly, so we didn’t think it would appeal to consumers.

HOW IS THE KOSHER FOR PESACH LINE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR YEAR-ROUND LINE? While most of our products don’t contain chameitz

ARE THERE ANY OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE MAKING? Due to the demand, we’re currently working on an organic line, which is very exciting for us. We’re hoping to launch soon.

ARE YOUR PRODUCTS ENJOYED EXCLUSIVELY BY BABIES? Totally not. You’d be surprised how many adults throw a jar or two into their bags in the morning to enjoy throughout the day as a light, refreshing snack. In fact, my partner’s son was mighty proud when he observed that his rebbi would enjoy our apple blueberry jar as a snack every day. Many people who do the sleeve or band opt for our products, too. Some people tell me that they grab it as a snack in the office—the apple strawberry and apple mango combos are most popular among adults. And people are constantly requesting that we make the Rice Bites in larger bags for adults. I can understand them for appreciating it because it’s a good product with a mild taste, all healthy, with no sugar added, and non-GMO certified, but our focus is currently on our infant/toddler line.

CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF THE INTERESTING FEEDBACK YOU’VE BEEN GETTING? At the Kosherfest, someone who doesn’t necessarily associate himself with the heimish community came up to me with a question. He told me that his wife had tried feeding their child jars from all national brands, but the child only wanted to eat our products. “Are you sure there’s no secret ingredient in there?” he asked. Feedback like this reminds us how every ounce of effort we invest in ensuring our products’ freshness and perfect taste truly pays off and that children and their parents alike really appreciate that.

This column features a profile of a business owner who manufactures or distributes a service or product that promotes health and wellness. To be interviewed, please contact The Wellspring. The Wellspring does not endorse any product featured in this column. The Wellspring | July 2017 24

YOUR WELLNESS LIST

Supplements related to content in this issue that can improve your health and wellbeing To get a detailed understanding of the following nutritional topics, read more on the page numbers listed below.

CO-Q 100™ Related to Tidbits pg. 48

FIBERMAX SUPREME™ Related to Tidbits pg. 48 Fiber doesn’t only play a role in reducing the risk of arthritis, as the study in this issue suggests.This dietary material is chock-full of health benefits, especially for the digestive system.To ensure that you get your daily fill, use FiberMax Supreme™ on a daily basis. Especially if you’re suffering from bloating or constipation, this premium combination of psyllium husks and flax seed powder will finally enable healthy elimination to occur.

MULTI YUMS™ Related to Feature pg. 32

As the new research in this issue confirms, heart disease is no joke at all. Doing our ultimate hishtadlus to ensure that this vital organ functions at its optimal level can help to drastically enrich and improve our quality of life. One way to do so is by supplementing daily with Co-Q 100™, a highly effective formula that keeps the cardiovascular system under control by damaging free radicals and playing a vital role in the production of energy, of which the heart requires a hefty dose for normal operation.

Instituting a healthy lifestyle in your home by providing your children with nourishing meals and a solid education is commendable. But if you’re dealing with picky eaters or simply want to ensure that your children are truly getting what they need, welcome Multi Yums™ into the pantry. Available in delicious flavors that appeal to the taste buds of young ones, and in fun animal shapes as a bonus child-friendly benefit, this well-balanced supplement has it all.

MAXI HEALTH TWO COMPLETE™ Related to Ask the Nutritionist pg. 28 If you’re like the reader who prefers to keep her menu simple and routine, the numbers on the scale may be moving down at a desirable pace but your body may be lacking in nutrition. In order to compensate for the vitamins and minerals that variety provides, make sure to take your daily dose of Maxi Two Complete™, a well-balanced multivitamin that contains all the essential nutrients your body needs to thrive.

FOCUS MAX TWO™ Related to Senior Care pg. 71 Brain-related diseases are unfortunately common in the aging population. By arming yourself in your younger years, and supplementing continuously as time passes, you can do your best to help keep the brain strong and focused. Focus Max Two™ is a unique supplement combining the health benefits of vitamin B12 (as methylcobalamin), phosphatidylserine, ginkgo biloba, and lecithin to form one great product.

Ask for these products at your local health food store.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease.

Selection Guide

Well Informed

Dedicated to Health By Chana Dunner

10 QUESTIONS FOR JAY FEINBERG OF MATNAS CHAIM GIFT OF LIFE

MATNAS CHAIM/GIFT OF LIFE IN A NUTSHELL Matnas Chaim/Gift of Life is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the representation of the Jewish people in the bone marrow donor pool.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO LAUNCH YOUR ORGANIZATION?

I was diagnosed with leukemia twenty-five years ago and told I would need a bone marrow transplant to survive. Since tissue type is inherited, like eye or hair color, a patient’s best chance of finding a genetic match lies with those of the same ethnic background. For me that was Ashkenazi Jewish. Unfortunately, there were very few Jewish people in the registry in the early 1990s, so the search for a donor was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Since I had no match in my family or in the registry at the time, the doctors told me there was no hope, but my parents had the emunah and strong will to prove them wrong. That’s when they started Matnas Chaim/Gift of Life and over four years tested 60,000 donors all over the world. Then, in 1995 as my leukemia advanced, we ran one last drive in a shul in Chicago and the very last donor tested turned out to be my match! Subsequently, I had a successful transplant and decided to continue this lifesaving work. It was my way of paying it back to klal Yisrael for the gift of life that was given to me.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AT MATNAS CHAIM/GIFT OF LIFE? CEO and doing pikuach nefesh work all day, every day.

WHAT IS ONE GREAT CHALLENGE YOU FACE/D IN RUNNING THE ORGANIZATION?

Unfortunately, neither the government nor insurance companies underwrite the laboratory testing expenses associated with growing the registry to include more donors. Sometimes our donor recruitment efforts are so successful that they surpass the sums we have raised through fundraising, and on those occasions we need to hold off testing until we can raise the money to pay the lab. We need more philanthropists and foundations with resources to support us so that these occasions will cease to happen.

CAN YOU SHARE A STORY THAT STANDS OUT IN YOUR MIND? I was the courier delivering bone marrow from a Matnas Chaim donor in New York to a child in Israel. I had the blessed opportunity to bring the cooler filled with the life-saving cells to the child, and he had his transplant. Now, 15 years later, he is a healthy, thriving young adult..

The Wellspring | July 2017 26

CAN YOU SHARE A POSITIVE STORY THAT YOU’VE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED?

Matnas Chaim recently facilitated a transplant for a boy from Williamsburg. When I saw him after his transplant, he was in the isolation room in the hospital in New York. Last week his father brought him to a donor drive at the Hatzolah Garage in Williamsburg and I got to see him fully recovered, playing and enjoying his childhood.

WHAT DOES THE STEM CELL DONATION PROCEDURE ENTAIL?

The procedure is very similar to the one used to donate blood. You sit in a comfortable recliner chair, a tube draws blood from one arm, passes it through a centrifuge that spins out the stem cells, and returns the rest of the blood into the other arm. It takes a few hours, during which the donor can relax and read a book or take a nap, and then go home.

WHAT WAS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

At our gala held two weeks ago, a contributor came over and told me that his daughter, for whom Matnas Chaim organized a transplant a few years ago, had just given birth a few hours earlier. He told me that Matnas Chaim not only saves the lives of its patients, it also saves generations. That’s true Yiddish nachas!

WHAT DO YOU WISH PEOPLE WOULD KNOW WHEN THEY’RE CALLED TO BE A DONOR?

People should understand that joining the registry involves a simple cheek swab, and that when called as a match, over 80 percent of the time donors give blood from the arm through a process called apheresis rather than donating bone marrow. It’s much less complicated than people think it is—it’s not even considered a medical procedure.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR WORK?

The best part of my work is coming into the office every day knowing that I have the honor and privilege of working with remarkable people who play a very important role in facilitating life-saving transplants. As a 22-year recipient of a marrow transplant myself, I am blessed to be able to pay it forward in such a meaningful way.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE STRESS THAT COMES ALONG WITH YOUR TAXING WORK?

Along with any successes come disappointments. While we want to find a match for every patient in need, whenever they need one, unfortunately we cannot guarantee this. It is traumatic to hear when a patient for whom we organized an exhaustive donor search doesn’t make it because they couldn’t find a match. The way I handle it is to tell myself that we need to redouble our efforts and continue to give more people the opportunity to save even more lives.

A FEW WORDS WITH YOSSI EHRMAN, VOLUNTEER FOR MATNAS CHAIM

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH MATNAS CHAIM AND WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY WORK FOR THE ORGANIZATION?

Over 20 years ago, a family member was in dire need of a donor for a bone marrow transplant. Once we learned about the incredible service that Gift of Life provides, I wanted to help them continue doing this important work. My initial involvement in the organization was to track down people in the registry who had signed up over a decade earlier, before the days of email or sophisticated databases. If a potential match was found in the system, it was my job, and still is, to scour the world for this individual. Less than a year ago, for example, I had to track down a bachur who had joined the registry when he was in yeshivah in America. I located him in a yeshivah in Yerushalayim. Subsequently, he was found to be a match for a four-year-old boy in Williamsburg. CAN YOU SHARE AN INSPIRING STORY THAT TRANSPIRED IN THE COURSE OF YOUR WORK?

Years ago, I was put in charge of picking up a bone marrow package from Baltimore and taking it to Israel for an emergency transplant. When I brought it to the hospital, I learned that the recipient was the ba’al tefillah of the shul in the yeshivah where I’d learned as a bachur.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR WORK?

Being able to help out in situations that are pikuach nefesh and the kiddush Hashem that I witness throughout this process are equally gratifying. Two years ago, for example, I was involved in a transplant in which the donor was a maggid shiur in Satmar in Williamsburg and the recipient a prominent professional from Manhattan. Upon her successful recovery, she hosted a gala dinner in honor of the organization for about 1,200 guests from her various business contacts. When the donor got up at the podium, the kiddush Hashem was profound. Arranging transplants is a great feeling, especially when you know that a yid from one side of the world is donating to another yid half way around the world, for example in Eretz Yisroel, and the donor won’t know that until at least a year later. WHAT IS BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

Every donor I meet, even when years have passed since the procedure, thanks me for the good feeling he still carries with him. Knowing that someone else is alive because of their selflessness makes the donors feel amazing, which makes me feel great, too. Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring

Living Well

Ask the Nutritionist By Shani Taub, CDC

Virtues Must in Variety? my diet menu be colorful?

One of my summer projects this year is to lose the fifteen pounds of baby fat that have been sticking around for too long. However, I want to do it right. I wouldn’t call myself a picky eater, but there are certain foods that I have no problem eating again and again, and other foods that I’d rather avoid. While this may work to my benefit, I’m wondering if variety plays an important role in the weight loss process. Is it okay for me to stick to a very rigid menu, or will it backfire? — Boring Eater

Shani answers:

First, good luck on achieving your endeavor. I commend you for setting a goal before the summer starts so you’ll know what you’re aiming for all summer long. As an aside, setting a number to reach may not always be the best option, since you can’t know beforehand how your body will respond to your efforts. As long as you commit to sticking to a healthy eating and fitness plan, you’re on the right track. Your question regarding the virtues of variety is a common one. On the one hand, we know that sticking to a rigid plan usually generates the best results. I often tell my clients that the less exciting a menu is, the more exciting the results on the scale. After all, a rigid menu generally cuts out all extras and doesn’t allow for the “fun” that brings with it added calories. If you’re eating the same tailored breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, chances are that the numbers will keep dropping. Often, variety comes with a price tag of calories. It’s those little additions here and there that make a big difference. For example, I realized that one client who wasn’t losing

The Wellspring | July 2017 28

weight was using salad dressing too freely. I advised her to stop using it for one week and she lost two and a half pounds during that time. However, the benefits of variety can’t be denied either. The greater variety of proteins and vegetables you consume, the greater assortment of nutrients you’re feeding your body. Eating cucumbers and lettuce for lunch every day, for example, is surely conducive to weight loss, but other vegetables contain beneficial nutrients that your body needs. Also, for many people, variety is what keeps them going. They need color in their menu to make their healthy lifestyle enjoyable and “worth it.” If sticking to a rigid plan works for you, as it seems, go with it. Especially when it comes to weight loss (versus weight maintenance), the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Dieting without thinking works best because it prevents deviation from the plan. When you play around with too many choices, you risk seeing stagnation or weight gain on the scale. So at least until you reach your desired goal, the less variety you give yourself, the greater your chance

of losing weight. Although a colorful diet is more appealing, it’s worth giving it up for a while in order to attain your goal. Once you do that, however, and you see that you’re able to maintain your weight even with adding variety, then you can. By alternating between different proteins and carbs, you’ll consume a wide range of vitamins and minerals too. In my new cookbook, Secrets of Skinny Cooking by Victoria Dwek and Shani Taub (ArtScroll), we offer many fun recipes like eggplant parmesan (see sidebar) that are flavorful, colorful, and yet low-calorie. But you have to know yourself before you start experimenting with variety. Going back to the salad dressing example, even when you do allow yourself to add this extra flavor to your salad, it has to be one tablespoon only. As soon as you realize that this switch is giving you too much leeway, you know it’s time to return to the basics.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN RECIPE

(Secrets of Skinny Cooking, Dwek & Taub) Yield: 6 servings as a side (double the portion for a main dish) 81 calories per serving I’d choose this over a traditional eggplant parm any day. I can honestly say that I don’t feel I’m missing out. I especially love telling people that they can even eat the entire 9x13-inch pan for dinner and still be within the normal calorie count (though I’m sure you’ll be full before you get halfway through). 1 large eggplant, sliced into rounds 1 cup cauliflower cream (see below) salt, for sprinkling 1 cup marinara sauce 1 3/4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided Preheat oven to 400˚ F. Place eggplant rounds in colander; sprinkle with salt. Let sit 20-30 minutes over a bowl or in the sink. Rinse and pat dry. Coat a parchment-lined baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Add eggplant slices; coat with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 20 minutes. Lay half the eggplant slices in a single layer in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with 1/2 cup marinara sauce and 1/2 cup cauliflower cream. Use a spoon or spatula to spread the sauces evenly over the eggplant. Sprinkle with 3/4 ounce mozzarella cheese. Add a second layer of eggplant, marinara, and cauliflower cream. Sprinkle with remaining 1 ounce mozzarella. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes.

CAULIFLOWER CREAM

Yields 6 (1/2 cup) servings 42 calories per serving Cauliflower cream makes a great replacement for heavy cream or cheese. I also use this cream to sneak some veggies and protein into my children’s pasta dishes, using it as a replacement for ricotta in baked ziti. Works great over zucchini fries! 1 (24-oz.) bag frozen cauliflower 1/2 cup reserved cauliflower cooking water 1 (6oz.) container plain Greek yogurt 1 1/2 tsp salt, plus to taste Place frozen cauliflower in a pot. Cover with water; bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients until smooth. Good to know: One cup of cauliflower cream is 84 calories. One cup of ricotta is over 400 calories, and one cup of heavy cream is almost 800 calories!

Please send your questions to the nutritionist to info@wellspringmagazine.com. Shani Taub, CDC, has been practicing as a certified nutritionist in Lakewood for almost a decade, meeting with clients in person and on the phone. She also owns the highly popular Shani Taub food line, which carries healthy, approved, premeasured foods and delicacies sold at supermarkets and restaurants.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 29

Living Well

In Good Shape By Syma Kranz, PFC

Fitness 101: Aqua Aerobics That exercise is highly advantageous to the body is an indisputable fact. Among other excellent benefits, it helps with weight loss, builds muscle, improves metabolism, reduces the risk of many diseases, and enhances your mood and mental health. But you may be wondering how particular exercises score on this list—which is better for what. In this series, we take a look at the primary fitness workouts that are popular today and discuss the pros and cons of each. Workout Description There’s no better time to take advantage of the benefits of aqua aerobics than during the summer. The blissful combination of sunshine, cool blue water, and fitness leaves you feeling euphoric—and for more reasons than one. It’s not only the delightful environment that makes aqua aerobics such a pleasure, but also the tremendous health and weight loss benefits that it offers. Instead of sweating it out at the gym, this type of aerobics allows you to reap the benefits of a traditional gym workout in a fun, cool place. Calories burned per workout: See below Areas targeted: Full-body workout, depending on the moves performed Style: generally low-impact

The Pros • Water aerobics gives you a good cardiovascular workout, gently increasing your pulse and breathing rate, so it’s great for helping improve your heart health. • It strengthens and tones muscles—the resistance of the water means that opposing muscle groups are worked in each movement as you push and pull against it. • It improves flexibility, while the support of the water greatly reduces the risk of muscle and joint injuries. This makes aqua aerobics an excellent workout choice for people who are overweight, suffering from arthritis, or who have other mobility problems. • It’s a great stress reliever—the water massages and cools you, giving you a feeling of weightlessness and a tremendous sense of wellbeing. • The impact of gravity is decreased in the water, thereby allowing for a greater range of motion. • Working out in water helps prevent overheating, so you get to exercise for longer periods of time without feeling desperate for a cool-down break. • You can’t say this so assuredly about every workout—this is real fun! The Cons Some water aerobics enthusiasts develop side effects from the pool water disinfection process. According to Mary Pohlmann, assistant professor of clinical medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and a member of the United States Masters Swimming Sports Medicine Committee, pool patrons might demonstrate allergies to either chlorine or bromine, the two commonly used chemical disinfectants for swimming pools. Typical complaints include red, irritated eyes; dry, itchy skin; and, occasionally, lung irritation.

The Wellspring | July 2017 30

The Program There’s no one official aqua aerobics program since many workouts that are traditionally performed in a gym can simply be adjusted to be done in an aquatic setting. However, if you’re not working with an instructor and would like to take advantage of the pool as a workout location, here are some fun ideas you can try on your own using no equipment or just a simple beach ball: K-Tread Calories burned: 11 per minute Targets: Arms, back, chest, abs, glutes, and hamstrings In the deep end, tread water, making small circles with cupped hands, and lift right leg straight in front of you at hip level while reaching toes of left leg toward bottom of pool. Hold for 5 seconds. Switch legs quickly, bringing right leg down as you raise left leg, and hold for 5 seconds. Continue for 30 seconds, alternating sides. Otter Roll Targets: Back, abs, glutes, and legs Hugging a beach ball to your chest, float on your back, legs extended, and feet together. Roll toward your left and over the top of the ball (like an otter spinning in the water), using your entire body—shoulders, back, core, legs—to make a full revolution, and then returning to the start position. Take a breath. (Beginners can rock from side to side with their head above the water throughout.) Continue for 30 seconds, alternating the direction of the roll. Ball Lever Targets: Shoulders, back, triceps, and abs Holding the beach ball with your arms stretched straight in front of you, float face down in chest-deep water so your legs are extended behind you, feet together. Keeping your arms straight, pull the ball underneath you, drawing it as fast as you can through the water toward your thighs in an arc. (As the ball is pressed underneath, it will lift you out of the water to take a breath; beginners can keep their head above the water throughout.) When the ball reaches your thighs, bend your elbows to bring it back to the surface and press it forward to return to start position. Continue for 30 seconds. Tip: Keep your arms as straight as possible and your body straight and stiff to get the most muscle sculpting. Swimming And, of course, you can always go back to the basics for an excellent full-body workout: swimming. Build your resistance and up the calorie-burning levels every day by increasing the number of laps you do. Depending on your weight, one hour of swimming can help you burn anywhere between 413 (slower swimming) and 817 (faster swimming) calories. Which stroke should you choose when swimming to burn calories? For starters, the best stroke to lose weight is the one you perform best. When you swim efficiently, you waste less energy just staying afloat and you work out longer. Thrashing around doing a poorly executed butterfly will only exhaust you quickly and create turbulence around you. Freestyle Freestyle is the fastest of all competitive strokes. You burn 704 calories per hour swimming fast freestyle if you weigh 155 lbs. Average lap swimmers can complete an hour swimming freestyle without becoming exhausted because it’s an efficient stroke. Freestyle (or front crawl) is an upper-body dependent stroke, meaning you propel yourself primarily with your shoulders and upper back. When you swim for an entire hour, let your legs trail behind, kicking slowly. Breaststroke Although breaststroke is the slowest of all four competitive strokes, it burns as many calories per hour as swimming fast freestyle. You burn 704 calories per hour swimming breaststroke if you weigh 155 lbs, which is a nice amount because it requires you to power through the water rather than cutting through it. You face the water broadside when you swim breaststroke and the flat plane of your chest meets with the water’s resistance. You rely on your kick for propulsion in breaststroke and your large leg muscles are energy-hungry, making the breaststroke a slow-but-sure calorie burner. Backstroke Backstroke might look like a breeze because you breathe out of the water facing upward, but it takes strong abdominal muscles and shoulders to swim backstroke well. You burn 493 calories per hour performing backstroke laps, but although you might not burn as many calories swimming backstroke as breaststroke, you might have better luck completing a long swim doing the backstroke. When you rotate your body during the stroke and keep your head aligned with your body, you conserve energy and end up swimming longer. Butterfly Butterfly is the calorie-burning winner, burning 774 calories per hour. You might not finish an hour swimming butterfly, though, because it’s a difficult and demanding stroke. You must kick forcefully to move yourself forward and to propel your upper body above the water to breathe. Butterfly breaks down when you slow down and keeping up your speed and energy for long periods takes superb fitness and technique. Adult swimmers lose the flexibility required for butterfly and sometimes substitute breaststroke pull for the butterfly pull. Enjoy your swim—and its excellent benefits! Syma Kranz, PFC, is a certified aerobics, Pilates, and Barre instructor, as well as the fitness director at Fusion Fitness in Lakewood, New Jersey. What started out as a small exercise class in her home catapulted into a popular gym that prides itself with tzanua, professional instructors and an appropriate atmosphere with lyric-free music and proper attire. Syma specializes in training women to integrate fitness into their busy lives, paying special attention to proper form and alignment and specializing in core and pelvic floor strengthening.

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Living Well

Cover Feature By Chevy Reichberg

REVAMPING YOUR HOME TO MAKE IT A HEALTHIER SPACE HOW TO UTILIZE THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER TO RAISE THE BAR ON YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

The Wellspring | July 2017 32

he other day, I was reading a simple ABC book to my two-yearold daughter at bedtime. When we got to the illustrations of the letter L—a lion licking a lollipop— she said to me, “Right lollipops are sugar? Maybe it’s Shabbos.” I squeezed her tight, excited over what I thought was not only a cute comment, but also an insightful one. Although Torah values are infinitely more emphasized in our home, understanding the importance of a healthy lifestyle ranks high on the list of the values we would like to inculcate in our children, and it was inspiring for me to observe how our little one was getting it in her own toddler-like way. It’s never too early to start teaching our children the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. After all, venishmartem me’od lenafshoseichem is a mitzvah like any other—one we must be especially vigilant with, as is evident in the added word “me’od,” very. But the question most parents have is, “Where do I begin?” Because we at The Wellspring care about the health and wellness of you and your loved ones, this special 2-part summer series will provide you with an outline for a fun and productive summer project so you can utilize this relatively light time of year to make some truly worthwhile changes in your home.

While a healthy lifestyle is defined by a variety of factors—such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep cycles, and hygiene— some play a more significant role in our children’s development than others, but all are vital and worthy. Before delving into how each one can be integrated into the home environment, it’s important to discuss some basic premises that can be established in order to ease the process. In recent years, mindfulness has become all the rage—and for good reason. Indeed, mindfulness, a Torah value, is at the foundation of leading a healthy lifestyle. Defined as “the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something,” it’s the term we use to describe the idea of being present with our thoughts while performing any action, otherwise known as kavanah. It’s the thought process that has us stop in our tracks and simply focus. It’s asking ourselves, “Why am I doing this and how will I do it?” A mindful eater, for example, is one who is focused on what she feeds her body. She’ll stop herself before the bag of chips is empty—probably before she even opens it, to think whether or not this food will serve a positive purpose in her body’s functioning or not. As mindful parents, we’re able to teach our children to become more mindful of their own decisions as well (see

Q&A below). Once we train our children to become more mindful, we not only give them the opportunity to continue leading a healthy lifestyle into adulthood and when they’re out of the home environment, but also to enjoy every moment with total presence and awareness because for mindful people, life doesn’t simply slip past their eyes. While mindfulness is a quality that all children and adults naturally possess, some need more practice than others in order to become more in touch with their bodies and stop running on autopilot. Did you ever realize how some children naturally get it when they’re tired and others can plod on and on until they’re forced into sleep mode, often falling asleep on random places like the floor or table? In every family, you’re bound to find the kid who will wake up in the morning and happily head straight to the kitchen for breakfast—and then the one who comes home from school, holding his empty stomach in agony. And there’s always that child who will take a trip to the bathroom only when it’s already urgent. Simply put, some children are more in tune to what their body is telling them, while others need pointers to help them get there. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 33

Living Well

Cover Feature

on incorporating mindfulness into our home environment, especially focusing on my six-year-old son, one of those kids who seemed to be ignoring his body’s call. Despite his young age, I’ve been amazed at the results of my efforts, Baruch Hashem. I first introduced the concept of mindfulness in very simple terms, reiterating that healthy foods and good sleeping patterns help the body function at its optimal level, and that although it’s tempting to eat the foods that appeal to us at the moment and to stay up as long as possible so we don’t lose out on the fun, depriving the body of what it needs has repercussions. Then, using sentences like “What do you think your body is telling you now?” and “Dovi, what do you think will make your teeth/heart/ body happy?” throughout the day, I had Dovi stop and think before he popped various foods into his mouth and when he kept postponing bedtime for “just a few more minutes” of play. For example, when he wanted six cookies instead of three, I lifted his chin up so we had eye contact and gently said, “Dovi, what do you think your body would rather appreciate?” His answer, with a smirk, was three. Later, after the other kids were already in a deep slumber and he was still playing with his cars while rubbing his eyes fiercely, I came down to his eye level and said, “Dovi, I see that you love to play with your cars. It’s such fun! But here’s what’s going on inside your body now, which is why I can see that your eyes are hurting you. Everything inside is screaming, ‘Dovi, please put us to sleep! Dovi, please let us rest so we’ll have koach to learn and play again and have a good time tomorrow. That’s how we can help you grow taller and stronger.’” With a laugh, he followed me to his bedroom. After several days of encouragement through similar short and peppy mindfulness reminders, I realized that Dovi was slowly, gradually getting it. Although he’s still a work in progress (while I continue improving my mindfulness, as well), he’s definitely more in touch with his body than he was just a month ago, and I’m sure his heart and other organs are glad about that. What’s on the Menu? The first factor in leading and modeling a healthy lifestyle is the stuff that enters our body every single day, several times per day, that determines which nutrients will or won’t flow through the bloodstream, otherwise known as food. It’s safe to say, then, that the foods our children consume on a daily basis are the cornerstone of their body’s performance and function. Whatever enters their little bodies serves as the fuel for their development—physical, cognitive, and otherwise, which is why establishing healthy eating habits for them is of vital importance.

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Although this article covers the lifestyle changes mothers can make in their homes that affect children of an impressionable age, it’s important to note that the best source of nutrition for infants until six months of age, according to international health organizations and the American Academy of Pediatrics, is exclusive breastfeeding (whenever possible), after which appropriate solids should be introduced to complement the breastmilk and the growing child. The advantages of breastmilk for the infant include decreased chances for many childhood illnesses, improved digestion, future longterm protection from various diseases like diabetes and celiac disease, protection from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a stronger immune system, increased IQ, and orthodontic benefits (Baby’s First Year, ArtScroll). From as young as the age of two, children are excited to pick up on new words and experiment with their usage. Don’t be afraid to introduce words like protein, starch (grain), and of course, vegetable, and fruit, to their lexicon. To most of us, these words have heavy connotations of scary diets and overemphasis on weight loss, but in reality, these are the simple food groups that make up a healthy lifestyle. Just because the word diet has come to be used as a term for, often extreme, weight loss programs that place too much emphasis on external benefits doesn’t mean your children have to learn Breaking It Down When introducing the food groups to your children, you can do so using illustrations or simple verbal reminders until they get it. Here’s a sample of what children from as young as three can grasp (with constant review). Quantities vary with age. Breakfast: Protein Grain Fruit Lunch: Protein Grain Vegetable Dinner: Protein Grain Vegetable Fruit

Basic Protein List eggs dairy (yogurt/milk/cheese) chicken fish beans Basic Grain (Starch) List bread potatoes rice pasta barley

about it in that context. One incredible advantage in teaching children about the various food groups is that it allows for flexibility. Instead of being adamant about having your child eat the chicken cutlets you lovingly prepared, which won’t always happen, you can teach him that if he’s not in the mood of the protein on the menu, he can choose another food from that group instead. In our house, for example, my children know, from as young as three, what every meal must consist of, and I allow them the space within each group to choose accordingly. They know that for breakfast, they must have a protein, grain, and fruit. So, reminding them of their protein options, I ask them which one they prefer. On some mornings, they may choose hard-boiled eggs and on another, a slice of cheese. One daughter is particularly fond of chick peas, which works well too. Then, I’ll remind them what the grain food group consists of and have them choose a slice of bread, rice cakes or corn cakes, or even baby corn. It’s highly rewarding to observe how they really grasp the differences between the categories and learn to differentiate between the groups. If, say, your child doesn’t go for the vegetable soup you have on to-

night’s supper menu, you can simply say, “So what would you like as your vegetable instead?” and he may opt for a cucumber or sliced peppers, a perfectly nutritious alternative. Although it requires patience, alacrity, and understanding on your part, this flexibility not only ensures that your child still receives the nutrition his body needs, but also that meals don’t degenerate into control battles and that the atmosphere in your home remains calm. In revamping your home into a healthier place, you’ll realize some fascinating things. For starters, your children will become much more appreciative of the delicious taste of natural foods. Fruits, for instance, which are packed with nutrition and flavor, will become a real treat for them. When they’ll ask for a snack, a fruit or cut-up veggies will usually suffice, because their taste buds will become more sensitized to natural flavors. And because they won’t be snacking incessantly all afternoon, chances are that they’ll finally enjoy the nutritious meals that you prepare for them. Also, when children eat a healthy diet, behavioral changes are a remarkable benefit as well. All too often, misbehavior and crankiness are simply a result of malnutrition, and malnutrition doesn’t only apply to undernourished children in Nairobi. Children thrive on their parents’ clarity. The more clearly defined your priorities are in terms of their nutrition, the smoother the process will be in inculcating them into their lifestyle, which in turn will make your home a happier, healthier place. Part II in this series will cover other health-related topics, such as developing healthy sleep patterns, encouraging physical activity and personal hygiene, and creating an environment that encourages a healthy wellbeing.

Healthy Eating Takeaway Here’s a basic outline of how to make nutrition a priority in your home: • Pay attention to the kinds of food you buy. Limit the amount of “junk food” your kids eat (such as allowing one sugary treat every Shabbos). Have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available. Be aware that even “low-fat” foods may include unwanted ingredients such as added sugar. • Serve a variety of healthy foods and use appropriate portion sizes. Use the label on the package to determine what a portion is for a particular food. • Encourage your children to drink plenty of water or milk instead of fruit juice, sugar-sweetened fruit drinks, regular-calorie soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened or flavored milk, or sweetened iced tea. • Whenever possible, eat meals and snacks together, as a family, at the table.

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Living Well

Cover Feature

An Inside View:

Q&A with Maureen Weinhardt, M.S. MAUREEN (MO) WEINHARDT, CO-AUTHOR OF THE EVERYTHING PARENT’S GUIDE TO RAISING MINDFUL CHILDREN, IS AN EDUCATOR, SPEAKER, AND AUTHOR WHO HAS WORKED WITH STUDENTS OF EVERY AGE AND DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE IN BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE MINDFUL PARENTING? Mindfulness is about noticing. It’s paying attention, moment by moment, to our thoughts and feelings, what our senses experience, and what we perceive of others and our surroundings. Mindful parenting is applying this awareness and presence to our relationships with our children. It’s learning to better understand our thought processes so that we can, whenever possible, be more intentional and less reactive in what we say and do. It’s paying attention to ourselves and others so we can connect more sincerely, communicate more effectively, and model to our children the values we would like them to adopt. HOW DOES MINDFUL PARENTING IMPACT THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE CHILD? Mindfulness helps us notice and manage our emotions more effectively, which makes our interactions with children more positive and purposeful. There are so many opportunities for parents to feel angry, frustrated, irritated, or even defeated, and there’s nothing wrong with any of those feelings. The question is how we behave when we’re in the throes of these emotions. A simple example is when a parent is exhausted, the baby won’t stop crying, and the toddler purposely dumps her milk all over the kitchen floor for the second time before running away, leaving a trail of milky footprints in her wake. As soon as we consciously realize we’re angry, there’s an opportunity to take a beat before we act from that anger. Being mindful provides us with an incredible little window where we can take a deep breath and respond a tad more deliberately as opposed to reacting blindly. Whether we intend to or not, we are always teaching through our actions. How we respond or react to difficult situations teaches our children how to manage and express their emotions.This is why we must do our best to model the behaviors we wish to see in our kids, including how to handle intense feelings. Another important role that mindfulness plays in the health and wellbeing of our children is presence. The full presence and attention of at least one loving adult is invaluable to the healthy development of a child. It is like water and sunshine for the garden of your child’s mind. It’s all too easy for our grownup brains to zone out through various forms of passive

The Wellspring | July 2017 36

entertainment, or to time travel by constantly remembering the past and/or worrying, strategizing, and fantasizing about the future. Paying full attention to a child, listening to their stories and ideas, playing with them, exploring together, and fully participating in their lives is a gift to both children and parents alike.This relationship provides a strong foundation to their health and wellbeing. BY APPLYING MINDFULNESS, HOW CAN A PARENT TEACH A PICKY EATER TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES? When parents regularly eat healthy foods themselves, it is much easier to find creative ways to encourage kids to make healthy choices. One way to do this is to have fun with the experience of eating. I once got an entire classroom of preschool and kindergartners to fall in love with raw carrots. We experimented with the volume of each crunch and compared the many shades of orange, turning it into a fun sensory discussion and game.We talked about how the taste buds on our tongues are constantly changing, and how our tongues might enjoy flavors they didn’t like before. I gave a personal example about salad, which I used to despise as a kid and came to love in my teens. We did this almost every time we had lunch the entire year, including different foods. I discovered that turning the sensory experience of eating into a fun activity has a positive impact on kids’ openness to trying new foods, as well as foods they previously didn’t like. It also makes a difference to positively reinforce a child’s willingness to taste something, even if they end up not wanting to eat it. (“I’m proud of you for giving it a try. You never know when your taste buds might change their minds!”) I also find it makes a difference to involve children in the cooking process, when possible. When they help to measure, mix, and create the food, kids are much more likely to enjoy eating it, in large part because they enjoyed making it with the adult. Never shy away from experimenting with new healthy recipes with kids. Cooking creates fun opportunities to casually weave in counting, colors, smells, flavors, fine motor control, sorting, predictions, chemistry, and so much more— even if the final result falls flat. When children experience cooking and eating as fun and engaging activities, it becomes easier to expand the horizons of naturally picky eaters.

HOW CAN A PARENT BECOME MORE MINDFUL? Notice and appreciate the little things. This may sound trite, but it’s incredibly important. A hot cup of coffee, the sound of birds in the morning, someone’s laughter, the scent of a barbecue, the experience of walking in the rain. Finding opportunities to return to and connect with the present moment is easier done when the experience is pleasant. Practicing presence when it’s relaxing or enjoyable will make these skills more accessible when things are difficult. FROM WHAT AGE CAN KIDS BE TAUGHT TO BE MINDFUL? Although at around 18 months children become more consciously and verbally mindful, they are learning from the actions of those who care for them from the moment they are born. Children often begin to understand mindfulness through learning empathy, recognizing emotions in themselves and others (plus how these emotions feel in their bodies), and learning self-control. It’s an ongoing learning process for children and adults alike. There is no finish line.

Words of Wisdom Introducing a healthy lifestyle to your children doesn’t only have to happen at the table. Here are some fun ways to teach your children about nutrition in other settings: • What better time to enjoy a fun family trip to the farm than during summertime? Have your children observe Hashem’s natural wonders in the produce-growing process so they can grasp how fruits and vegetables come directly from the source versus processed foods. Have them see how eggs and milk are produced, too. • Take a stroll down the grocery aisle and point out the differences in the various foods on the shelves. You can explain the process involved in manufacturing processed foods and have the children point out which foods “come straight from Hashem” and which ones require chemical intervention. • Which kid doesn’t love a good story? Here’s some fun and inspiring reading material on nutrition that you can use at story time, mealtime, or bedtime to encourage healthy eating habits. - Marvelous Moishy Eats Healthy Food by Menucha Fuchs (Menucha Publishers) - Hashem’s Candy Store by Bracha Goetz (Israel Bookshop Publications) - The Candy Kids by Menucha Beckerman (Israel Bookshop Publications) - Birkas HaChaim: The Wonders of Our Body by Michal Stein and Devorah Kroizer (Feldheim Publishers)

HOW CAN WE TEACH CHILDREN TO BE MORE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR BODIES? When you do physical activities with children, everything from walking around the block to playing tag, weave in body awareness. Stretch together, letting the child choose a few stretches; talk about different muscles and parts of the body; describe physical sensations and what it feels like to do different things, then ask your child what it feels like to him. Children will learn to be more in touch with their bodies when parents are in touch with theirs, and engage their kids in regular and varied physical activities. Kids learn far more from our actions than our words, and therefore we have a responsibility to teach by example—and we cannot teach what we don’t know. IN YOUR BOOK, YOU DISCUSS USING MINDFULNESS WHEN TOILET TRAINING. HOW DOES THAT WORK? It certainly helps with patience! Children are ready for toilet training at different ages, and it’s a tough transition to rush. Parents can become frustrated with the process, which is inherently messy and inconvenient, but ultimately rewarding. From a toddler’s point of view, it’s hard to learn how to notice and control their bodily functions, let alone to move away from the convenience and parental connection they get from using diapers. A parent’s patience and encouragement makes this process easier. Being mindful of our reactions so we can respond intentionally makes a big difference in this situation, especially if we’re upset about cleaning up an unexpected accident. Remember, the child almost made it to the toilet, which is progress. Aside from patience and empathy, mindfulness cues a parent to the signs that indicate their child is ready for toilet training and, once in the process, needs to go to the bathroom. This, in turn, provides opportunities to draw the child’s awareness to the physical cues that they need to go to the bathroom, so they can (over time) learn to identify these sensations and take appropriate action. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS? There are so many! Better emotional health, improved communication, stronger relationships, gratitude, empathy, presence, focus, and intention are only some. For me, though, the greatest benefit of practicing mindfulness is the gift of experiencing each moment as fully as possible with the people I love. It brings us closer, gives me greater perspective, and continues to help me move closer to being the kind of person I want to be. WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE THE WELLSPRING READERS REGARDING MINDFUL PARENTING? As loving parents and adults, it’s up to us to embody the values and behaviors we wish to see in our children. What we nurture in ourselves is also what we nurture in our kids. Mindfulness is a powerful tool we can wield to help us speak, act, and live with greater intention, but it has nothing to do with perfection or getting things right. Do your best, make mistakes, reflect, learn, and keep doing your best.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 37

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ISSUE 18 JULY 2017 TAMUZ 5777

Crafting in the Kitchen

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Eat Well

Recipes

Dear Cooks,

I don’t think I’m original in my choice of my favorite season—summer—am I? I find the slower pace and relaxing environment so conducive to enjoying the many aspects of my life that usually get swallowed up in the hectic routine I lead all year. Finally, we get a chance to sit in the sun, absorb our surroundings, and stop looking at the watch every five minutes or so to make sure we’re not missing appointments, school buses, and who knows what else. One of the greatest perks of this blessed season is that we get to spend real time with our kids—not time occupied by a chore that too often leaves us feeling exhausted or guilty (think bedtime and bath time), but time that stands still. And it’s during this time, dear readers, that we create beautiful memories for ourselves and our children. I’m so excited to share the recipes in this issue’s Seasoned with you because they’ll help you do exactly that—spend your time together having fun, while creating beautiful masterpieces that are nutritious and fun to eat. In collaboration with this issue’s feature on inculcating important nutritional values into our children, we’ve brought you an array of exciting ways through which you can make healthy eating a joy for your kids. I’d love to see pictures of your final works of art and the variations you created with your family. Send them my way at info@wellspringmagazine.com and enjoy your Mommy day camp! (Oh, and if you love these recipes so much, you can always do them on your own. The kid in you will surely rejoice.) To a fun-filled, healthy summer, -Levia One way you can make healthy eating fun for kids is to buy cheap colorful plates or even plastic salad bowls, set up a "salad bar" with different healthy toppings, and have them line up and make their own salad. Involve them even more by having them set it up and making topping suggestions.

NUTRITIONIST TANYA ROSEN Here’s what I do to make healthy eating fun for my kids. I make their plate look kid-friendly by doing things like shaping their food into a smiley face. And they eat it all up! I also create "fruit lollipops" by threading fruits onto toothpicks. And you’ll be surprised how well kids take to foods with appealing titles, like chicken cookies (cutlets) and mini-trees (broccoli).

SHANI TAUB, CDC

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 41

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Eat Well

Recipes By Levia Joseph Styling & Photography By Malky Levine

Banana Sushi Roll

Sushi’s still going strong! But this one’s not a “let’s pretend we’re eating healthy” roll—it’s the real stuff. bananas peanut butter, almond butter, and/or Greek yogurt trail mix, chopped

maple syrup peach flavored yogurt

Peel the bananas and smear desired spread(s) all around. Roll in chopped trail mix until fully coated. Slice into 1 inch thick slices to create a sushi roll. Use maple syrup and peach flavored yogurt for “soy sauce” and “spicy mayo.”

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Eat Well

Recipes

Wedges of Fun

Which kid (or adult?) doesn’t love biting into a juicy slice of watermelon on a hot summer’s day? The ultimate refreshing treat! Combined with other natural, delectable flavors and served as a pizza pie, this treat is a sure hit. watermelon Greek yogurt assortment of cut-up fruits, like banana, strawberry, peach, nectarine, apricot, pear, and blueberry pecans, roughly chopped coconut flakes Slice the watermelon down the center into a 1 inch thick slice to create the “pizza pie crust.” Top the pizza with any variety of Greek yogurt and then scatter your favorite fruits over it. Sprinkle with chopped pecans and coconut flakes. This pizza doesn’t need an oven! Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 45

beach by

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Recipes

Edible Jewelry

The perfect activity for a rainy summer’s day—without giving the kids a sugar high. Your kids and their friends will love to experiment with various healthful foods to create beautiful projects. And best of all, they’ll get to eat their treat. multi-grain cheerios assortment of all natural dried fruit elastic cord

needle with a dull tip scissors sectioned tray (optional)

Cut the dried fruit into small pieces if necessary. A sectioned tray can be used to divide the fruits and cheerios easily. You can create patterns and have the kids follow them, or let them be creative. Use a dull tipped needle to poke through the dried fruit and then string them onto the elastic cord. (Take care to keep elastic, needle, and scissors out of reach of small children.)

Eat Well

Nutrition Tidbits in the News By Liba Solomon, CNWC

HEART-HEALTHY TREAT—OR NOT Chocolate’s effect on atrial fibrillation If you’re one of those people who’s always been searching for a really good reason to indulge in chocolate, you probably gave much credence to the constant research that suggested that eating chocolate has been tied to a reduced risk of heart disease. Now, scientists have uncovered one possible reason for this welcome relationship. Using data from a large Danish health study published in Heart, researchers have found an association between chocolate consumption and a lowered risk for atrial fibrillation, the irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke, heart failure, and other serious problems. Scientists tracked diet and health in 55,502 men and women ages 50 to 64. They used a well-validated 192-item food-frequency questionnaire to determine chocolate consumption. During an average 14 years of follow-up, there were 3,346 diagnosed cases of atrial fibrillation. After controlling for total calorie intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and other factors, they found that compared with people who ate no chocolate, those who had one to three 1-ounce servings a month had a 10 percent reduced relative risk for atrial fibrillation, those who ate one serving a week had a 17 percent reduced risk, and those who ate two to six a week had a 20 percent reduced risk. Dark chocolate with higher cocoa content is better, according to the lead author, Elizabeth Mostofsky, an instructor at Harvard, because it is the cocoa, not the milk and sugar, which provides the benefit. Still, she warned about overindulgence. “You can’t have as much chocolate as you want,” she says, “and then ignore everything we know about healthy diet and physical activity.” Not much news there…

TAMING THE INFLAMMATION A high-fiber diet reduces the risk of arthritis A high-fiber diet is good for you for many reasons, but researchers have recently found yet another benefit: It’s associated with a reduced risk for arthritis of the knee, a common condition in the aging population that can be both painful and debilitating. Using data from two long-term observational studies, one with 4,796 subjects and the other with 1,268, researchers conducted a study that was then published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Based on their analysis, as fiber intake increased in the subjects, the prevalence of arthritis decreased. In the larger study, those who ate the most fiber were 30 percent less likely to have knee osteoarthritis than those who ate the least, and in the smaller study, they were 61 percent less likely. The associations persisted even after controlling for age, gender, race, education, smoking, total calorie intake, physical activity, the intake of polyunsaturated fat, and other dietary factors. How fiber actually plays a role in decreasing the prevalence of arthritis is unclear, but one reason may be that fiber may reduce inflammation and help control weight. The average intake of fiber in the study was 15 grams a day, but the recommended level is 25 to 30 grams a day for most people. “Increasing dietary fiber is one of the most economical ways to reduce the pain of knee osteoarthritis,” said the lead author, Zhaoli Dai, a postdoctoral fellow at Boston University. “And there are a lot of other benefits as well— reduced weight, reduced cardiovascular risk, reduced diabetes risk.” Want to increase your fiber intake? Broccoli, split peas, chickpeas, and avocados are a great start. The Wellspring | July 2017 48

HOW MUCH FRUIT IS IN THAT JUICE? At least wait it out until your child’s first birthday No one will argue that water is always a better option than fruit juice for a child of any age, but top pediatricians in the United States are advising parents to stop giving fruit juice to children altogether in the first year of life, saying the drink is not as healthful as many parents believe it to be. In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics had advised parents to avoid 100 percent fruit juice for babies younger than 6 months. On Monday, the group toughened its stance against juice, recommending that the drink be banned entirely from a baby’s diet during the first year. The concern is that juice offers no nutritional benefits early in life, and can take the place of what babies really need: breast milk or formula and their protein, fat, and minerals like calcium. This is the first time the pediatricians’ group has updated its guidelines on fruit juice since 2001, and it may surprise parents who thought 100 percent fruit juice was healthy for babies, or better yet—nutritionally equivalent to fruit itself. But whole fruit typically has more fiber than fruit juice and is less likely to cause dental decay, says Dr. Steven Abrams, a lead author of the new report that was published in Pediatrics and chairman of pediatrics at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Whole fruit is “less of a pure sugar intake,” he says. “We want kids to learn how to eat fresh foods. If you assume fruit juice is equal to fruit, then you’re not getting that message.” Four ounces of apple juice has no fiber, 60 calories, and 13 grams of sugar. By comparison, a half cup of apple slices has 1.5 grams of fiber, 30 calories, and 5.5 grams of sugar. The fiber in a piece of fruit also increases fullness. In terms of sugar and calories, store-bought juice is similar to soda. For instance, four ounces of lemon-lime soda has 12.6 grams of sugar and 46 calories, both slightly less than apple juice. The new report also advises restricting fruit juice to four ounces daily for 1- to 3-year-olds, and six ounces a day for 4- to 6-year-olds. The 2001 guidelines gave parents more wiggle room to decide if four or six ounces daily was appropriate for preschoolers. By contrast, the advice for 4- to 6-year-olds stayed the same. The latest report also curbed the maximum daily intake for older children, aged 6 to 18, from 12 ounces to only 8 ounces. Some manufacturers, like Gerber, make juice for infants, marketing it as a way to add vitamin C and flavor variety to a baby’s diet. But, says Dr. Abrams, “You want to be careful about saying ‘Drink juice for vitamins,’ because they can be added to anything.” Some federal assistance programs have already restricted juice for very young children. Since 2009, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, has stopped listing juice as an acceptable purchase on the checks given to new mothers and babies in their first year. A WIC check, voucher or electronic benefit transfer card, specifies which foods in what quantities can be bought at stores, so once a baby becomes a toddler, 100 percent fruit juice can be purchased. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies—a private nonprofit— called for the “omission of fruit juice of any type before the age of 1 year” in federally supported day care centers. More than 4.2 million children, including those in Head Start, take part in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. By October, child care centers and day care homes will be prohibited from providing fruit juice to infants as part of a reimbursable meal through that program. Whether your infant is part of the program or not, you’ve got your confirmation that mother’s milk or formula is always the way to go.

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Eat Well

Nutrition Facts in a Shell By Devorah Isaacson

Here’s the place to check out nutrition labels for the nutrition-laden produce that come in their natural peels-just so you know what wholesome goodness you’re feeding your family and yourself!

This Month:

Peaches

Peaches and cream—the epitome of deliciousness. Peaches have that magical summer taste that has us craving for another and then another. As my friend put it, “When I bite into a peach, I feel the summer!” The two main varieties of peaches are clingstone (the flesh sticks to the pit) and freestone (the pit is easily separated from the flesh). You can find peaches with yellow or white flesh, with the white being sweeter and less acidic than its more traditional golden counterpart. Now that peaches are in season and at their peak, let’s talk about the nutritious benefits they have to offer as well. At fewer than 70 calories, a large peach contains 3 grams of fiber. Principle

Nutrition Value

Percentage of RDA

Energy

39 Kcal

Carbohydrates

9.54 g

Protein

0.91 g

1.5%

Total Fat

0.25 g

Cholesterol

0 mg

Dietary Fiber

1.5 g

Folates

4 µg

Niacin

0.806 mg

Pantothenic Acid

0.153 mg

Pyridoxine

0.025 mg

Riboflavin

0.031 mg

2.5%

Thiamin

0.024 mg

Vitamin A

326 IU

11%

Vitamin C

6.6 mg

11%

Vitamin E

0.73 mg

Vitamin K

2.6 µg

Sodium

0 mg

Potassium

190 mg

Calcium

6 mg

0.6%

Copper

0.068 mg

7.5%

Iron

0.25 mg

Magnesium

9 mg

Manganese

0.61 mg

Phosphorus

11 mg

Zinc

0.17 mg

1.5%

Vitamins

Electrolytes

Minerals

Storage While it’s not uncommon to chill peaches, it’s important to know that you run the risk of losing some of the peach nutrition when doing so. While the carotenoid antioxidants remain stable, the vitamin C content drops when stored at low temperatures. If you do choose to freeze your peaches, it’s a good idea to use a teaspoon of lemon juice on them to prevent browning while being stored. At room temperature, peaches can be expected to last about a week after ripening. Depending on what type of dish you plan to make, you may want to use less ripe peaches. For example, unripe, crisp peaches toss well in salads, whereas overripe peaches are great for baked goods.

In Your Plate!

A classic sign of summer, peaches are a staple in warm-weather recipes for desserts and salads. In addition to enjoying fresh peaches as they are, have some creative fun with this delicious fruit. • Start your day with a power-packed shake. Blend one cup of baby kale leaves, 1/2 cup frozen pineapple, 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, 1/2 cup fresh diced peaches, and 1 cup water for a delicious start to your summer day. • If you love canned peaches but want to enjoy peach compote the healthy way, simply cook diced peaches in water and add a bit of sweetener. So refreshing! • In the mood of a light, hearty summer dinner that gives you everything in just one bowl? This one’s for you. Toss diced fresh peaches into your chicken salad (with lettuce, tomatoes, sour pickles, and a light mayonnaise dressing) for a hearty dish.

Just for Fun!

The world’s largest peach cobbler is made every year in Georgia, which is known as the Peach State. The cobbler measures 11x5 feet.

The Wellspring | July 2017 50

One of the greatest qualities in peach nutrition is the high quantity of antioxidants found in this delicious fruit. Peaches display strong antioxidant properties that have long-term implications for fighting disease and ridding the body of free radicals. When free radicals are able to bounce around in various body systems, they can wreak all kinds of damage, known as oxidative stress, and contribute to disease and cell breakdown on many levels. A diet heavy in antioxidants is your best, natural defense against the damage caused by free radicals. In fact, many fruit juices, including freshly squeezed peach juice, begin the process of relieving oxidative stress within 30 minutes after being consumed. As with many types of food, the specific variety of peach determines the exact antioxidant load. The part of the peach you consume also impacts how much of the antioxidative benefit you gain from eating peaches. Research indicates a higher level of antioxidants in the peel versus the pulp, for example. You’ll also find better nutrient content in fresh peaches, as peach preserves and peach syrup contain very

little of what makes peaches so beneficial. Like so many whole, fresh foods, peaches have been strongly linked to the prevention and regression of various cancers, placing them among some of the best cancer-fighting foods around. According to a 2014 study by researchers at Texas A&M University, polyphenols in peaches (and plums) successfully inhibited the growth and metastasis (spreading to other organs) of at least one strain of breast cancer cells. They recommend that breast cancer patients eat two to three peaches a day to experience the same cancer-protective effects. What gives peaches their power isn’t only the presence of individual nutrients, but the bioactive compounds that result from the combination of the specific amounts of nutrients they provide. This is also true in explaining the peach’s potency against candida symptoms, the most common yeast infection. Peach nutrition fights and eliminates the growth of candida fungus with its combination of polyphenols, bioflavonoids, and condensed tannins.

Fun in the Kitchen!

How about baking your peach for a change? It’s the summer twist on the classic baked apple—and oh, so good.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the peaches cut-side up in a baking dish, and sprinkle each peach with a little (organic) brown sugar, nuts, and cinnamon. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the flesh has softened and the tops are browned. Serve warm.

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PROMOTION

IN THE KNOW

To a Smooth Start You want to start your day right. You’re in the mood of something really good and wholesome. But all those good and wholesome things take an awful lot of time and patience to prepare. (Think hauling out the blender and then washing it.) You know that perfect texture smoothie that’s gushing with flavor, smooth on your tongue, and keeps you full through the morning walk? It’s here—in a ready-to-pour bottle! It’s the Golden Flow Smoothie, the first of its kind on the market. With two servings of fruit in every glass and available in two fabulous flavors, tropical mango and strawberry banana, you’re sure to send your taste buds reeling with this one.

Beeting the Punch Do you believe that you must sacrifice on flavor for health? With so many health foods and beverages offering less-than-desirable flavor, it’s only sensible that you’ve become conditioned to this thinking. Incredibly, Beetology has broken the record. Imagine a delicious-tasting, beet-based juice. Sounds like a paradox? Not after you take your very first sip. Available in five fabulous flavors such as beet and cherry; and beet, lemon, and ginger, and chock-full of nutritional benefits, Beetology’s beverage line has been gaining much prominence and popularity on the health food scene since its recent introduction to the kosher market. Still curious how that happened? Grab a bottle and see for yourself!

Bring the Pressure Down Sick and tired of popping over a dozen pills every morning to bring your blood pressure down? If only the high dosage of medication would help, it may be worth the price. But, unfortunately, the standard modalities for blood pressure treatment usually fail. The solution to your hypertension is now in your reach. With a visit to renowned nephrologist, Dr. Joel Blush, you can finally get a hold of your blood pressure through standard and alternative modalities that truly work. In no time, you’ll feel better than ever—with less or no drugs on your pharmacy list.

Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Better? When Mehadrin first brought Yobar to the market, we thought it couldn’t get any better. Yogurt in a bar—covered with chocolate? The perfect go-to meal or treat. But now, it’s actually happened. Two new flavors of your favorite yogurt bar are now available at the supermarket near you. What are you in the mood of today, hazelnut or coffee? The choice is yours. Enjoy it guilt-free! Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 53

Living Well

Health Profile By Esther Steinmetz

SHANA RUBIN

In this fun column, The Wellspring readers get acquainted with a fellow reader’s health profile, getting a glimpse into the role that health and wellness play in her everyday life and the tidbits of advice that Chana Roness, nutritional counselor at the popular Nutrition by Tanya, offers for improved quality of life.

Age: 36 years young Love the attitude! Note that your metabolism does slow down by about 15% after the age of 30 and then again at 40, so you’re somewhere in between. Location: Boro Park Weight: 156 lb Height: 5’3” Your range should ideally be 115-140 lb. Marital Status: Married 15 years Kids: 7 Occupation: Behavioral therapist, part time Favorite health food: Sardines on Shibolim whole wheat crackers While sardines are high in protein, they are also really high in sodium and even fat if they’re packed in oil. Can you switch to canned salmon or tuna in water instead? Favorite junk food: Muffins Depending on how you make them and how many you consume, muffins can be healthy. In fact, a nutritious muffin can serve as an excellent meal replacement or snack. Favorite exercise: Elliptical or a good long jog/ brisk walk Sounds like you’re only doing cardio. How about incorporating some resistance exercises? I love Sima Kranz’s column in this magazine that always highlights different types of workouts. Try to incorporate some of these into your exercise program. Favorite nutritious dish: Tuna plate from the pizza store This can easily be very high in calories and fat and not healthy. It may very well be prepared with full-fat mayonnaise (and lots of it) and served with white bread. Also, they probably use tuna in oil and add loads of dressing on the salad. You might even be better off just getting a slice of pizza. My usual bedtime: 1:00-1:30 a.m. My usual wake-up time: 7:00 a.m.

The Wellspring | July 2017 54

My biggest meal on a usual day: Lunch Great—that’s the best meal to make the biggest. Breakfast can come second, as you’re just turning on the engine then and need a little warm up, and dinner should be the smallest, as you’re less active in the evening and don’t have the time to properly burn it off. The soups I usually make: Chicken soup, tomato soup My usual dinner menu: Salad, steamed broccoli or spinach, nuts, whole wheat crackers Why aren’t you having a substantial protein? Add a piece of chicken or fish, or even an egg. My weight loss saga: Yoyo dieting Greatest weight loss challenge: Not losing it at 4 p.m. when I suddenly have a carb attack I hear this all the time from women who have little kids. This is actually a great time for a healthy muffin (such as TAP) plus a coffee or tea. It’s early enough for your body to handle the carbs, and this snack will give you that boost to get through this time of day and hold you over until dinner. The time of year when I find it hardest to watch my weight: Summer, due to the long days and lack of structure. The extent I’ve gone to implement a healthy lifestyle in my home: We bake with only whole wheat flour, have a lot of cut-up produce in the fridge, use brown rice pasta and brown rice instead of white, and we have only water in the fridge for basic drinking. What I do in my downtime: Read One place I would love to visit: Italy My weight/lifestyle goals: Weigh 140 lb and do a workout 3 times a week How I would treat myself if I achieve this goal: New clothes!

an d ho w ma ny D ep en din g on ho w yo u ma ke th em y. al th yo u co ns um e, mu ffi ns ca n be he Ta ny a's -C ha na @ Chana Roness is a nutrition counselor at Nutrition by Tanya which has locations in Boro Park, Flatbush Williamsburg, Monsey, Lakewood, Five Towns, Monroe and Crown Heights. To be interviewed for this column (anonymously) please send your contact information to info@wellspringmagazine.com.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 55

Living Well

Healthy Home Habits By Batsheva Fine

Tried and True Skin Saga

Getting rid of my child’s molluscum A few months ago, I noticed that my 4-year-old daughter had a few tiny “dots” on her stomach. When I showed them to the doctor, he said it was molluscum and that it would disappear on its own. Unfortunately, it seems to be spreading to different parts of her body and growing pretty large. I would love to stop the spreading and get rid of it, especially before summertime and swimming season. Any tips or advice from experienced mothers would be greatly appreciated.

Shira New York City mother of six: When my son had this condition many years ago, I used small round Band-Aids and made sure to cover up all spots before he went into the pool. We went through lots of Band-Aids that summer! Otherwise, I just let it go away on its own.

Libby Williamsburg mother of three: I learned the hard way that molluscum is very contagious. One of my kids passed it on to another, so there’s no more sharing baths or towels in our house. After trying many remedies for the bad case that my three-year-old suffered from, I heard about Nature’s Cure Colloidal Silver. It comes in a little spray bottle, and I sprayed it 2-3 times a day on the pimples for about 5 weeks. After that, it went away Baruch Hashem. I now make sure to pour some baking soda into my kids' bath to keep it deodorized.

Raizy New Jersey mother of four: I used Tea Tree Oil for my son's molluscum. Before bedtime, I would carefully dab each wart with a q-tip (dipped into TTO) and then cover it with a bandage. We made sure to buy colorful ones so he would be happy with this arrangement. After applying the oil daily for one week, I started applying it only every second day for another week. Gradually, the warts turned red and irritated, a sign that they were dying. I made sure to cover them with Neosporin and bandages. After 4-5 weeks, the condition was gone. I tried this all on my own without any doctor’s or other health professional's guidance, but it worked wonders for us.

The Wellspring | July 2017 56

I too have been battling a pesky case of molluscum with my daughter that cropped up after last summer. At first, our dermatologist told us it would clear up with time. She was correct, and after months the pimples dried up and faded. However, more appeared on my daughter’s face. She was so self-conscious that, on consultation with a dermatologist, we had them destroyed. The doctor dipped the tip of a stick (like a Q-tip) into a solution and placed it on each molluscum. They quickly dried over the weekend and faded. It was a painless and fast procedure. Unfortunately, I just noticed another one on her tummy. They seem to be insidious. Elisheva Passaic, New Jersey mother of four: I wish I could give you encouraging advice, but unfortunately, as a fellow mother whose child has this condition, I can only commiserate with you. After all is said and done, there’s nothing to do about it; it takes 1-1.5 years to go away. To prevent your other kids from getting it, bathe the infected kid last, bleach your bathtub, and never share towels. Also, by the time it comes out, it’s usually been in the body for around 6 months, so your other kids are likely infected already by the time one of them shows symptoms. Sorry about that and good luck!

Bina Brooklyn, New York mother of three: The condition is called molluscum contagiosum for a reason. If you ask around, you’ll realize just how common it really is. After trying so many different solutions because the bumps were so unsightly, I was told to give my child baths of diluted apple cider vinegar. This really worked, though it took a few weeks. I added one cup of the vinegar to a tub of warm water and had the child soak in it for 20 minutes or so every night. Alternatively, you can apply the vinegar to the spots 2-4 times a day with a cotton ball and allow it to dry on the skin. For adults, adding 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water once or twice a day is a great tonic to alkalize the body and help it fight infection. For children, add it to juice, which masks the taste.

Smart Solutions Maxi Health joins the conversation: Moscullum contagiosum is actually an internal virus that presents on the skin. An excellent way to get rid of the unsightly spots on the skin, then, is to help the immune system fight the pesky virus. Immune Support™ is an excellent supplement created with exactly this goal in mind. An orange-flavored immune booster for children, this formula contains a host of natural ingredients like Echinacea, oregano, garlic, and olive leaf extract that will wage the battle. Applying peroxide topically and taking Dead Sea salt baths are also helpful in getting rid of molluscum.

Next up: Our five-year-old daughter just graduated Pre 1A. Because her birthday is at the threshold of the admission year, in December, the school has given us the option of either putting her up to first grade or allowing her to repeat Pre 1A. I’ve observed her over the past few weeks, and I see that she’s gravitating toward younger children during playtime. But should we base our decision on her social preferences or on the fact that she did very well academically this past year and that she’ll eventually acclimate to being with older girls? I would love to hear from parents who’ve had to make this decision to benefit from their hindsight. Have a health question for the Wellspring community? Let us know what it is and we’ll do our work to get the conversation rolling in your favor! Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 57

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease.

Samantha New Jersey mother of five:

Living Well

Monthly Dose By Yaakov Goodman, CN

SOLVING SINUSITIS Over 39 million Americans suffer from sinusitis or sinus infection, which is 18% of the United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; adult population, resulting in millions of primary care office visits each year and many thousands of prescribed antibiotics and surgeries. The frequency of this condition is exacerbated by oxidative stress, widespread sleep deprivation, outdoor and indoor air pollution, allergies and swelling, refined-food allergies, and obesity-triggered cytokine stimulation. Sinusitis can be acute, lasting typically up to four weeks, or chronic, lasting months at a time. Symptoms include congestion, mucus discharge, headaches, and facial pain. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to serious or even life-threatening complications, such as a brain abscess. Acute sinusitis typically causes mild symptoms that resolve on their own, whereas chronic sinusitis causes persistent symptoms and is more difficult to treat. A common concern with conventional pharmaceutical treatment is that antibiotics are often needlessly over-prescribed, since most cases of sinusitis are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and chronic sinusitis can be caused by chronic inflammation or anatomic irregularities. The inappropriate use of these antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant organisms and an unnecessary increase in antibiotic-related adverse events, such as diarrhea. The paranasal sinuses are four â&#x20AC;&#x201A; The Wellspring | July 2017 58

pairs of interconnected, mucous membrane-lined cavities located within the skull bones surrounding the nose that drain into the nasal cavity. Each pair of the sinus cavities are named after the particular facial bone that shapes them. The frontal sinuses are located above the eyes in the brow area; the maxillary sinuses are found inside each cheekbone; the ethmoid sinuses are located behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes; and the sphenoid sinuses are found deeper be-

Since sinusitis can be caused by various complications, it is important to treat the specific case appropriately. hind the ethmoids, above the nose and behind the eyes. The sinuses circulate air and are lined with specialized cells that produce mucus as well as cells that possess tiny hairs called cilia. The thin layer of watery mucus inside the sinuses traps and filters out pathogens and other harmful particles from inhaled air, while the cilia rhythmically pulsate, sweeping the stagnant mucus out of the sinuses and into the nasal cavity before it reaches the lungs. The mucus and cilia also work together to warm

and humidify the sinuses and nasal cavities so they remain moist and do not dry out during breathing. The sinuses also generate high concentrations of nitric oxide, a free radical and immune-mediator, which may serve to maintain sterility, strengthen immune defense against viruses and bacteria, and enhance the efficiency of cilia in clearing excess mucus. In contrast to the nasal passages that are heavily colonized with bacteria, the sinuses are generally free from harmful bacteria or other pathogens. However, the drainage openings that allow the sinuses to empty into the nasal cavity are relatively small, and thus vulnerable to becoming blocked. When the stagnant mucus accumulates, bacteria and other pathogens colonize in the sinus cavity, resulting in sinusitis. Conditions that reduce the clearance of mucus from the sinuses also contribute to sinusitis. For instance, the common cold virus appears to impair mucus clearance from the sinuses by disrupting the structure and function of the cilia. This increases the chances of developing sinusitis, particularly in the maxillary sinuses where the direction of drainage is against gravity. Since the function of cilia is largely dependent on the quality and quantity of the surrounding mucosal fluid, diseases that dry out the mucosal layer or affect its viscosity (e.g., cystic fibrosis) also contribute to sinusitis. Ostia blockage is similarly associated with an increase in mucosal viscosity, as the trapped mucus begins to lose its water content. Likewise, sinus inflammation thickens sinus secretions through the release of inflammatory debris. In some cases, fungi can cause sinusitis. People with abnormal sinus structures or those with weakened im-

mune systems are more vulnerable to fungal sinusitis. Since sinusitis can be caused by various complications, it is important to treat the specific case appropriately. Often, when it comes to natural medicine, keeping it basic warrants the best results. Among the signature products that Maxi Health has formulated over the years is Pantomax Supreme™ that contains two simple ingredients: PureWay-C® (a fat soluble form of vitamin C) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). PureWay-C® is a patented form of vitamin C renowned for its high level of absorption and bioavailability. Studies support the role of PureWay-C® as a cutting edge vitamin C ingredient. In research conducted at Adelphi University in New York, standard vitamin C treatment was compared to PureWay-C® treatment. Results showed that PureWay-C® treatment promoted nerve regeneration 12 times more efficiently, stimulated wound healing 3 times more efficiently, and protected the immune system from toxins by 2.5 times. The increase in biological activity with PureWay-C® was directly linked to a 233% increase in cellular uptake compared to standard vitamin C. But perhaps most impressive is the activity of PureWay-C® when it comes to reducing inflammation, making it key in reducing the severity of a sinus infection. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) has been dubbed as the “anti-stress vitamin.” Renowned for its ability to maintain normal adrenal structure and function, human studies have shown that pantothenic acid helps clear up nasal passageways, as well as producing higher levels of corticoste-

rone and progesterone. Many people who suffer from sinus infections find great relief when supplementing with Maxi Health’s Stinging Nettle & Goldenseal Root™. Both herbs stimulate the immune system and relieve sinusitis. Stinging nettle leaf (also known as nettle) has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and Goldenseal Root boasts powerful antibacterial properties, helping to clear out congested nasal passageways. Recently, 69 individuals took part in a double-blind randomized study comparing the effects of a stinging nettle supplement vs. a placebo for sinusitis. Assessment was based on daily symptom diaries and global response recorded at the follow-up visit after one week of therapy. Not surprisingly, the group supplementing with stinging nettle leaf experienced significantly higher improvements than the placebo.

ineffective at best, or even negative. Maxi Health’s Pantomax-Supreme™ and Stinging Nettle & Goldenseal Root™ are choice supplements for preventing and managing sinusitis. Please note: These supplements are not intended to replace necessary medication or surgery. Please consult your healthcare practitioner with any concerns.

Summary Sinusitis is a complex and multifaceted condition and can be caused by bacteria, virus, fungi, or other contributing factors. Repetitive use of antibiotics may be

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 59

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not ibntended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease.

Over 39 million Americans suffer from sinusitis or sinus infection, which is 18% of the United States’ adult population.

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Wellbeing

Clean Slate By Shiffy Friedman, MSW, CNWC

WHY AM I FAILING? Strategies that lead to disappointment

When emotional satiation is the root behind your eating patterns, you may subconsciously take up one or more of the failure strategies, which only end up leading to more disappointment, thus enlarging the need for emotional satiation. The feeling of powerlessness, which comes as a result of continuous failure, simply drives you back into the cycle of eating. One failure strategy we’ve already discussed is when we deprive ourselves, then gorge, and then deprive ourselves again. Another is to gorge and run, which means that we turn to exercise as a means to shed extra weight, but because we continue using food as a means of soothing our inner pain, the equation simply doesn’t add up. It takes a lot of fitness training to get rid of even one tub of ice cream, let alone a full binge. And all that unhealthy food only helps weaken the immune system and triggers low moods, which further reduce the ability or motivation to exercise. If you have a food addiction, running around it won’t help in weight loss, and certainly not in solving the core issue. Looking good for the camera is another failure strategy. It’s when you set a goal to lose a certain amount of weight because you have an upcoming occasion or season for which you want to look your best. A wise nutritionist once said that if this is your motivation, why don’t you simply photoshop yourself in all the photos of that event? It’s possible to deprive yourself for a short while, and you may see temporary weight loss, but, once again, as long as the true reason for your desire of food is not addressed, these results will be

short-lived. And, of course, many people who’ve tried everything with no success often use the gene card as the reason for their weight gain. “Our family has the slowest metabolism,” you may be tempted to say. As long as you tell yourself that your genetic predisposi-

Shifting the blame on a slow metabolism or other genetic factors only gives a person the ”right“ to keep indulging as a means to soothe underlying emotional issues. tion is at the root of your problem, you won’t find the strength to crawl out of it. Shifting the blame on a slow metabolism or other genetic factors, unless you’ve been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or take certain prescribed medication, only gives you the “right” to keep indulging as a means to soothe underlying emotional issues. It may very well be that because other people in your family resorted to food as therapy while you were growing up, you subconsciously followed the same path, but this does not lead to any substantial conclusions regarding

your metabolism rate. In fact, research shows that high-strung people stay thin not because of metabolism, but simply because they move around more than the average person and therefore burn more calories. One study showed that sedentary people sat 163 more minutes a day than fidgety people, who took 7,000 more steps and expended 350 more calories per day. So it’s not the metabolism in thinner people that’s the secret to their slimness; it’s how active they are, and how they perceive food. So, as you’ve probably proven to yourself at some point in your life, none of the failure strategies work. Denial, shifting blame, and focusing on short-term solutions get you nowhere. The only way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and control weight for a lifetime is to attack and dismantle the emotional eating habit that lies at the core of the issue. Once you have the addiction under control, you’ll start to eat to fill your biological stomach, not your imaginary stomach that never gets full. The first step in doing that is facing your feelings head-on, instead of shoving them away with yet another binge. Conquering the feeling phobia, the topic of our next article, is vital in finally ridding yourself of the emotional eating cycle. In this column on emotional eating, Shiffy Friedman, MSW, CNWC, discusses the journey toward a healthy relationship with food from a Torah-based, psychological, and personal perspective.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 61

Wellbeing

From the Ground Up By Goldy Guttman, Ms. Ed.

Watch my Growth 24 months (2 years) Welcome to the wonderful world of baby, except that your child is not a baby anymore. You’re entering the toddler arena now. A child’s second birthday is a genuine milestone, especially since skills tend to develop very quickly during this stage. Relish the time together, because you’ll look back in just a month’s time and miss this very moment. Here is a list of what your child should be doing by the age of two.

Social/Emotional: Your child will begin to exhibit independence. Whereas before he may have clung to you and refused to go to others, this aspect of your relationship may change. Even Your child: more so, children at this age begin to show defi• Copies others, especially adults/older individuals ance. “No!” becomes a frequent answer. • Gets excited when in the presence of other children • Plays on his own alongside other children (parallel play), but begins to play with others as well, such as chasing them

Language: This skill is one that will probably give you the most delight. It’s incredible to watch children learn to express themselves verbally, and probably many of us wish we had a camera following just to record all the amazing things our kids say.

Your child: • Is able to follow instructions • Says two- to four-word sentences • Knows names of family members • Is able to name some body parts • Points to items in books • Repeats words he has heard

Cognitive: That little brain is hard at work, processing everything he sees and hears and feels. Skills will develop and emerge, but here are some things to look for. Your child: • Finds things, even when hidden under two or three covers • Begins to sort shapes and even colors • Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books • Builds towers of at least 4 blocks • Might use one hand more than the other • Names simple items in a picture book such as a cat, bird, or dog

The Wellspring | July 2017 62

Motor: If you’re a mother of a two-year-old, you’re probably completely run ragged by all your little one’s antics. Chasing after a little ball of energy is no joke, so kudos to you! Here are some milestones to keep in check.

Your child: • Tiptoes • Kicks a ball • Begins to run • Climbs onto and down from furniture without help. (Yes, you should be happy when your child reaches this “milestone!”) • Walks up and down stairs holding on • Throws ball overhead • Draws or copies straight lines and circles

Talk to your doctor if you notice that your child is lacking in several of the above milestones. It is important to keep track and notice the following: • Does your child use two-word phrases? • Does your child know what to do with commonly used objects, such as a brush or spoon or phone? • Does your child copy actions and words? • Does your child follow simple instructions? •Does your child walk steadily? • Has your child never lost any skills he once had? If you have answered no to any of these questions, it is worthwhile to act early and speak with your pediatrician. At this stage of your child’s life, interaction between mother and child can play a prominent role in the toddler’s development. These are some great activities you can do with a two-year-old:

Reading

Playing

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, by Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle Goodnight, Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown

Pegs Color/shape matching Ball—pass and throw Dolls—act out real scenarios

Music Turn up the music often, especially children’s songs in the child’s native language. This plays a role in developing language.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 63

Wellbeing

Emotional Wellness By Drs. David H. Rosmarin & Peryl Agishtein

they're torturing her!

Is exposure therapy too harsh?

My 9-year old granddaughter, Rachie, has always been a little anxious. This past year, she started having trouble going to playdates, and has even been afraid of leaving the house without a parent. My son and daughter-in-law started bringing her to a therapist a couple of months ago. I don’t live locally and didn’t hear much, but I recently stayed with them for Shabbos and was able to observe her. I didn’t see any anxiety until Shabbos morning, when my son made Rachie go across the street on a playdate even though she clearly didn’t want to go. Rachie was crying, but finally my son took her by the hand and physically brought her across the street. I hated seeing this and made a comment about how hard it was for her to go. My son explained that having her go was part of her therapy practice. Her therapist is doing exposure therapy with her, and as part of it, she needs to do things even though she is afraid of them. I didn’t want to question my son’s parenting decisions, but I can’t help but wonder if exposure therapy is OK for kids (or for anyone, for that matter). It just seemed so cruel to make a child do something she hates doing — wouldn’t teaching coping or breathing skills be more effective?

What a wonderful mother/mother-in-law/grandmother you are. You’re concerned about your granddaughter and want her to get the best possible care in the kindest way”— and you’re too sensitive to hurt your kids by interfering in their parenting. Kudos to you! It sounds like your granddaughter is suffering from a number of related anxieties and phobias, including social anxiety and separation anxiety. It also sounds like she’s been lucky enough to find a therapist who specializes in exposure therapy. Exposure therapy can seem harsh and cruel, and it is certainly one of the more difficult therapies to implement. But it is also the gold standard of anxiety treatment, because it is one of the most effective, evidence-based therapies available. Between 80-90% of anxiety cases treated with exposure therapy improve significantly and maintain a significant reduc-

The Wellspring | July 2017 64

tion in anxiety years after treatment. Exposure therapy is also fast; simple phobias (e.g., fear of flying; fear of spiders) treated with exposure therapy often resolve after 2-3 sessions, and more generalized anxieties (e.g., social phobia, agoraphobia) can resolve in a matter of weeks with good treatment. The main principle of exposure therapy for anxiety (and for OCD, PTSD, panic disorder, etc.) is that in order to overcome fear, one has to approach the fear. On the surface, exposure therapy is counter-intuitive: when we are afraid of something, we tend to reassure, avoid, or escape the fearful situation. It certainly seems harsh to force a frightened child to keep on moving towards the dog that is terrifying her. However, learning theories and neuroimaging studies demonstrate that when we avoid what we are afraid of, we teach ourselves to be

further afraid of that thing. The next time we encounter that dog, our heart is beating a little faster, and we stay even farther back from the fence. The same holds true of higher-order fears. If we suffer from health anxiety or fear of death, we tend to avoid facing those fears by seeking reassurance or control over our health (through doctor shopping, medical research, or avoiding taking care of our health). Every time we avoid those fears rather than facing them (allowing ourselves to contemplate our mortality, for example), we train ourselves to be even more terrified of dying. Parents are right when they made kids get right back on the bike when they fall off: otherwise, we would all still be afraid of bike-riding. Rachie is afraid of social situations; for example, she is tense about going on a play date. Therefore, she avoids going on play dates by making excuses or just refusing to go. Each time she avoids a play date, she becomes slightly more afraid of them. By allowing her to avoid play dates, or accommodating her, her parents are likely being very sympathetic, warm, and loving. But they are also feeding into and reinforcing her fear. The most effective way of overcoming her fear of play dates is to start going on play dates. There are different theories of how exposure therapy works, but the basic idea is that each time she goes on a play date, she is teaching herself that she doesn’t need to be afraid of it, and that she will survive it (even if she has an awful time because she is tense the entire time). She is literally building and reinforcing new neural pathways, where play date is now associated with empowerment and control rather than with fear. Although at first it will be very difficult for her to go on play dates, she will eventually lose her fear, to the point where going on play dates will be easy and fun once more. As the young daughter of a famous exposure therapist succinctly summarized, “You’re afraid of something, blah blah blah, you do it anyway, blah blah blah, you stop being afraid!” There are a couple of caveats regarding exposure therapy. Firstly, exposure therapy is one of the harder

therapies to implement (both for the therapist and for the patient). After all, people seeking exposure therapy have been avoiding their fears for a long time, and it can be excruciatingly difficult to begin facing them. Also, once we begin facing our fears, anxiety can rise and get worse before it gets better. Therefore, exposure therapy should preferably be done with an experienced and specialized therapist. Also, the therapy should proceed at the patient’s pace, and only after the patient has been thoroughly educated about exposure therapy and is truly on board. That brings us to the next caveat: exposure therapy should never be done by forcing the child (or adult) to face their fear. Being forced to face a fear doesn’t teach the patient that they can face the fear; it teaches them that they can be forced to face the fear. It is unclear from your description, but it sounds like the exposure to play dates that your son is practicing with Rachie is not being implemented correctly, as Rachie is being physically forced to complete the exposure. Exposure therapy will be most effective when the client is motivated, and is encouraged but not forced to face each fear at their own pace. An experienced therapist will be able to tailor the treatment in the most tolerable but effective way. Even so, a high number of patients may drop out of exposure therapy if they are not motivated or if the work is too difficult. To answer your question, there are certainly several evidence-based and effective treatments for anxiety, and many of them are gentler than exposure therapy. However, exposure therapy is one of the most effective, efficient, and quickest anxiety treatments. It may be harsher in the short term than accommodating your granddaughter’s fears, but in the longer term, it is much kinder, as it allows her to develop socially. If Rachie is motivated enough and is working with a good therapist, you have no cause for concern. All our best, David H. Rosmarin & Peryl Agishtein

David H. Rosmarin, Ph.D., ABPP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, part-time, and a board certified clinical psychologist. He also directs the Center for Anxiety, which has offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Monsey, and Boston. Peryl Agishtein, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who conducts research on spirituality and attachment. She practices couples and adult psychotherapy in the Center for Anxiety’s Monsey office. Readers may submit their questions on anxiety or any mental-health related topic to be answered by the columnists in the next Anxious to Know column. All identifying details will be changed. Questions can be submitted to info@wellspringmagazine.com. Subject line should be “Anxious to Know.”

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 65

Wellbeing

Health Personality By Shiffy Friedman

A CUP OF TEA WITH MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO... CHANA LEAH GREENZWEIG, LGTI, WSI ROIZY WACHSLER, LGTI, WSI

LOCATION OF PRACTICE: Belz Girls’ Camp, Ellenville, New York OCCUPATION: Lifeguard, swimming instructor YEARS IN PRACTICE: Since our teens WISH PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THAT: no adult or child should ever swim alone, in neither public nor private pools WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO ENTER THE FIELD OF LIFEGUARDING? CLG: We love it. The pool is a very fun environment, where most girls are happy to be. It’s very rewarding when we teach girls how to swim properly and then watch them put the lessons into practice and enjoy the pool experience. And, of course, it’s a great feeling to know that we’re guarding the place so the swimmers can have a truly safe environment. RW: Lifeguarding is in my blood. This is what I saw growing up with a mother who has a passion for it, and, not surprisingly, my two sisters are in the field too. I remember wondering as a young child what job I would be able to take so I could spend the most time possible in the pool. It’s incredibly satisfying to know that we’ve trained hundreds of lifeguards over the years, probably close to a thousand, and many of them have jobs guarding pools all over. Making swimming a fun, safe activity is a pleasure.

WHAT’S YOUR PRIORITY AT THE POOL? CLG: Safety first. The best way to do this is through prevention; by making sure that everyone and everything is in the right place. For instance, we always make sure that shallow-water swimmers are only in shallow water, and that everyone is wearing her color-coded cap. The new buzzword in lifeguarding is not watching; it’s actively searching for trouble. That’s the best way to prevent injuries. And of course, it’s also important to keep all hazards out of the way. The Wellspring | July 2017 66

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF SAFETY HAZARDS IN THE POOL OR POOL AREA?

CLG: First, kids can get hurt either by tripping over objects in the pool area, or if such objects are sharp or dangerous. In the pool itself, any object is a potential hazard. A pool must be clear at all times to allow for the ideal safe environment. Also, swimmers must know that they can’t jump one on top of the other and jump in too close to the ledge. RW: It is our priority to ensure that the pool is well-guarded, which means having enough staff all around and making sure that the lifeguards are always in their uniforms, dressed in their swimming gear so they’re ready to jump into the water if necessary.

WHAT ARE SOME SAFETY PRECAUTIONS MOTHERS CAN TAKE WHEN THEY’RE AT THE POOL WITH THEIR CHILDREN? Simply watch them. Don’t talk on the phone or lounge around while your kids are doing their own thing. And don’t rely on the lifeguards. Of course, remember to hydrate yourself and the children, and to constantly reapply sunscreen to protect from sunburns.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON SWIMMING TUBES? WOULD YOU CONSIDER THEM SAFE OR A SAFETY HAZARD?

CLG: I don’t like them, so I allow them only for very little children whose mothers are right there in water with them, holding on.

RW: I think tubes not only fail to protect the child, but can actually put the child into danger. A child can easily flip upside down while in the tube, and then she can’t bring herself back up.

ARE HAND TUBES A SAFER CHOICE? No. Mothers shouldn’t rely on any of these seemingly safe objects as safety measures. Instead, they should teach their children how to swim, or provide them with lessons. It’s their responsibility. I always tell the girls that they don’t have to be Olympic swimmers, but they must feel comfortable in the water and do rhythmic breathing to be able to get from one end to the other. That becomes their goal because they all want to be in the deep water.

FROM WHAT AGE DO YOU ALLOW GIRLS TO SWIM IN THE DEEP WATER? It’s not a matter of age but skill. We’ve had five year olds in the deep water because they passed the test.

WHICH STORY STANDS OUT IN YOUR MIND IN YOUR CAREER AS A LIFEGUARD? As I confirmed with other lifeguards, most incidents happen in boys’ camps. Girls’ camps are generally much better guarded, because the training is usually more intensive and the staff is larger. We’ve had our fair share of heart palpitations, but we do everything to make our staff happy so they’re truly present and glad to do their work.

IS THERE ANYTHING SOMEONE CAN DO IF THEY SEE A SWIMMER IS IN DISTRESS?

CLG: If the swimmer is not drowning but only struggling, extend a pole so she can reach out and grab it. If you see a rescue tube, grab it and throw it in. But if a person is not a swimmer, she should never jump in to pull out a struggling swimmer from the deep water, because then the situation could end up with two drowning victims. RW: Call for help. Emergency numbers should be clearly posted at the pool area, along with the exact address of the location. When a bystander calls for help, it’s easy to forget the location or phone number, so this sign can make all the difference in saving a life. Even, or especially, every private home pool must have a sign like this hanging in a very prominent spot.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL SWIMMERS SHOULD DEVELOP? Rhythmic breathing— breathing along with the strokes at a steady rhythm. Those who want to swim can learn to master this art.

HAVE YOU USED YOUR FIRST AID SKILLS IN OTHER SETTINGS?

RW: In camp, on Shabbos afternoon, I once used rescue breathing to save a baby who wasn’t well.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE STRESS THAT COMES ALONG WITH GUARDING A POOL FOR SO MANY HOURS A DAY?

It’s true that when we’re at the pool there’s no downtime and we’re constantly on the alert, but we work with a system so it doesn’t get too overwhelming. We’ve learned over the years that when everything is in its place it’s not stressful, but we’re always on guard. Lifeguards must be alert and rested at all times so they can truly focus and do their jobs vigilantly and fully. And we always tell the staff that when it gets overwhelming, don’t think—just do.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU SEE THAT A LIFEGUARD IS TIRED AND NOT ENTIRELY PRESENT? We make sure to maintain a positive environment. Music manages to put everyone in a good mood. And doing a little swimming before they start their shift helps sharpen their skills as well as perk them up.

WHAT’S THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF GUARDING A POOL? The people who don’t follow the rules make it difficult to guard the pool properly. Everyone must realize that we’re here for their benefit and the rules, which may be inconveniencing them, are ultimately for their safety.

WHAT ARE THE BASIC RULES AT YOUR POOL? Bathers can’t swim in the deep water without first passing the test. They must also enter the area with a buddy and wear the right color bathing cap. And when they hear the whistle, they’re not allowed to move and must keep quiet and listen to instructions.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON SWIMMING IN THE RAIN? CLG: My rule of thumb is that if the girls are in the pool when it starts to rain, if it’s a light rain with no thunder or lightning, I allow them to remain there until the end of the activity. However, if it’s raining before the activity begins, I won’t open the pool. And, at the first sight of lightning or sound of thunder, we clear the pool immediately—even if it’s not raining.

WHY IS IT SO DANGEROUS TO SWIM IN LIGHTNING? Water conducts electricity, so we don’t take a chance. If you’re swimming when you spot a streak of lightening, head out immediately. It’s also important to mention that if you’re caught outside in a thunderstorm, you should keep away from all tall trees standing alone, as well as from metal objects. Keep as low to the ground as possible. People die every year from lightning, not necessarily in a pool.

WHAT FINAL MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO IMPART TO THE WELLSPRING READERS REGARDING POOL SAFETY? We’re wishing everyone a healthy, safe summer. Ultimately, it’s Hashem who watches over us—in the pool and everywhere else, and it’s our job to do our hishtadlus as parents, as lifeguards, and even as our own guards by making sure to never swim alone. At the end of every summer, we arrange a “seudas hoda’ah” to thank Hashem, our ultimate Lifeguard. Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 67

AGE WELL Points Particular about Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s What you should know about this neurodegenerative disease

ISSUE 18 JULY 2017 TAMUZ 5777

GOLDEN PAGE IS CALCIUM ALL YOU NEED FOR STRONG BONES?

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Golden Page By Yaakov Goodman, CN

NOT ONLY CALCIUM

THE SECRET TO STRONGER BONES Today, there is overwhelming evidence that osteoporosis is a preventable disease, yet most women fail to consume the nutrients that are proven to maintain bone mass. Now it’s easy to follow a supplement program that is scientifically substantiated to prevent and partially reverse osteoporosis. Calcium intake in the elderly is a pressing issue. As men and women age, dietary calcium intake and its intestinal absorption decrease. The recommended daily calcium intake of 1200 mg is approximately 5 cups of milk or about 10 cups of broccoli. It’s no secret that very few of us reach these optimal levels, making supplementation necessary. Even a slight calcium insufficiency is detrimental. This is because when the body senses any level of deficiency, it begins to draw calcium from the bones. In turn, this leads to osteoporosis, a major culprit in bone fractures. A review on osteoporosis noted that bone fractures are the most detrimental side effect of calcium deficiency. They are painful, cause deformity, and are a leading cause of death due to complications among the elderly. Individuals with the highest risk of osteoporosis are women of white or Asian ethnicity who have positive familial histories of bone fragility coupled with low body weight, low calcium intake, and high caffeine intake. Calcium is also essential in maintaining heart health. The heart has four chambers, which must expand and contract in a precise rhythm in order for the heart to beat in a stable manner. Calcium, potassium, and magnesium are electrolytes vital in maintaining the heart’s electrical synchronicity. If calcium levels fall too low, the person will die from an electrolyte imbalance that causes the heart to lose the contractile rhythm needed to circulate blood. When taking a calcium supplement, its quality is vital. Although the market is flooded with cheap calcium supplements, Maxi Health has produced a range of calcium formulas of superior quality. Cal-M-D™ has been formulated by MaxiHealth specifically with the over 50’s in mind. The combination of high-quality calcium citrate together with vitamin K, magnesium, and vitamin D, makes this calcium complex highly potent. A common concern raised about supplementing with calcium is calcification of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Fortunately, nature has developed a protective mechanism against this, but it requires vitamin K. However, our diet provides little of this vitamin, resulting in the fact that most elderly people suffer calcification of their brain, glands, heart valves, and arteries. Published data about the ability of vitamin K2 to protect against cardiovascular disease is compelling. For instance, people with a higher intake of vitamin K2 intake have a 57% reduction in risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Those with blocked arteries and damaged heart valves show low vitamin K2 status. Women taking vitamin K2 have reductions in non-vertebral fractures as high as 81%.Vitamin K maintains bone density while simultaneously protecting against atherosclerosis by activating factors in bone to grab and retain calcium while locking the arterial wall to keep calcium out. Those involved in nutritional medicine have long known that people who supplement with calcium should also take adequate amounts of magnesium. The reason is that magnesium is a natural way of keeping calcium in solution and directing it into the bones. Plus, magnesium is also essential for a healthy bone density. Vitamin D deficiency has long been known to be exclusively related to bone abnormalities, especially rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones).Vitamin D deficiency and resistance cause severe impairment of bone mineralization. This can be corrected by providing the body with adequate supplies of vitamin D. Calcium absorption is closely related to vitamin D intake and its status in the body, particularly the serum calcitriol level. Poor intestinal response to calcitriol due to age and disease, such as spinal osteoporosis, causes a decline in vitamin D levels. There is now increasing data indicating that low calcium absorption due to menopause in women can be restored by the addition of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. If you’re looking to achieve optimal bone density, it’s not too late. Supplementing with a high quality calcium formula such as Maxi Health’s Cal-M-D™ is a great way to prevent loss of bone density, and even reverse it.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 71

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease.

Age Well

Senior Care By Rena Milgraum, R.N.

Points Particular about Parkinson’s Parkinson’s disease (PD) is named for British doctor James Parkinson, who first described it in 1817. But in the nearly 200 years since, there have been significant strides in treating and managing this condition in order to make living with it as normal as possible. Because many high-profile people have gotten this neurological disorder, private and public funding is actively working on treatment and cure. Still, in the U.S. alone, 50,000-60,000 new Parkinson’s cases are diagnosed each year, adding to the one million people who currently have it. Parkinson’s is second in frequency of neurodegenerative diseases, next to Alzheimer’s. Men with Parkinson’s outnumber women two to one, and it is most common among white male North Americans. Worldwide, it is estimated that four to six million people suffer from the condition. There are also a number of related conditions known as “Parkinson’s Plus” that sometimes develop in late-stage Parkinson’s (or alone), including Lewy Body syndrome (with or without dementia), Pick’s disease, and multi-system atrophy.

who would prepare pills between the thumb and second and third fingers. Symptoms worsen as the condition progresses over time. These include: • Slowed movement (bradykinesia), including shorter steps, foot-dragging while walking, and/or difficulty getting out of a chair • Muscle rigidity and stiffness, which may occur in any part of the body • Stooped or otherwise impaired posture • Balance problems and difficulty turning around • Writing may appear small (micrographia) and become difficult Later-stage symptoms include cognitive difficulties like dementia; emotional difficulties, such as depression, fear, anxiety, and loss of motivation; and physical difficulties, including swallowing problems (dysphagia), sleep disorders (parasomnias), sleep apnea, blood pressure changes, loss of smelling ability, fatigue, and pain.

While a tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson’s, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.

Definition Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in one hand. But while a tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson’s, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. Parkinson’s interferes with the brain’s involuntary signals, such as those that command muscles to flex when one wishes to walk or talk. As one neurologist put it, Parkinson’s forces patients to concentrate on limb movements one ordinarily wouldn’t need to think twice about.

Symptoms Symptoms vary from person to person. In the early stages, signs can be mild, to the extent that they may go unnoticed for some years. Nevertheless, when symptoms finally begin to show, they often begin on one side of the body and usually remain worse on that side, even after the other side becomes affected. Symptoms may include decreasing facial expressions, decreasing natural arm swing when walking, soft or slurred speech, and resting or shaking tremor, usually beginning in a limb such as the hand or fingers. That specific tremor looks like the “pill rolling” motion of pharmacists of old, 72 The Wellspring | July 2017

Risk factors A number of risk factors for Parkinson’s have been identified, despite the fact that the underlying cause for this disease has not yet been pinpointed. These factors include older age, close relatives with the disease, being male, and exposure to toxins.

Diagnosis Parkinson’s is difficult to diagnose due to the lack of a specific diagnostic test. Doctors typically rely on the patient history and neurological examination findings, which is why a diagnosis may remain elusive for some time until some of the more prominent symptoms occur. The doctor may also order tests to rule out other conditions that may be causing PD-like symptoms called Parkinsonism, some of which may be reversed. Cause Parkinson’s is caused by the gradual breakdown and death of certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain that produce a chemical neurotransmitter in the brain called dopamine. It is believed that Parkinson’s begins well before symptoms are noticed, progressing to motor symptoms only in later years. This theory is increasingly borne out by evidence that non-motor symptoms, such as a loss of sense of smell (hyposmia), sleep disorders, and constipation may precede

the motor features of the disease by several years. That’s why researchers are increasingly focused on these non-motor symptoms to both detect Parkinson’s as early as possible and to look for ways to stop its progression. Treatment Because the underlying cause of Parkinson’s is unknown, proven ways to prevent the disease also remain a mystery. However, research has shown that caffeine and green tea may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s. Medications While there is no cure for Parkinson’s, medications may markedly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. These drugs increase or substitute dopamine, helping manage problems with walking, movement, and tremor. The most common and long-standing Parkinson’s medications are carbidopa and levodopa. Significant improvement of symptoms with these medications will often confirm a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. However, while patients may experience such improvements after beginning medical treatment, the benefits of drugs can diminish over time. A doctor may also prescribe dopamine agonists like Mirapex, Requip, Neupro and Apokyn. Unlike levodopa, these drugs don’t change into dopamine but mimic its effects. Other drug treatments include MAO-B inhibitors like Eldepryl, Zelapar, and Azilect, which help prevent the breakdown of dopamine. Side effects may include nausea or headaches. Drugs like Comtan mildly prolong the effect of levodopa therapy by blocking an enzyme that breaks down dopamine, and Cogentin can help control tremors. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) In some cases, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is administered to regulate certain regions of the brain and improve symptoms. This therapy is most often offered to patients who have unstable medication (levodopa) responses. DBS helps stabilize medication fluctuations, reduce or halt involuntary movements, reduce tremor and rigidity, and improve slowing of movement. Nutrition A balanced diet that contains plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can ameliorate symptoms, as well as providing beneficial nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids. Foods high in fiber and an adequate amount of fluids helps prevent constipation. Exercise Lifestyle changes, especially ongoing aerobic exercise, may also be recommended. In many cases, physical therapy that focuses on balance and stretching is also important. Exercising increases muscle strength, flexibility, and bal-

ance, as well as improving well-being and reducing depression and anxiety. A customized exercise program can be developed by working with a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. Exercises like walking, swimming, dancing, water aerobics, or stretching may help, too. Staying balanced Because Parkinson’s can disturb the sense of balance, the following suggestions (besides exercise) are sometimes recommended: • Try not to move too quickly. • Aim for the heel to strike the floor first when walking. • If shuffling while walking is noticed, stop to check posture. It’s best to stand up straight. • Look ahead, not directly down, while walking. Avoiding falls In the later stages of the disease, patients may fall more easily. In fact, patients may be thrown off balance by just a small push or bump. The following suggestions may help: • Make a U-turn instead of pivoting the body over the feet. • Keep the center of gravity over the feet without leaning or reaching. • Avoid carrying things while walking. • Don’t walk backwards. Occupational therapy An occupational therapist can help patients with techniques that make activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, eating, bathing, and writing easier. Summary It’s normal to feel angry, depressed, or discouraged at times—Parkinson’s can be profoundly frustrating, as walking, talking, and even eating become more difficult and time-consuming. Although friends and family can be a patient’s best allies, support groups can be a good resource for practical information, and a place to meet people in the same boat. Most importantly, contemporary Parkinson’s treatments allow for many years of relatively happy and healthy living. With the right medications, therapies, treatments, and support, Parkinson’s is manageable for a prolonged period.

Rena Milgraum, R.N. is Director of Patient Services at HamaspikCare, a home-care agency serving seniors and others across New York. She may be reached through the Wellspring.

Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspring 73

Age Well

Sage Advice By Aliza Simon

The Black and White on Gray Hair It’s all in the genes Graying hair is caused primarily by genetics; however, it’s only recently that scientists have pinpointed exactly which gene may be responsible for this color change. A study published in Nature Communications identifies the primary gene responsible for gray hair and argues that this finding could be useful in the field of forensic science. For the study, researchers analyzed the DNA of 6,000 people from Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, and Peru) to locate the genes that determine hair color, texture, density, and other attributes, such as whether a person’s hair is straight or curly. The study cohort included people of mixed European, Native American, and African origin, giving the researchers a diverse variation of gene pools. Kaustubh Adhikari, a professor of cell and developmental biology at University College London and lead author on the study, says it was already known that the newly identified gene (IRF4) is responsible for light hair color in people of European origin. But this is the first time researchers have shown that it’s also tied to gray hair color. The gene is tasked with regulating and producing melanin, the pigment that gives hair, as well as eyes and skin, its color. Gray hair occurs, in part, when the body starts producing less melanin. When and how much melanin the body produces is determined by genetics. “As hair grays, something happens that causes this gene to produce even lower levels of melanin,” says Adhikari. “Now we can ask more specific functional questions.” And asking the right questions will then put them one step closer to identifying therapies that delay hair graying, which may not be as serious as researchers make it out to be. Let’s just see it as a sign of wisdom!

Seeing Right Three ways to protect your vision While it’s easy to take healthy eyes for granted, it’s important to know that as people age, they become more susceptible to conditions that can impair their vision. The effects of vision loss can be devastating, decreasing one’s independence and quality of life. Fortunately, there are proactive steps you can take to see better and help keep your eyes healthy. 1. Schedule an annual ophthalmology appointment. Regular ophthalmological exams are critical, especially for seniors, and even if you think your vision has not changed in the last year. A thorough eye exam not only assesses prescription updates, it includes a range of tests that detect signs of cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Early detection means earlier intervention and a greater chance at preserving your vision. 2. Monitor and treat macular degeneration. Over 15 million Americans have age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive disease which can lead to severe central vision blind spots in both eyes. In the most advanced form, End-Stage AMD, it becomes difficult or impossible to recognize faces, read, or complete tasks requiring detailed vision. However, new advances are helping those living with this condition. 3. Eat right. Certain nutrients have been identified as good for eye-health. Be sure to get plenty of zinc, Vitamins E and C, lutein, and zeaxanthin in your diet. While supplements can help you meet your daily requirements, certain foods contain these nutrients. Sweet potatoes, flax seeds, leafy greens, eggs, citrus, and nuts are all good choices, and they are good for your overall health as well.

74 The Wellspring | July 2017

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Age Well

Serial Diary By Malka Aronson

Spreading Myself Thin Life in the Sandwich Generation

Entry #8: Desperate for Cover Under her bed? I kept wondering as I made my way home, relieved that my mother was finally found. What was Mommy doing there? How did she get there? The questions spun around in my mind, threatening to cause a really powerful migraine—one that I had no time or patience for. I knew, though, that I wouldn’t get my answers that quickly. Sadly, because my mother’s Alzheimer’s is still presenting itself in episodes and it’s not her chronic state at this point, when she emerges from that frightening shell, her embarrassment is profound. Not only won’t she talk about what had occurred, but she’ll do anything in her power to pretend as if nothing happened. Of course, we respect her

wishes and move on as well, but the moments of anxiety and tension linger on, hanging heavily over our heads. Alzheimer’s has become a monster in our home—one whose intrusions come at the most unexpected moments, and when it finally departs, we’re all left feeling drained and so, so sad. “The potatoes are delicious,” Mommy said to me, nonchalantly, when I finally walked through the door. She was seated at the table, flanked by my two daughters, enjoying the supper I’d lovingly prepared for her. “I’m so happy to hear,” I said as I dropped into the first chair I saw. What a relief! Here was my mother, strong and positive once again, complimenting me on the simple fare. If only the situation was as simple and beautiful as it looked at that very moment: my mother enjoying her golden years of life in my home, surrounded by the love that we’re glad to reciprocate after her many decades of constant giving. Oh, how I wish my daughters can enjoy her company like this every evening, to absorb her wisdom and strength. But with every passing day, she’s becoming more and more of a shadow of herself and the pain of watching it happen is searing. Is there any other illness that robs a child of her mother’s love in so painful a way? I can’t see beyond my own agony at this point. In the evening, once the girls were in their rooms (on the phone, of course!) and the remains of supper packed away, a flash of courage coursed through my being. I decided that it was time, once and for all, to have an open conversation with Mommy. The time had come, I felt, to discuss how she was feeling about her situation, and to open the lines of communication on a topic whose taboo state was threatening to suffocate us. After Mommy had taken her shower and had come back to the kitchen for her cup of tea, I pulled up a chair near her, cleared my throat, and asked Hashem to put the right words in my mouth. “How’s the tea?” I asked, as Mommy stirred her drink. “The best—I feel your heart in it,” she answered. As soon as said those words, I was overwhelmed with doubt about my plan to finally talk. Weren’t things just wonderful right now? If only we could continue pretending… To be continued…

Is there any other illness that robs a child of her mother’s love in so painful a way? I can’t see beyond my own agony at this point. 76 The Wellspring | July 2017

Diary By Rivky Simon

A Solution in Sight After I graduated high school last

year, job hunting began in earnest. The sage advice I got from my older and wiser siblings was: “It's not doing what you like; it's liking what you do.” Adamant to make it work, I read every ad, dutifully emailed my resume, and waited for responses. I was relieved and excited when one the preschools I applied to invited me for an interview and then asked me to deliver a model lesson. Thankfully, it all went well. The principal apparently went for my easy, friendly teaching style and hired me as a Pre-1-a teacher. As part of my job, in addition to teaching every day, I was expected to stay after classes to write up reports for the board of education on each child. I really liked what I was doing. I loved being in the classroom with the darling 5 year olds and connecting with them in a meaningful way. The after-school work was good exercise for my brain, as well After two months of "doing what I liked,” however, I began noticing that my eyesight was weakening. I would wake up without any symptoms whatsoever, but after 3 PM I’d start squinting and straining my eyes. I did my after-school work in a room full of computers and the lighting was adequate. Still, I couldn't make out all the words. At that point, I had been wearing contact lenses since I started high school and I’d never experienced any prob-

lems. I was told to switch to glasses and it eased the problem a bit but not for long. The next step, of course, was to schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist. However, he too could not get to the bottom of why my eyes were causing me so much discomfort. Eventually, I found myself fishing for excuses to leave school earlier every day simply so I could rest my eyes and ease the pain. When I met a nutritionist I was friendly with one day and told her of my predicament, she had a different view on this issue. She explained that sitting in the front of a computer for two hours after a day of work in a windowless room may very well be drying out the eyes of moisture and nutrients. Thus, she recommended that I start taking Maxi Omega 3 Eye Formula™, a nutritional supplement that contains Omega-3 fish oil as well as bilberry extract, the nutrient especially involved in supporting healthy vision, and other nutrients. She also recommended that drink lots of pure water and air out every 30 minutes in the fresh air. Incredibly, the supplement worked wonders. After only 1 week of following her instructions, I felt no eye strain whatsoever. And after three weeks I felt comfortable enough to return to my contact lenses. I’ve been wearing them since. Of course, I’m still diligently taking the nutritional supplement. Not only is it playing a role in keeping my eyes moist and healthy, but it also energizes my brain all day long. I can honestly say it’s helping me "like what I do.”

How has your health and wellbeing improved thanks to Maxi Health? To receive a free bottle of the supplement that changed your life, send a 50-100 word description of your story to info@wellspringmagazine.com. We reserve the right to end this promotion at any time, without notice.

The Wellspring | July 2017 78

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease.

Inkwell

Fare Well

Food for Thought

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway. Tamuz 5777 | The Wellspringâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; 79

T h e s e s t a t e m e n t s h a v e n o t b e e n e v a lu a t e d b y t h e F D A . T h e s e p r o d u c t s a r e n o t in t e n d e d t o d ia g n o s e , t r e a t , p r e v e n t o r c u r e a n y d is e a s e .

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