Coastal Health & Wellness Magazine 2025

COASTAL HEALTH

& WELLNESS

Raising RESILIENT

Kids

u

u 20% fewer

u Fewer calories and fat and more

u Humanely raised with

u Challenges

u

Exclusive

PUBLISHER

Patrice Edwards

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Camisa Composti-Talbott

OFFICE MANAGER

Cathe Race

EDITOR

Jondi Gumz

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Ward J. Austin

MEDIA CONSULTANTS

Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine

Coastal Health & Wellness ©2025 is a publication of the Times Publishing Group, Inc. located at 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003. Entire contents ©2025 by Patrice Edwards. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission.

TO ADVERTISE IN ANY OF OUR PUBLICATIONS

PLEASE CONTACT:

Times Publishing Group, Inc. Office: 831.688.7549 or Email: sales@cyber-times.com www.tpgonlinedaily.com­

KIDS

Santa Cruz is World Class When it Comes to Outdoor Activities

Raising Resilient Kids

Can What You Eat Help You Avoid Cavities? Yes!

Sleep: A Very Important Part of your Day

Friends in the Fight for Healthier Food

Tips to Eat Well

ADULTS

Dr. Ken Berry Keto 101

The Secret to Gut Health

Get Outside! Fresh Air & Sunshine Improve Your Health

Why Exercise is so Good for You!

Government Has Fattened Us: New Guidelines - An Opportunity to Get Healthy

My Life Changed in Six Weeks

Gratitude

SENIORS

Blood Tests Are One-Size-Fits-All Essential Senior Services

Cholesterol and Heart Disease

Dr. Mark Hyman: Best Supplements

Your Basic Emergency Supplies Kit 2025 Business Directory

Hard of Hearing Rx

Curves

Curves has introduced MyZone to the circuit, a game-changing system that tracks your workout effort and provides real-time feedback. You'll enjoy progress tracking, leaderboards, status rankings, and the added motivation of social support to help you crush your fitness goals!

Curves in Aptos is revolutionizing fitness with a focus on community, members, and coaches. Their 30-minute workout sessions, centered around High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), offer a unique and effective approach to fitness. What sets Curves apart is its commitment to a fun, fast, and safe workout using hydraulic resistance machines instead of traditional weights. This design ensures a lowimpact experience suitable for individuals of all ages, athletic abilities, and fitness levels.

In contrast to intimidating standard gyms, Curves provides a supportive environment where women can thrive. According to Curves, the key elements are motivation, accountability, and consistent training. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, members can enjoy a workout routine that fosters selfconfidence and a positive mindset.

The gym's owner, Annette Hunt, emphasizes the importance of helping individuals feel good about themselves, enabling them to live their best lives. To encourage everyone to experience the Curves difference, they invite you to try a FREE workout. Contact them at 831-688-2348 or visit 7000 Soquel Dr. STE 1, Aptos, or explore www.Curves.com/getstarted. Take the first step towards a healthier and happier you with Curves in Aptos – you won't regret it!

Coaches Eva, Annette, Charlotte, Camille, Rachael

Santa Cruz is World Class When it Comes to Outdoor Activities

It surely comes to no surprise to the citizens of Santa Cruz County that this area is home to some of the best outdoor activities the country has to offer. The mild Mediterranean climate makes life outdoors possible year round. From it's magnificent beaches to it's redwood forests, "this land was made for you and me!"

Surfing

Santa Cruz isn't called Surf City USA for nothing. From north of West Cliff to south of East Cliff there is some of the best surf in the country and is a huge surf destination like Hawaii. The surf along the central coast has everything from perfect point breaks (Steamer Lane) to groomed sandbars (Waddell Creek) and big wave surfing (Mavericks).

Skateboarding

Sidewalk surfing originated in California and has been a staple of youth for nearly 6 decades now. Skateboarding goes hand in hand with surfing and requires great skill to master. Santa Cruz is home to one of the most respected skate brands, Santa Cruz Skateboards (SCS).

Kayaking

From the tip of Steamer Lane to the beaches of Asilomar the Monterey Bay offers some of the most scenic coastline on the planet. It also houses the most diverse sea life anywhere in the world. One of the best ways to explore the bay is to rent a kayak and have the experience of a lifetime.

Bike Riding

Whether you are a road or mountain biker Santa Cruz county offers a wide range of terrain from redwood forests to barren sandstone hills. It is also a great way to get around downtown as you don't have to worry about traffic or parking.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP)

With the popularity of stand-up paddle boarding soaring, it is definitely a new way to be out on the ocean like kayaking. The best way to try it out is to do a day's rental and see if you not only like it but can grasp the balance and paddle act. This can be a great alternate summer activity when the surfing has waned.

Hiking

This activity is nothing new but is a great way to stay healthy and see the sights of the great outdoors. There are a multitude of trails in the Santa Cruz mountains as well as coastal trails and bluffs. I never was much into hiking but after I got a dog, I seek out new trails nearly every weekend and then return to my favorites all year.

Running

Jogging is one of the oldest activities but has aged well. The great thing about running is you can do it anywhere, anytime. All you need is an old pair of tennis shoes, shorts or sweats, and you are ready to roll.

A surfer hits the lip at Steamer Lane.

QuickSilver Santa Cruz

QuickSilver Santa Cruz is a nationally ranked Silver Medal USA Swimming team, with training groups ranging from 5-year-old swimmers to college athletes.

Our lesson program is the foundation of your child's swimming success. We simplify the teaching process and prepare your athlete for progress in their swimming journey.

This approach not only enhances their current abilities but also prepares young athletes to achieve their dreams and goals as they grow older. Our local club has produced two trialists for the 2021 U.S. Olympic team and regularly sees swimmers graduate to the collegiate level. The journey begins in their early years.

In Santa Cruz County we practice year-round at Simpkins Family Swim Center, Soquel High School, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville High School pools.

OFFERING:

SWIM LESSONS

Swim lessons as early as 9 months

Parent Aquatics

40 minute lessons

Progressive system to get to the team quickly

Instructors with competitive experience

Advancement to a Bronze Medal USA swimming team

85 degree water at Rise Collective

Reserve your time slot now at

www.QuickSilversantacruz.org

Raising Resilient Kids

By Dr. Lori Butterworth

My grandmother used to say that parenting is not for the faint of heart. She was right! But she had no idea back then what parenting would be like now.

For most of us, it's hard to imagine being a kid growing up in this complex world of social media, mental health challenges, and global uncertainty. So, how can today’s parents help kids build the inner strength, self-confidence and resilience they need when facing tough choices?

1 . Resist the Urge to Fix. Our parental instincts are to protect our kids and keep them from harm. But often trying to fix a child’s problems for them sends the message that they’re not capable of fixing things themselves. Instead, validate a child’s feelings but resist the urge to solve every problem for them. Try saying things like, “I can see you’re upset, and that’s okay,” to show you understand their distress. Then, express your confidence that they’re capable of handling things, “I’m here if you need help, but I know you can handle this on your own.”

2. Turn Challenges into Opportunities. When your child is facing a manageable challenge, welcome it. Without taking over, allow them to face age-appropriate

challenges that might involve failure. Gradual exposure to difficult situations and bouncing back from failures builds self-confidence and resilience. Share your own experiences with failure and how you overcame it. This helps kids see setbacks as temporary, part of life, and opportunities for growth.

3. Model Values-Driven Choices. In therapy, I use a fun game to help kids express what is important to them.Using the “Live Your Values” card deck, we sort cards with words like independence, honesty, self-respect, and loyalty into stacks of Most Important, Somewhat Important, and Not Important. This sparks conversations about how knowing what matters most helps us make good choices in tough situations. Try the values card game at home and make it a dinner-time tradition to talk about how you dealt with challenges that day. When kids see adults make values-driven choices, especially when it’s hard, it sends a strong message that doing what’s meaningful matters more than avoiding temporary discomfort.

4. Know When to be a Helicopter Parent. Back in the 1970s, I was a young kid running around the neighborhood with

Continued on page 10 ...

Second Harvest

Healthy Food Box’ Program Brings Nutrition and Wellness to Santa Cruz County

Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County has launched an exciting new initiative to improve health and nutrition for residents in need. The Healthy Food Box delivery program provides free, medically supportive groceries to help manage chronic health conditions and promote overall wellness.

Designed for Central Coast Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal) members in Santa Cruz County, the program focuses on individuals with diagnosed medical conditions who can benefit from improved nutrition. Eligible participants receive weekly deliveries of curated groceries packed with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and other wholesome items tailored to meet their specific dietary needs.

The Healthy Food Box program reflects Second Harvest’s commitment to addressing the critical link between access to healthy food and better health outcomes. By delivering nutritious food directly to those who need it most, the program aims to reduce barriers to wellness and empower participants to take control of their health.

Food is medicine!

Fuel your health with Second Harvest’s free Healthy Food Box — delivering nutritious groceries, tailored to your medical needs, every week. See if you qualify today!

Participants are already seeing positive results. Rafael, 56, who is managing Type 2 Diabetes, shared, “By eating more fiber-filled vegetables every day, I have noticed a stabilization in my glucose levels.” Similarly, Eric, 55, who has Parkinson’s Disease, expressed, “This program has made me feel like you guys actually care about me and my condition. I can tell by the quality of products in the box.”

Applying for the program is a straightforward process. Residents who meet the eligibility criteria can fill out a form online or contact Second Harvest directly for support. Once enrolled, participants can rely on consistent, high-quality food deliveries that make eating healthier, more accessible and sustainable.

Second Harvest Food Bank CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “Nutrition plays a vital role in managing health conditions and improving quality of life. The Healthy Food Box program is another way we are working to ensure that every member of our community has the resources they need to thrive.”

For more information about the Healthy Food Box program, Santa Cruz County residents can call (831) 256-7204 or email schealthybox@thefoodbank.org. This new program underscores Second Harvest Food Bank’s dedication to creating a healthier Santa Cruz County, one delivery at a time.

For more information: 831-256-7204

schealthybox@thefoodbank.org thefoodbank.org We are the Food Bank

my friends until dark without a parent or phone in sight. The crime rate was higher than it is today, but parents let their kids play freely. So why are parents anxiously hovering over their kids in the real world and throwing up their hands when it comes to the digital world? It’s complicated, but the bottom line is, we need to switch on the parental hover button when it comes to social media and switch it off in the real world.

Recently, I asked a mother why she wouldn’t let her 11-year-old daughter walk two blocks from her school to my office for therapy. Like so many other parents, this mom shared her fear of a stranger taking her daughter. I asked the mom if she knew how long her daughter would have to stand alone on a street corner before, statistically speaking, she’d be kidnapped by a stranger. You could almost hear her jaw drop when I told her it was 750,000. Here’s the irony: her daughter has a smartphone.

It’s not only our responsibility, but it is also in our collective best interests to help kids build the resilience they need to grow into emotionally strong, healthy adults. Lori Butterworth, PsyD, MEd, is a psychologist and founder of the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services. She can be reached at lori@ccamh.org or 831-222-0052.

Resources

Here are some reference and resources that can help: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haight

Breaking Free of Childhood Anxiety and OCD by Eli Leibowitz

LetGrow.org provides free resources for parents and educators. Be sure to download the Let Grow Project and Independence Kit.

Angela Duckworth’s Grit (both book and TED ED talk) is a great resource for parents who want to help their children build resilience. Duckworth shows that success isn’t about talent but about passion and persistence, aka "grit."

Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) is an evidencebased parenting program offered at no charge by First-5 Santa Cruz.

The Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health hosts free Parent Drop-In sessions on the last Wednesday of every month on Zoom and in-person parent discussion sessions about how parents can work together to improve youth mental health. Learn more and register at www.ccamh.org

Sandcastle Toys

Sandcastle Toys was started in 2024 in Capitola, CA in a small pop up space next to Grady's Market-across from the famous Gayle's Bakery. We wanted to bring our love for Waldorf and Montessori inspired wood and natural toys and gifts to the Santa Cruz Area. After a few successful months in the Capitola shop we had the opportunity to also open a bigger beautiful shop in the Gorgeous Redwood Village in Aptos.

At the end of a wooden covered bridge you will find a charming Castle cottage where gnomes and fairies abound and beautiful toys and treasures are plentiful. Some of our well known and trusted brands include Stockmar Art Supplies based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's color wheel-especially the best selling intensely vibrant block/stick crayons and watercolors used in many worldwide Waldorf schools, Sarah's Silks another Waldorf based staple for colorful, rainbow play silks and wood toys, Netherlands based magical and ethereal Toverlux lamps and Waldorf based transparencies, unique and open ended collectible Grapaat wooden toys from Spain are a shop favorite ... other stocked brands include Camden/Palumba, Tenderleaf, Eeboo, Moulin Roty, Plan Toys, Olli Ella, Speedy Monkey,

In addition to the thoughtful, well curated inventory we excel in customer service with custom order service, complimentary gift wrapping services, soon to be online ordering, Waldorf seminars, handiwork classes, seasonal festivals and celebrations. Come visit us in the beautiful redwoods on Monterey Bay. You'll see why so many make us their destination toy store when enjoying the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay Area.

Can What You Eat Help You Avoid Cavities? Yes!

Will and Susan Revak reversed her gum disease without any dental intervention. That’s what inspired them in 2010 to start their own business, OraWellness, which makes holistic products to stop bleeding gums, strengthen teeth from the inside out and restore balance to the oral microbiome.

The products include: Shine, a tooth powder (made of hydroxyapatite powdered bone from New Zealand grassfed cattle, sodium bicarbonate, xylitol from birch wood, white kaolin clay, magnesium carbonate) to re-mineralize and whiten teeth, Healthy Mouth Blend, an organic blend of sweet almond oil and six essential oils, cinnamon leaf, peppermint, spearmint, clove and manuka, and toothbrushes made of bamboo (not plastic).

In 2024, the Revaks shared on their blog their No. 1 diet fix to prevent and, in some cases, even reverse cavities – drastically increasing the amount of healthy fats eaten daily. Now you may think “Oh, fat is bad.” New research shows some fats are unhealthy, and some fats are healthy and needed by your teeth.

The Revaks’ research started with the work of Dr. Weston A Price, DDS, 1870-1948, who founded and chaired the National Dental Association, a research institute. In the 1930s, he traveled the world studying indigenous cultures, Polynesians, Pygmies, Aborigines, curious as to why these

peoples eating “traditional” foods had very healthy teeth –little to no tooth decay – without flossing or seeing a dentist.

Now there are more packaged foods, and the focus is on fiber, not healthy fats. In fact, labels do not even list “healthy fat,” just total fat, saturated fat (which is what your body needs) and the definitely unhealthy trans fat. Saturated fat comes from grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, whole-milk butter, cream, cheese, yogurt, and coconut oil.

These food sources were demonized because researcher Ancel Keys in the 1950s claimed saturated fats caused heart disease. His study focused on data from six countries while ignoring contradictory data from 16 other countries, and today is debunked.

However, in the 1980s, the low-fat craze swept America, with food companies producing “low-fat” Oreos, Nilla Wafers and Yoplait yogurt. To improve the taste, food scientists added sugar.

For example, Yoplait Lowfat Smooth Vanilla Yogurt contain .5 grams of saturated fat, and 22 grams of sugar –that’s 4 and one-half teaspoons of sugar. Would you serve that many spoonfuls of sugar to your children?

Continued on page 14 ...

Dr. Catherine Shanahan, M.D., the author of “Deep Nutrition,” and nutritional consultant to the Los Angeles Lakers, explains traditional foods are fresh fruits and vegetables, fermented and sprouted foods (such as sauerkraut and broccoli sprouts), meat cooked on the bone, and organ meats such as liver and heart.

New research has found that, eating a lot of healthy fat does not make you fat. In fact, judging from the 350 people attending the 2024 Ketopalouza conference in Louisville, Ky., many shared stories of losing 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 pounds, saying good-bye to obesity with Ozempic, reversing Type 2 diabetes, halting prescription medications, and gaining new energy they didn’t know they had.

Minerals are essential to build bone and teeth and –surprisingly, eating healthy saturated fats (from sources listed above) help us get the minerals that our teeth need to repair decay. The explanation is pure chemistry.

Vitamins A, D, E, and K2 are “fat-soluble” vitamins. Vitamin D stimulates cells to create a protein to build bone – and teeth – Vitamin K2 activates that protein and shuttles calcium, a mineral, to the bone and teeth. Deficiency can lead to calcification of arteries, tooth decay, braces for children, hip fracture, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease deaths, Type 2 diabetes and prostate cancer.

The Japanese food favorite, natto, is very high in Vitamin K2 but sadly, the American diet has almost none (some in Gouda cheese fermented 13 weeks) so it’s important to supplement.

Vitamin A is essential for vision and for the immune system, which protects you from getting sick. Vitamin E deficiency can cause nerve damage, muscle weakness, and vision problems and weaken the immune system.

If your body is not absorbing these vitamins, it could be that you need to eat more healthy saturated fat when you take them.

Learn more: www.WestonAPrice.org local chapters in 49 states, including Santa Cruz County. Dr. Kate RheaumeBleue, author of “Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox” Interview with researcher Kiran Krishnan, “An easy step toward stopping tooth decay” at https://orawellness.com/ reverse-cavities-restore-brain-heart-health-vitamin-k2/

Fluoride Reconsidered

In September, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen, after weighing scientific evidence at trial in San Francisco, ruled that water fluoridation at current U.S. levels poses an “unreasonable risk” of reduced IQ in children.

“Simply put, the risk to health at exposure levels in United States drinking water is sufficiently high to trigger regulatory response by the EPA” under federal law, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen wrote.

He cited a 1,573-page review issued in 2022 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program, which did a systematic review of all available scientific research.

The report “concluded that fluoride is indeed associated with reduced IQ in children, at least at exposure levels at or above 1.5 mg/L,” Chen wrote.

The EPA in 1975 recommended adding fluoride to water at 1.2 mg/L for dental benefits, with a maximum level of 4 mg/L.

Citizens petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act to evaluate whether fluoride presents an unreasonable risk to public health.

The EPA rejected that petition in 2017 and the case went to trial in two phases, 2020 and 2023. The EPA could appeal.

Sleep: A Very Important Part of Your Day

By Jondi Gumz

What’s the one thing you can do to improve your health that doesn’t cost you money?

Sleep.

You sleep every night, but do you sleep in a way to improve your health?

Do you drink coffee in the afternoon for an energy pickup? How late do you eat at night?

Do you have a nightcap such as wine in hopes this will help you sleep?

Do you spend time scrolling before you turn out the light?

Do you sleep with a cell phone next to your bed? Is your bedroom warm?

Sleep is essential for the body, with cycles that heal the brain, drain toxins, eliminate unnecessary memories and process emotional trauma.

What can do you to get deep restful sleep?

1. Your body has a natural 24-hour cycle, with darkness signaling when to sleep and the sun signaling when to wake. The fix: Go to bed at the same time, and wake at the same time whenever possible.

2. Electromagnetic field exposure affects three systems of the body – nervous, endocrine and immune –negatively, according to researchers in Spain. The easy fix is to turn off your WiFi to stop the exposure. PG&E SmartMeters also pulse out EMFs; the utility offers an opt-out for $10 a month.

3. Caffeine in coffee or tea can disrupt sleep. Interestingly, a 1995 study by NASA scientists found the pattern of a spider web is distorted by caffeine. The fix: Drink your coffee or tea in the morning, not after 3 p.m.

4. Temperature was the focus of a 2012 study by Japanese scientists. They found heat exposure increases wakefulness and decreases slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep while cold exposure does not affect sleep stages. The easy fix is turn down your heating system at night before you go to bed.

5. If you are hooked on scrolling or playing electronic games before bed, minimizing screen time before bed, the so-called “blue light” from the screen disrupts the

pineal gland’s secretion of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Babies have low levels of melatonin, which increases at 3 to 6 months of age, which explains why newborns keep waking their parents at night. Melatonin secretion is enhanced by darkness and inhibited by light. The fix: Close the screens two to three hours before bedtime and keep your bedroom dark.

6. If you are tense at bedtime from the stress of the day, try deep breathing, which moves your belly, or “box breathing.” Here’s how to do it: Inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, and repeat. Or make time to meditate for 15 minutes.

7. Late-night snacks mean your body will prioritize digesting that food instead of your sleep. The fix: Enjoy protein at dinner time that will fill you up, and cut back on the carbs, which are less satisfying to your body.

And no cell phones in the bedroom!

4 BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

1.Improves cardiovascular health: Strengthens the heart and improves blood circulation.

2.Increases strength and endurance:

Develop stronger muscles and improve physical endurance.

3.Promotes mental health: Reduces stress, anxiety and improves mood.

4.Control weight: Helps burn calories and maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise Could be the Answer

By Jondi Gumz

Depression and anxiety are soaring, and one overlooked strategy could make a difference, according to a 2023 review by researchers at the University of South Australia. It’s exercise.

“Exercise isn’t part of the standard of care,” said Ben Singh, PhD, who led the research team. “We wanted to compile all the evidence.”

The review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine looked at 97 reviews encompassing 1,039 randomized clinical trials with 128,119 participants.

Their conclusion: Physical activity is extremely beneficial for improving symptoms of mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and distress for the general population, people with diagnosed mental health disorders and people with chronic disease.

Putting it into numbers, they say physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counseling or medications.

They recommend physical activity be a mainstay approach in managing mild to moderate depression, anxiety and psychological distress.

Singh says researchers are not recommending exercise replace medication or counseling but be offered in addition.

Interestingly, the review found exercise interventions of 12 weeks or less were the most effective at reducing symptoms.

The review included all sorts of physical activity – walking, cycling, aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, yoga, Pilates, tai chi and even dancing.

Speaking on the UltraGrowth podcast, Singh says doctors are biased toward pharmaceutical approaches to depression and anxiety, so they prescribe medication and may add “Be more physically active.”

That general advice is not enough, Singh says, especially when the patient doesn’t have a history of exercising. The question to be answered is: What’s stopping them from being active?

Ideas To Get Motivated

1. First, ask yourself why do you want to exercise? To make you feel better? To set an example for your children?

2. Find a friend to join in your workout. Whether it’s walking, running or going to the gym, you’re more likely to show up for your friend.

3. Promise yourself a reward (new workout clothing?) for doing the exercise you put in your calendar.

4. Exercise in the morning. You’re more likely to stick with this new habit.

5. Challenge yourself to do a little more and a little more.

6. Listen to upbeat music while you work out.

7. Walk your dog – yes that counts!

8. A financial incentive or reaching your physical activity goals may help you stick with your new exercise habit.

Singh recommends doctors prescribe one-on-one support from an exercise professional, which is at minimum someone with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science.

As to which exercise is most effective, Singh says that depends on what activity is preferable or enjoyable for each individual.

The review did find that a structured program, for example working out for 60 minutes three times a week, is more effective than a program without structure. For some, guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advising 150 minutes of exercise a week – 21 minutes daily or 30 minutes 5 days a week – can be daunting but Singh has a solution.

“Starting off with a small amount is the best way to begin,” he says.

“Getting in 10 minutes or 15 minutes to get out for a run or go out for a walk is extremely beneficial to mental health.” Walk to your mailbox, then walk 10 minutes a day. Then aim for 30 minutes a day.

Singh says, “We’re confident that if physical activity interventions were adopted, we would see a definite positive impact on symptoms of depression, anxiety and distress.”

Now Offering Low Cost Weight Loss Medication

Transform your health condition

Support and accountability

Friends in the Fight for Healthier Food

By Jondi Gumz

Many people think the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are testing food to make sure it’s free of toxic chemicals. Sorry, that’s not how the system works.

Instead, we have a system where hundreds of food chemicals are “generally regarded as safe” and can be added to food. This was established on Sept. 6, 1958, when the Food Additives Amendment of 1958 was signed into law.

It created a list of 700 food substances exempt from the new requirement for manufacturers to test food additives before putting them on the market.

So, no testing to prove there were no harmful effects. Even today, more than 60 years later, even though U.S. life expectancy declined from age 78 to age 76, there has been no re-evaluation of whether this system is having positive or negative effects on our health.

Recent efforts by a few knowledgeable Congressional representatives have fallen flat.

In 2022, Senator Edward J. Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, introduced the Ensuring Safe and Toxic-Free Foods Act ,S4316, to require the FDA to strengthen the Substances Generally Recognized as Safe Rule, which exempts companies from seeking pre-market approval for food chemicals.

This legislation also directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create an Office of Food Chemical Safety Reassessment within FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, to reassess whether substances such as bisphenols and PFAS are safe for American families to consume.

The bill had three legislative co-sponsors, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, all

Continued on page 22 ...

Moms Across America March

Tiffany Harmon Seahorse Swim School

With 4 decades of experience, Tiffany has taught thousands of students of all ages, levels, and abilities to swim. Renowned for creating a positive and supportive learning environment, Tiffany specializes in helping students conquer their fears of the water to rapidly improve swimming skills and helps all swimmers increase their effectiveness in the water. Tiffany holds a California State Teaching Credential in Health and Safety and is an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Trainer. She trains, certifies, and mentors future lifeguards and water safety instructors while sharing her lifelong passion for swimming and water safety. Her team of instructors teach group lessons, parent-tot classes, and private lessons for swimmers of all levels. Enroll with Seahorse Swim School today and experience the transformative joy of swimming.

Introducing Tiffany's Seahorse Swim Academy

Tiffany proudly adds the Seahorse Swim Academy in 2025 – a private pool located near Cabrillo College in Aptos, Ca. This serene, dreamy and warm water pool is ideal for focused and tailored private and semi-private swim lessons. All lessons at the

Seahorse Swim Academy are taught by Tiffany Harmon. Here, the focus is on personalized and individualized instruction for children (age 3 and up), teens and adults. “The joy I see in my students’ eyes when they begin to swim and grasp new skills keeps me continually showing up decade after decade.”

HEALTH

Democrats, and got stuck in committee in the Democratcontrolled Senate. In 2023, Markey re-introduced the bill as S3387. Once again, it was stuck in committee in the Democratcontrolled Senate.

In 2021, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Illinois Democrat, introduced HR 4694 to establish the Office of Food Safety Reassessment within the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to reassess food additives, – at least 10 every three years, including are generally recognized as safe for use in food – to ensure they are safe.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro supported it but the bill went nowhere. In 2023, Schakowsky reintroduced the bill as HR 3927, starting with: Titanium dioxide, Potassium bromate, Perchlorate, Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), Brominated vegetable oil (BVO). Again, no progress.

In the meantime, who can you turn to for independent unbiased research on food safety?

Environmental Working Group

Environmental Working Group has been researching chemicals in food for more than two decades. Maryland cancer survivor and cancer coach Glenn Sabin calls EWG the best resource to inform us about harmful chemicals.

Annually EWG produces a list of the “Dirty Dozen” conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with the most chemical residue and the “Clean 15,” with the least chemical residue. In 2020, EWG tests have found shockingly high levels of cancer-linked glyphosate in popular PepsiCo products like Quaker Oats and Sabra Hummus.

A total of 37 conventional chickpeas and 18 organic chickpea products were tested.

Lab tests found glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup weedkiller) in more than 80% of hummus and chickpea samples.

Organic products tended to contain a fraction of glyphosate found in conventional.

EWG has posted:

• Tap Water Database, pollutants in your drinking water.

• SkinDeep, the database on personal care (shampoo, soap) and beauty products.

• Top 12 Chemicals to Avoid in Food. Includes Aspartame, BHT, BHA, potassium bromate, and artificial dyes Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3.

Consumer Reports

You might think of Consumer Reports when buying a new car, but this nonprofit recently began testing food. Its tests found heavy metals in protein powders and in 2023, cadmium and arsenic in dark chocolate bars.

Mamavation

Mamavation was founded in 2009 by Leah Segedie, who has two sons who are autistic and one son with food allergies.

“I understand many of the issues plaguing mothers today and have a unique perspective to help support,” she says. She investigated olive oil for phthalates, cinnamon for heavy metals and glyphosate and salt for heavy metals and microplastics.

And she’s gone beyond food to investigate water filtration systems for PFAS forever chemicals, diapers, and laundry detergents. She ranks products by not our favorites (the most contamination), better, and best.

Moms Across America

Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America, has been testing food for 12 years. The motto is "Empowered Moms, Healthy Kids."

In 2024, she reported on toxic metals aluminum and lead in baby formula. Of the 40 samples tested, 100% contained aluminum and lead. She also reported on arsenic and cadmium in “Loaded” Trix, gluten in crackers and snacks labeled gluten-free, 100% of fast food samples containing lead and cadmium, and pesticides in school lunches.

“We buy 85% of the food! It's up to us!” She explains. “ If we don't buy it, they can't sell it! Plus, Moms are unstoppable and our only special interest is our family. Moms across America have seen rising health risks associated with toxins in our environment, especially in the food we feed our children. We want the ability to know what is in our food to care best for our families. We also invite everyone to join us! This movement is not just for Moms, we need everyone!”

Health Projects Center

At the Health Projects Center (HPC), we are a nonprofit committed to ensuring that individuals can age safely and with dignity in the comfort of their homes. HPC delivers exceptional services and programs designed to meet the unique needs of low-income individuals at risk of placement in a nursing facility, family caregivers caring for a loved one with a memory disorder, and healthcare professionals and students to more effectively address geriatrics and chronic care management in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.

To achieve this mission, we focus on three key areas: Managing Care for Low-Income Individuals: We coordinate healthcare and supportive services for medically frail, lowincome adults, ensuring they receive the comprehensive care they need to thrive.

Supporting Family Caregivers: We equip family caregivers with tools and resources to provide quality care for their loved ones while prioritizing their mental and physical well-being. Through training, respite programs, and peer support, we help ease the challenges of caregiving.

Strengthening the Healthcare Workforce: HPC develops and enhances the skills of healthcare professionals, with a particular focus on geriatrics and in-home care management, to meet the growing demand for aging services.

Join us in making a difference! Whether you’re looking for support or are inspired to donate, there’s a place for you in our mission. Visit our website at www.hpcn.org or contact us at (800) 624-8304 to learn how our services help people receive supportive health and social services in the least restrictive environment possible.

to eat well?

SEE TIPS ON HOW TO COMBINE HEALTH AND WELLNESS

@COASTALHEALTHANDWELLNESS

Dr. Ken Berry: Keto 101

By Jondi Gumz

Dr. Ken Berry is a family physician in Tennessee. When he realized his way of eating had gotten him up to 297 pounds, he decided something was wrong. He did his research and chose to go keto.

He lost 60 pounds and is much happier, enjoying life with his wife Neisha Salas-Berry, a nurse, lifestyle blogger and cookbook author, and their two young children, Beckett and Bonnie. Dr. Berry advocates the Proper Human Diet, PhD, which ranges from low-carb to keto to keto-vore to carnivore (no carbs at all).

He’s the author of a 2019 book that dispel medical myths and he’s produced a series of video on YouTube to explain keto, the benefits, how to do it on a budget and which vegetables to include.

Here is his advice on how to get started.

Low Carb

The ketogenic way of eating is low-carb.

Dr. Berry says, “It’s the most anti-inflammatory diet I’ve seen.” You have to have certain fats and proteins to survive, there is no such thing as essential carbohydrates or essential staches, essential sugars.

High Fat

The ketogenic way of eating is high fat. Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, safflower oil are bad fats. So are margarine, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, and Crisco.

Dr. Ken Berry, M.D.

Replace them with butter, avocado oil, lard and bacon grease. Enjoy them as much as you want.

Whole Foods

The ketogenic way of eating is about whole foods. Not packaged products, bars, powders, shakes. If you can afford organic, great.

If not, that’s OK, you can do keto on a budget. Buy the best quality you can afford.

Keto is the most ancestrally appropriate diet. At the beginning of time, you would eat meat and veg, occasionally fruit.

Metabolic Power

The ketogenic way of eating is metabolically very powerful, controlling your blood sugar and insulin, putting them back where they’re supposed to be. It optimizes leptin and ghrelin, hormones that keep you from being hungry.

It gives you ketones for your brain – and burns fat as fuel, fat your body stored because you ate too many carbs. So many people with chronic inflammation, chronic immune diseases, when they eat keto, their GERD, heartburn, migraines, Crohn’s go away.

Once you get that inflammatory diet out of your mouth and replace it with ancestrally appropriate diet like keto, your conditions just calm down. It’s completely natural and it’s delicious!

Continued on page 28

Pacific Coast Aesthetics Medical Spa

Welcome to Pacific Coast Aesthetics Medical Spa. With decades of combined clinical experience, our dedicated team specializes in Sciton Laser treatments, (Halo, Moxi, BBL HEROic and more,) Body Contouring, Injectables, Medical Grade Skin Care and patient wellness.

The team at Pacific Coast Aesthetics provides safe, friendly, natural and informative services using the latest advances in cosmetic dermatology.

Pacific Coast Aesthetics is your destination for cutting-edge treatments. From wrinkle reducing and prejuvenating Botox and Daxxify and BBL HEROic, Halo and Moxi, we offer a comprehensive approach to treating your skin.

Experience the difference a Pacific Coast Aesthetics transformation can make. For more information, contact us today to book an appointment for your complimentary consultation. We serve patients from Los Angeles to San Francisco and beyond, and we are conveniently located in Aptos, CA.

Keto in 3 Steps

Step 1. Stop eating everything with sugar (including dessert, candy, cake, cookies, pudding, pie, juice, soda, honey, agave)

Step 2. Get rid of all the grains, wheat, corn, rice, oats.

(Check your blood sugar with glucometer an hour after eating oatmeal to see if it’s a problem.)

Staff of Life Natural Foods: Your Local Source for Healthy, Organic Living

For over 50 years, Staff of Life has been committed to providing highest-quality products. Their shelves are stocked with a huge selection of organic and all natural products offering you everything you need for a healthy lifestyle.

Fresh, Local, and Organic Produce

Enjoy a wide selection of organic fruits and vegetables sourced from local farms, ensuring peak freshness while supporting sustainable agriculture. Many items picked in the morning are available for purchase by afternoon.

Full-Service Butcher Counter

Find humanley raised hormone and antibiotic-free meats, including Certified Piedmontese Beef, prized for its tenderness and lower fat content. They also offer premium seafood and Smart Chicken, raised on a non-GMO diet and air-chilled for freshness.

In-House Bakery: Freshly Baked Daily

Enjoy a variety of scratch-made breads and treats with options for every diet, including gluten-free and vegan. The gluten-free sandwich bread is a customer favorite!

Full-Service Deli: Fresh & Ready-to-Go

From grab-and-go meals to hot and salad bars, the deli offers the freshest scratch-made foods. Try their made to order handcrafted

Step 3. Get rid of all vegetable oils, canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil.

Veggies to Eat

Yes, you can eat beef, bacon, butter, eggs, but you also can eat these vegetables:

Asparagus, tons of vitamins and minerals, prebiotic fiber.

Cabbage, you can’t eat too much, has good sulfur, prebiotic fiber.

Broccoli, omega3s, vitamins & minerals, phytonutrients

Kale, omega3s, chop it up, put sea salt on it and bacon grease, curry powder and pepper, stir fry, fast and good.

Celery, super low-carb

Cucumber, easy to grow on a balcony

Brussels sprouts, omega3s, vitamins & minerals, tasty browned with bacon grease.

Olives, enjoy all the varieties, vitamins, minerals & olive oil.

5 Cheap Keto-friendly Foods:

Make 2,000 different recipes.

Chicken legs (save the bones to make bone broth)

Ground beef, higher fat is better.

Eggs, excellent protein and fat, make them 50 different ways. Avocados, enjoy with eggs, versatile.

Greens, collards, kale, spinach, turnip greens, saute in bacon grease.

sandwiches and don’t miss the café for made to order organic juices, smoothies and coffee.

Bulk Options: Save Money & Reduce Waste

With the largest bulk bin selection in the tri-county area, customers can choose from over 1,000 items—including grains, nuts, spices, and coffee—saving money while cutting down on packaging waste.

Largest Vitamin & Wellness Department

The wellness section features top supplements, vitamins, and natural cosmetics like Jane Iredale, with expert staff ready to assist.

A Commitment to Community & Sustainability

Since 1969, Staff of Life has been a pioneer in the natural foods movement, supporting local farmers, eco-conscious initiatives, and fair pricing.

Visit Us: 1266 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz • 906 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville Where health meets happiness!

The Secret to Gut Health

By Jondi Gumz

Sina McCullough, PhD, and regenerative farmer

Joel Salatin, authors of “Beyond Labels: A Doctor and a Farmer Conquer Food Confusion One Bite at a Time,” recommend eating a daily helping of microbes from ferments.

Fermented foods include yogurt, kimchi and sauerkraut.

Here’s the why: They can improve digestion, help mitigate infections and help manage inflammatory disease such as arthritis, diabetes and cancer.

How? Fermented food have beneficial bacteria, which can balance out bad bacteria in your gut. When your digestive tract has an unhealthy mix of microbes, it can lead to the wall of the intestines weakening and leak the contents into the bloodstream – leaky gut, which triggers inflammation and a host of health issues.

McCullough, who fought off the MRSA infection with good microbes, says fermented foods contain a diversity of good microbes, plus B vitamins helpful enzymes and organic acids. She used to think microbes were bad. She used antimicrobial soaps, hand sanitizers and household cleaners. Now she knows better. It’s not about elimination – it’s about balance. Microbes are essential for your life.

Salatin, who owns the environmentally-friendly Polyface Farm in the Shenandoah Valley, Swoope, Virginia, featured in Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” recalls the days before refrigeration.

How did people preserve their food back then? Fermenting. Back in those days, fewer people were diagnosed with cancer. In 2015, in her 30s, McCullough was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She had leaky gut and arsenic poisoning. She was deficient in 15 nutrients and too weak to walk up stairs. She spent years investigating what was in the food she ate.

Joel Salatin, farmer and author, draws a crowd.

The result, in 2017, was her book “Hands Off My Food.” She found new practitioners to address her nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, toxicities, infections, microbiome imbalance and stress. Within a year, her condition had disappeared. And she discovered the root case was unforgiveness.

So she began forgiving everyone, including herself, which was the hardest. She met Salatin through her book, and the two then wrote “Beyond Labels” in 2020 and collaborate via podcasts to share what they know with the rest of the world. Here’s a recipe to make your own sauerkraut at home.

Home-Made Sauerkraut

Ingredients:

• 1 head of shredded cabbage (I love red)

• 2 tablespoon Redmond’s Real Salt or Himalayan salt

Instructions:

• Shred cabbage following directions on YouTube

• In a large bowl, mix cabbage with salt. Let sit for 10 minutes

• Massage the cabbage with your hands for 10 minutes to release the juices.

• Pack this mixture into a wide-mouth Mason jar. Add filtered water to cover the cabbage. Make sure all the cabbage is submerged at least one inch below the liquid to prevent spoilage.

• Put the lid on.

• Please in a cool location on a plate for 3 days. Make sure the cabbage is submerged.

• After 3 days, store in refrigerator. Can store in fridge for up to 6 months.

• Recipe can be cut in half depending on the size of your jar.

Nourish Your Body, Nurture Your Bonds, Enjoy Every Second of It

At La Vie, our mission is rooted in the profound understanding that the key to vitality lies in the balance of mind, body, and spirit. Through the power of probiotics and hand crafted tonics, we offer a symphony of flavors that dance on the palate and awaken the senses. Our elixirs are more than just delightful beverages; they are conduits of healing, growth, and transformation. With every sip, we infuse your being with the bounties of nature, guiding you on a journey to optimal health.

The heart of La Vie beats with the rhythm of tradition and purity. We harness the magic of nature’s bounty, combining freshly infused juices with the essence of superfood ingredients. From almond milks that delight the soul to our revolutionary multiday Probiotic Cleanses, each offering is a testament to our commitment to holistic well-being.

Drawing from the wisdom of ancient practices, we embrace sustainability by sourcing ingredients from local farmers,

nourishing not just the body but also the community. Our path is one of harmony, where we tread lightly on the Earth, encouraging our patrons to join us in a recycling and re-use program to reduce waste and honor the interconnectedness of all life.

Scan the QR code to explore the depth of our offerings and discover how we can support your path to holistic health. With La Vie, you’re not just embracing a lifestyle; you’re joining a community dedicated to uplifting and healing, guided by the spirit of adventure, the importance of gut health, and the joy of living well. Welcome to La Vie Wellness.

Get Outside! Fresh Air and Sunshine Improve Your Health

There’s no excuse for Santa Cruz County residents not to get outside and enjoy the many state parks, nature preserves, and miles of coastline – all of which offer exceptional terrain for hiking.

Getting outside in nature can significantly reduce stress, improve mood, boost vitamin D levels, enhance focus, lower blood pressure, and even improve sleep quality by exposing your body to sunlight and fresh air.

We have variety: Trails span 2,000-foot elevations in the Santa Cruz Mountains down to the ocean shore, leading to plunging waterfalls and stunning ocean vistas.

This year, watch for the federal Bureau of Land Management opening the 5,843-acre Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument north of Davenport in the summer of 2025.

For three years, volunteers with the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship have been constructing beginner, intermediate, and advanced loops on the property for hikers and cyclists to enjoy. The federal agency is building a parking lot and trailhead for the first 9 miles of trails.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a beautiful redwood forest near Santa Cruz that spans across 4,650 acres of protected wilderness lands. This park is home to some of the oldest and tallest redwoods in the area. There are about 20 miles of trails, ranging from 0.4 miles long to 3.3 miles long. Walk the self-guided Redwood Grove Loop to view the tree named for “Pathfinder” Lt. John C. Frémont. Ridge Fire Road near Pine Trail hosts the observation deck at one of the park’s highest points and offers vistas of the Monterey Bay.

Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos is a refreshing retreat from the busy towns and beaches along Highway 1. Most visitors come to hike, jog, or bike on the 30 miles of trails in rugged semi-wilderness, rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more than 2,600 feet. Explore one of eleven easy hiking trails that are great for the whole family or if you’re looking for a more strenuous there are trails range from 16 to 3,523 feet in elevation. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. www.parks.ca.gov.

Seacliff State Beach in Aptos is a great way to get in your walk

Continued on page 34

Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument to open summer 2025

and enjoy the beautiful views of the ocean. You can start in Rio Del Mar Flats, walk the bridge over the creek and stroll all the way down to the private residence gate. If you get lucky you might see a pod of dolphins, or even a whale or two! An epic rainstorm combined with ocean swell sank the USS Palo Alto, a cement ship built during World War I and moored here in 1929 and the connecting pier. State Parks staff is studying how to move forward. But the 2-mile walk is still available and appropriate for all age groups.

The Watsonville Wetlands and its 800-acre fresh-water wetlands is one of the best kept secrets on the central coast. More than seven miles of trails and 29 trail entrances in Watsonville neighborhoods offer many opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of our special wetlands for recreation and relaxation. Trails are for everyone, free, open every day, and most are wheelchair accessible. www.cityofwatsonville.org

The Pogonip Trail System totals about 11.5 miles. In the northernmost portion of Pogonip, a multi-use trail (one mile in length) is open to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. This multi-use trail provides a connection between Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Pogonip, and the upper UC Santa Cruz campus. Along the eastern boundary of Pogonip is the Emma McCrary Trail open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs on leash and equestrians. This trail can be accessed from Golf Club Drive or at the southern terminus of the UCon Trail. Bicycles and horses are prohibited on all other trails. Please obey all trail signs. www.cityofsantacruz.com

Construction of trails in the Glenwood Open Space Preserve was completed in 2020. Did you know that you can access six miles of trails full of lush meadows, wildflower blooms, and breathtaking views right from the heart of Scotts Valley? The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, responsible for stewarding the property, hired Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship to design the trails and build them. There are 3 miles three miles of multi-use trails (dogs and bikes OK) on the west side, and 3 miles for hiking and running on the east side where many

unique grassland plants and animals live and you will see cattle grazing to maintain the habitat.

Soquel Demonstration Forest at 29400 Highway Way is the only state forest near Monterey Bay. This 2,700-acre forest adjacent to Nisene Marks State Park is open to hiking and mountain biking, thanks to a partnership with Santa Cruz Mountains Trails Stewardship. Caution: The terrain is rugged, cell phone reception is inconsistent, watch for ticks and poison oak, and you must bring your own water source.

Byrne-Milliron Forest comprises 402 acres in the Corralitos area. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County owns and manages this property as a working forest and takes pride in making it available to its members and the public. The forest is a lovely place to hike and explore, with panoramic views of the Pajaro Valley and Monterey Bay, and a 1,000-year-old, 250-foot tall “Great White” redwood. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, the trail takes an average of 1 hour 49 minutes to complete. This trail is popular for birding, hiking, and walking. Best times to visit: April through September. Dogs are welcome and may be off- leash in some areas. www. landtrustsantacruz.org

Wilder Ranch State Park boasts a wide assortment of terrain and habitat, and offers over 34 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails winding through coastal terraces and valleys. By far, one of the most scenic spots to hike is the Old Cove Landing Trail to Ohlone Bluff Trail, a 2 ½ mile coastal trek that is one of the prime spots for wildflowers. You can access the beach from here and walk along the bluff leading to the cove. On a good day you will come across gulls, pelicans, geese, sea lions passing, and maybe even migrating whales. The park grounds also include restored Victorian homes, barns, shops, gardens, and a historic adobe for visitors. www.parks.ca.gov

Don’t overlook parks owned by the county or your city as a place for sunshine – good source of Vitamin D – recreation and community. The 24-acre Skypark in Scotts Valley offers playgrounds, basketball hoop and bocce court, often available in the afternoon. With all of our beautiful parks and beaches, Santa Cruz County is the perfect area to put on your jogging or walking shoes, saddle up that horse, get on your bike, and enjoy the outdoors!

View from Mount Umunhum at 3,486 feet in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve: Access from Los Gatos via Hicks Road to Mt. Umunhum Road. Umunhum contains the root word for hummingbird in five Ohlone languages. This mountain was sacred to indigenous peoples. The MidPen Regional Open Space District bought the 36-acre summit and with federal funds cleaned up hazardous materials left by the Almaden Air Force Station, closed in 1980. Opened in 2017, the mountain has trails for hiking and equestrians and attracts intrepid bicyclists.

Musician brings healing sounds to Skypark.

Rise Collective

There is a growing movement towards reconnecting with our roots — building a sense of community and wellness. This movement isn't just about working out alone; it's about creating spaces where people can come together, learn from each other, and grow stronger together. At Rise Collective our mission is to raise not only your health and wellness, but the communities. We rise together.

Something to suit everyone from a state of the art gym, to adult and kids group classes. Or go to the next level with goal driven private and small group training.

A variety of fitness and wellness classes are offered in our covered gazebo. All ages and stages of fitness and fun!

Experience a supportive community and achieve your fitness goals at Rise Collective.

We offer a variety of membership options to cater to different fitness goals and budgets. Our plans include gym access with Open Swim hours and add-ons for classes, *services and *personal/semiprivate trainings (*scheduled directly with staff.) Each membership gives you full access to our gym facilities, group classes, and personalized training sessions as desired.

Community Memberships 5 people $200/month

6 Week Boot Camp Plus Recovery Package - Valued at $1,100 for only $540

Two semi-private training sessions with Sara per week

3 Cryo sessions, a dry float, and a sauna pod session

To join our gym, simply visit our website and click on the 'Join Now' button. Follow the instructions to create an account and select a membership plan that suits your needs. Once you've completed the sign-up process, you'll have access to all our facilities and classes.

We strive to accommodate early birds and night owls. Our facility is accessible and staff are available during the hours: Monday-Thursday 6:00am-9:00pm Friday-Sunday 6:30am-8:00pm

RISE COLLECTIVE (831) 999-0120 | www.risesantacruz.com

816 Bay Ave. Suite D, Capitola, CA

Why Exercise is So Good for You

By Jondi Gumz

Many people know exercise will help them stay fit. But did you know exercise is good for your brain?

Tens of thousands of peerreviewed studies point to positive effects of doing exercise on brain health – and performance, according to Andrew Huberman, associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University, who has a new book, “Protocols’’ coming out in September, covering actionable steps to improve sleep, motivation, creativity, gut microbiome, nutrition and stress. Many, many different exercise protocols lead to improvements.

“You can customize your exercise program, based on how much time you have available, your specific age, your health status and specific type of brain changes you might be seeking,” Huberman said in his podcast.

Most studies are focused on cardiovascular exercise, 30 to 60 minutes. Resistance training studies often focus on one activity – single leg extension – since it’s something 65-year-olds can do. The studies look at brain effects immediately after and over time.

Can you do any form of exercise? Yes.

Sprints on a stationary bicycle, rest, repeat six times. 20- to 30 minutes steady state cardio. Treadmill, cycling, rowing.

How does this help our brain?

“Autonomic arousal before, during or after exercise, levels of alertness, increase in cortisol, increase in adrenaline,” says Huberman. “Better memory for information.”

Caution: Too much high-intensity exercise is tiring for the brain. But exercise “snacks” – six 6-second all out sprints on an stationary bicycle with rest in between – will be beneficial.

So, are you motivated to exercise?

You are in luck because Santa Cruz County is full of gyms, fitness studios, dance studios, yoga studios, martial arts training, powerlifting and climbing.

To name a few: Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory, Gold’s Gym, 24Hour Fitness, F45, Lola’s Gym, The Body Shop, Cabrillo Fitness, Park Avenue Fitness, In Shape, Toadal Fitness, Scotts Valley Gym, Rocky’s Rehab, Fitness & Conditioning, Mavericks, Spenga, Santa Cruz Athletic Club, CrossFit, Curves, Jazzercise, Pilates, Madabolic, Enterprise Sports Club.

The extra benefit of joining any of these is that you become a part of a community where everyone helps support and motivate one another. Stop procrastinating and give exercise a try!

Monarch Pilates

Discover the transformative benefits of Monarch Pilates, a full-service studio that merges Pilates with holistic physical therapy, craniosacral, myofascial manual therapy and pelvic floor health. We emphasize "intelligent movement," teaching you to understand your body and movement patterns for lasting change. Our empowering approach builds confidence and strength, regardless of your fitness level or overall health.

Our experienced instructors teach you how to make adjustments, gain awareness and strengthen with confidence to support your well-being in any class or daily activity. Our specialties evolve from our training, passions & life experience. They include but are not limited to prenatal, postpartum, scoliosis, dance, sports performance, and golf.

Founded by Sandy K. Novembre in 2007 with a desire to offer quality instruction, create community and provide a killer (yet safe) workout. Our beloved community has allowed us to grow since then while still keeping an intimate space. We offer both private lessons and group classes in our beautiful Pleasure Point studio. Our ethos includes ensuring a safe, supportive and

Group Reformer Classes

Private Lessons

Physical Therapy

Post Rehab Pilates

nurturing exercise environment where all are welcome. Come join us wherever you are on your wellness path. We strive to create an impactful experience that meets you where you are each day.

Injury Prevention Prenatal &

Government Has Fattened Us New Guidelines – An Opportunity to Get Healthy

By Nina Teicholz, PhD

No matter where you stand politically, the return of Donald Trump to the White House presents a chance to reshape America's approach to health and nutrition. His administration will have the opportunity to overhaul outdated federal dietary guidelines, which lack scientific rigor and have long contributed to our chronic disease epidemic.

Every five years since 1980, the government has published its Dietary Guidelines for Americans, advising people to get 52% to 56% of their calories from grains and other carbohydrate-rich foods, while largely avoiding the natural saturated fats found in whole milk, butter, and meat. Grain mixed with skim milk is a well-known formula for fattening pigs — and it turns out that it fattens humans, too.

In 23 states, the adult obesity rate now meets or exceeds 35%. It's not just our collective waistlines that have expanded. Rates of nearly every chronic disease have soared in recent decades. More than half of adults have diabetes or prediabetes. Up to 10% of kids suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Americans aren't growing fatter and sicker in spite of the government's dietary guidelines but because of them. Now is the time to reverse

this.

For more than a decade now, the most reputable scientific studies have shown that the government's dietary advice does not prevent or reduce obesity, cancer or other diseases. People who eat diets lower in carbohydrates consistently achieve greater weight loss and have better overall heart health than people on the lower-fat diet that the government recommends.

Ultra-low-carb or "ketogenic" diets have even been shown to completely reverse type 2 diabetes without costly medications or patented meal replacement formulas. A large clinical trial found that nearly 56% of people with type 2 diabetes who adopted a ketogenic diet saw a reversal of the disease within 10 weeks while decreasing their medications.

Despite the evidence, the government's dietary guidelines are stuck in 1980, having barely changed since the old "food

pyramid." Remember that big bottom slab of the pyramid, telling us to eat a staggering six servings of grains daily, including three servings of refined grains? People took that advice to heart. Today, they're consuming far fewer whole-fat foods and more carbohydrate-laden items like bread, cereal, and pasta than previous generations.

Their reward for following the official advice? Americans are sicker than ever. The current guidelines have likely spawned a chronic disease crisis that has caused millions of premature deaths and accounts for the vast majority of America's $4.5 trillion annual healthcare spending.

As president, Trump should order the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement recommendations made in a 2017 National Academies of Sciences report. This report warned that the guidelines process used a methodology that "lacks rigor" and listed 11 concrete steps to increase transparency and upgrade the scientific rigor of the guidelines process. Every word of the guidelines should be backed by randomized, controlled clinical trial results.

During the last revision of the guidelines, the committee ignored about 20 review papers concluding there is little or no reliable evidence for advising people to limit saturated fat intake. The guidelines must also add an option for the roughly two-thirds of Americans with at least one chronic disease.Powerful special interests will resist. Decades of misinformation will need to be untangled. But with new leadership and momentum to "Make America Healthy Again," this is within reach.

Nina Teicholz is a science journalist and author of "The Big Fat Surprise" with a Ph.D. in nutrition. This piece originally ran in The Hill.

Santa Cruz Light Therapy

Experience the Healing Power of Light

It all started with a dog.

When Julie’s pet suffered a torn Achilles, her vet used Low-Light Laser Therapy for healing. Amazed by the results, she turned to red light therapy after tearing her meniscus. As the pain and swelling subsided, she experienced firsthand the power of light.

Then, fate stepped in.

Julie and Donna met and noticed each other’s limp. Donna, fresh from a trade show, had just discovered FDA-cleared LightStim medical devices. Skeptical, she purchased a handheld device instead of the full therapy bed – but as her arthritis flare-up improved, she knew she’d found something transformative.

They had an epiphany: this technology needed to be shared.

That spark became Santa Cruz Light Therapy • bringing science-backed, non-invasive healing to their community.

Now, they offer:

• LightStim LED Therapy Beds – Full-body treatments for cellular regeneration, pain relief, and wellness.

• LightStim Pro Panels – Targeted treatments promoting collagen production, healthy aging, and skin repair.

Try It for Yourself!

• Introductory Offer: $50 per session.

• Call 831-387-9401

• Learn More: SANTACRUZLIGHTTHERAPY.COM

• Find Us: The Red Door on Ocean View Avenue, in the Sullivan Building, 540 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz Your healing starts here!

My Life Changed in Six Weeks

By Jacob Martinez

Imagine waking up one day and not being able to log into any of your accounts – email, YouTube, Facebook, Netflix…none. That’s how my first day of sabbatical started when the first step of my time away was to change my password to my work email account, which was linked directly to my personal accounts. It was jarring. It was eye opening. It was necessary. My personal and professional lives were completely intertwined.

You may have read my blog about why I decided to take a sabbatical. I was resistant at first – I didn’t think I needed it. But the foundation All Stars Helping Kids, with support from Silicon ValleyCommunity Foundation and Satterberg Foundation, invited me to participate in their firstof-a-kind program which required I take six weeks off and do nothing related to work. The program included an executive coach for me and an organizational coach to support the NEST team during the period leading up to my sabbatical, during my time out, and as I transitioned back to work.

Now that the program has ended and I am back at work, there are four major take-aways I took from the experience:

First and foremost, I really do love my work – as much as when I started the NEST nine years ago. Stepping away for those six weeks made me miss the NEST. There’s still so much to do and I’m excited to get to it.

Second is that I built a strong team, which allowed me to step away for a month and a half. I used to lug my computer on vacations with my family and make myself available in case anyone needed me. The six-week break made me realize the team is fully capable, and that I do not need to be involved in the day to day. It was proof that when I take a vacation, I can completely disconnect and know the wheels will not come off.

Third is that I need something for myself. My personal life revolved around family and work. My social life was all work events and fundraisers – there was nothing unique to me that was just mine. Now I see that I have permission to find something that is my own that allows me to step away. Surfing? Glassblowing? Woodworking? I do not know what it is yet, but I will let you know when I do.

Fourth is that I do not need to be a workaholic to be successful. It puts stress on me, my family and the NEST team. As the leader of the organization I thought I had to be the first one in the office and the last one out, which created a false sense of urgency for staff who were getting emails from me at 5:30 in the morning. I left my house before my family woke up. Now? I enjoy making breakfast for my daughter and saying good morning to my wife. I exercise. When I get to the office, I have more energy and the team is more excited. I learned how to be productive without burning myself out and everyone around me. I am a better employee, and more thoughtful about my family and staff.

The experience has created space in my work life, space to think about the big picture. For the first time, I feel like I am not working in the weeds. I do not have to be involved in every decision. The goal is not to reinsert myself into every cranny again but to ask how I can have a greater impact on our youths’ success. Maybe we will start our own sabbatical program at the NEST to build stronger morale and culture, and encourage staff to spend more time with their families.

I am humbled that I was selected for the sabbatical program. It is unusual for nonprofit leaders to have the opportunity to step away for so long. But if you ever do have a chance to take time off, I cannot recommend it enough. It is life changing, on a personal and professional level.

The sabbatical was possibly the best recent decision I made for me and the well-being of my family and the NEST. If you have taken a sabbatical, I would love to hear about your experiences. You can send me a message on LinkedIn. Jacob Martinez is founder of the Digital Nest, which has locations in Watsonville, Salinas, Gilroy, Modesto and Stockton to unlock untapped potential in youth by offering free after-school technology programs.

Gratitude: Underappreciated Vitamin G

By Jondi Gumz

It’s free and available to everyone – and study after study suggests that gratitude is associated with greater happiness.

A 2003 study led by Robert Emmons, PhD, of UC Davis, and Michael McCullough of the University of Miami gave undergraduates weekly writing assignments.

One group wrote about what they were grateful for. The second group wrote about what irritated them. The third wrote about events that affected them. After 9 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude rated their life more favorably than the others – had fewer symptoms of physical illness.

A follow-up study in which people with neuromuscular disease were asked to report on daily on either experiences for which they were grateful or their wellbeing found those reporting on gratefulness slept better than those who didn’t.

Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, tested interventions on 411 people. One group was assigned to write and personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had never been thanked properly. The others wrote about childhood memories. Those writing gratitude letters saw a huge increase in happiness scores, and the benefit lasted for a month.

So how does gratitude (Vitamin G) work in the body? Bruce Lipton, author of the 2010 book “The Biology of Belief,” based on his research at Stanford University, says that our thoughts change who we are.

Dr. Dan Pompa, a chiropractor in Park City, Utah, explains it this way: Thoughts affect your cells. That can drive inflammation – or not. That affects the DNA we produce, that produces different proteins.

Dr. Duncan McCollum, a chiropractor in Capitola working with Dr. Pompa, has a way to spread Vitamin G (Gratitude). In his office are bottles labeled Vitamin G – free of BPA, naturally sourced. Non GMO. Organic.

The directions: Every morning, think of 10 things you are grateful for. (On a bad day, think of one thing you are grateful for.) Express gratitude to the first 10 people you see. Repeat often.

Breathing How-Tos

Focus on your breath.

Develop a calm and centered mindset by slowing down the breath and the thoughts in the mind. Practice each breath 5 times.

Abdominal Breath:

Inhale through the nose slowly and gently. The abdomen expands on the inhale and returns to neutral on the exhale.

Chest Breath:

Inhale through the nose slowly and gently. The chest rises and the abdomen naturally draws in on the inhale. Chest and belly return to neutral on the exhale.

Yogic Breath:

Inhale through the nose slowly and gently. The belly expands, then the chest expands for a full breath. The belly and chest return to neutral on the exhale.

Four-part Breath:

Inhale through the nose for a count of four, hold the breath in for a count of four. exhale for a count of four and hold the breath out for a count of four. The breath should remain gentle and not burst out.

Meditation:

Keep your attention on the natural inhalation and exhalation. When thoughts arise, acknowledge them and return your attention to the breath.

Cathy Conway serves as the CEO of Hospice of Santa Cruz County.

Blood Tests Are One-Size-Fits-All But Machine Learning Can Pinpoint Your Normal

By Brody Foy

If you’ve ever had a doctor order a blood test for you, chances are that they ran a complete blood count, or CBC. One of the most common blood tests in the world, CBC tests are run billions of times each year to diagnose conditions and monitor patients’ health.

But despite the test’s ubiquity, the way clinicians interpret and use it in the clinic is often less precise than ideal. Currently, blood test readings are based on one-size-fits-all reference intervals that don’t account for individual differences.

I am a mathematician at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and my team studies ways to use computational tools to improve clinical blood testing. To develop better ways to capture individual patient definitions

of “normal” lab values, my colleagues and I in the Higgins Lab at Harvard Medical School examined 20 years of blood count tests from tens of thousands of patients from both the East and West coasts.

In our research, published in December in Nature, we used machine learning to identify healthy blood count ranges for individual patients and predict their risk of future disease.

A Continuum

Many people commonly think of clinical tests as purely diagnostic. For example, a COVID-19 or a pregnancy test comes back as either positive or negative, telling you whether you have a particular condition. However, most tests don’t work this way. Instead, they measure a biological trait that your body continuously regulates up and down to stay within certain bounds.

Continued on page 48 ...

Photo Credit: Getty Images for Unsplash+

Lauden Integrative Pharmacy

Lauden Integrative Pharmacy has been in business for 27 years and was the first local compounding pharmacy to open in Capitola. Here in Santa Cruz County, we are fortunate to have Lauden Integrative Pharmacy close by.

Ray Reyhani opened Lauden Integrative Pharmacy in 1997 in a 1,000-square-foot space. In 2010, it expanded and moved to a 2,500-square-foot space at 1820 F 41st Ave., Capitola, where it is today.

Ray's passion is to offer hands-on pharmacy practices and source natural materials to formulate medications for each individual patient. Ray has been an integral resource in educating our community doctors and patients on the purpose of compounded medications.

Pharmaceutical compounding is the science that creates personalized medications by combining individual ingredients in the exact strength and dose form required for the patient and their unique needs.

Some patients require a non-essential ingredient to be removed from their medication to prevent an allergic reaction. Others require compounded medication to get an exact dose that fits their personal needs which may not be available in commercial drugs.

“Compounded Medications crafted Specifically for You and Your Pet's Healthcare Needs. We work with you and your doctor to formulate medications to aid in your individual needs.” 27 Years in the Community!

We offer compounded medications in:

■ Men and Women Hormone Support (HRT)

■ Pain Management ■ Dermatology

■ Immune Boosters ■ Palliative Medicine

■ Dental Formulas ■ Allergy

■ Pet Medications ■ Veterinary Medicine

In other situations, patients need their medications in a nonstandard form. If an elderly person or a child has difficulty swallowing a capsule, a compounding pharmacist can provide the same medication in a syrup or solution. Compounding also can change the taste and color of a medication to make it more palatable and aesthetically appealing, especially for children.

Compounded medications are ordered by a licensed physician and must be mixed in a safe and controlled environment by a licensed compounding pharmacist and certified pharmacist technician.

Not only does Lauden Integrative Pharmacy customize prescriptions for you, but also for all of your pet's medication needs. Working with your veterinarian, Ray will formulate medication for your furry friends to be given as a chewy treat, pate, topical gel, liquid formulation, or mini melts.

Now is a good time to speak to your doctor or your pet's veterinarian about the customized benefits of compounded medications. Lauden Integrative Pharmacy's 27 year history in our community can address all of your compounding needs.

Lic.#445202597

“Lauden Pharmacy is able to offer their customers access to its online supplement program through “Fullscript”. As a patient of our Fullscript program, you have access to shop all our vendors for all pharmaceutical grade supplements and more. Through this program, our customers have access to place their orders online and have them shipped directly to their home. All of our Fullscript members get a 5% discount on every order.

Your complete blood count is also a continuum. The CBC test creates a detailed profile of your blood cells – such as how many red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells are in your blood. These markers are used every day in nearly all areas of medicine.

For example, hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that allows your red blood cells to carry oxygen. If your hemoglobin levels are low, it might mean you are iron deficient.

Platelets are cells that help form blood clots and stop bleeding. If your platelet count is low, it may mean you have some internal bleeding and your body is using platelets to help form blood clots to plug the wound. White blood cells are part of your immune system. If your white cell count is high, it might mean you have an infection and your body is producing more of these cells to fight it off.

Reference Intervals

But this all raises the question: What actually counts as too high or too low on a blood test?

Traditionally, clinicians determine what are called reference intervals by measuring a blood test in a range of healthy people. They usually take the middle 95% of these healthy values and call that “normal,” with anything above or below being too low or high. These normal ranges are used nearly everywhere in medicine.

But reference intervals face a big challenge: What’s normal for you may not be normal for someone else.

Nearly all blood count markers are heritable, meaning your genetics and environment determine much of what the healthy value for each marker would be for you.

At the population level, for example, a normal platelet count is approximately between 150 and 400 billion cells per liter of blood. But your body may want to maintain a platelet count of 200 – a value called your set point. This means your normal range might only be 150 to 250.

Differences between a patient’s true normal range and the population-based reference interval can create problems for doctors. They may be less likely to diagnose a disease if your set point is far from a cutoff. Conversely, they may run unnecessary tests if your set point is too close to a cutoff.

Normal For You

Luckily, many patients get blood counts each year as part of routine checkups. Using machine learning models, my team and I were able to estimate blood count set points for

more than 50,000 patients based on their history of visits to the clinic. This allowed us to study how the body regulates these set points and to test whether we can build better ways of personalizing lab test readings.

Over multiple decades, we found that individual normal ranges were about three times smaller than at the population level. For example, while the “normal” range for the white blood cell count is around 4.0 to 11.0 billion cells per liter of blood, we found that most people’s individual ranges were much narrower, more like 4.5 to 7, or 7.5 to 10.

When we used these set points to interpret new test results, they helped improve diagnosis of diseases such as iron deficiency, chronic kidney disease and hypothyroidism. We could note when someone’s result was outside their smaller personal range, potentially indicating an issue, even if the result was within the normal range for the population overall.

The set points themselves were strong indicators for future risk of developing a disease. For example, patients with high white blood cell set points were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes in the future. They were also nearly twice as likely to die of any cause compared with similar patients with low white cell counts. Other blood count markers were also strong predictors of future disease and mortality risk. In the future, doctors could potentially use set points to improve disease screening and how they interpret new test results.

This is an exciting avenue for personalized medicine: to use your own medical history to define what exactly healthy means for you.

Foy is assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at University of Washington. Originally published on The Conversation.

Brody

Ben Singh

Community Bridges:

Expanding Health & Wellness Services for a Stronger Community

Since 1977, Community Bridges has provided essential resources to Santa Cruz County residents. Our ten programs serve thousands of children, families, and seniors each year, offering transportation, healthy food, health care, crisis support, early education, tutoring, and more—many at no cost.

Here’s a look at three programs and services that focus on improving the health and wellness of our community:

Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County

Since 1976, Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County has improved the lives of older adults through nutrition, resources, and connection. By providing meals and wellness checks, we combat hunger and isolation, helping seniors live independently with dignity. Locally, 92% of participants say the program helps them remain at home, while 79% report eating healthier.

Last year, we served 1,737 clients—429 more than the previous year—delivering 155,702 home meals and serving 23,042 meals at dining sites in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Live Oak, and Ben Lomond.

Counseling Program

The Family Resource Collective (FRC) provides critical support to over 12,000 individuals annually. Among its services, the Counseling Program offers mental health care to children, parents,

Lenz Arts

Lenz Arts manager Andrew Lenz Jr. said, “Let me tell you a story. Years ago, Bob Lee, District Attorney for the County of Santa Cruz, returned to our store and this time he was looking for an easel. To help him select a proper one, I asked him what medium he was using and what he was planning to paint. He shared that he wasn’t looking to paint anything specific. He simply liked to spend time moving acrylic paint around on the surface of a canvas. Aside from getting out and playing basketball, this was Bob’s way of detoxing from a very stressful job.”

“I was impressed. Too many of us are so worried about the destination and not the journey. ‘Will it look right?’ ‘Will I feel like a bad artist?’ We need to let that go, relax, and get back to the enjoyment we experienced as grade schoolers. We all were thrilled with art class! Study after study show that how doing art is so good for our mental state. Obviously, I’m biased, but I believe the world would be a better place with more people slowing down, reducing screen time, and creating.”

Founded in 1968 by 3rd-generation Santa Cruz resident Cynthia Lenz and her husband Andy, Lenz Arts offers a huge selection of artist materials for everyone from toddlers to beginners to serious hobbyists to professional gallery artists. And the Lenz staff is patient and friendly, ready to explain the products and help you to get the right thing for you.

and families who often face barriers to professional assistance.

Led by Clinical Supervisor Bryan Giese-Gardner, the program operates in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Live Oak, and Felton.

Launched in 2018 in response to community needs, the program ensures financial constraints do not prevent individuals from receiving care. In a region where mental health services are often difficult to access, FRC’s counseling program serves as a vital link, guiding individuals to the right resources and reducing delays in care.

Women, Infants, and Children Program

Since 1974, WIC has been a cornerstone public health program supporting growing families. Community Bridges’ WIC program, established in 1977, serves about 550 pregnant women, 800 breastfeeding women, 1,100 infants, and 3,800 young children in Santa Cruz and North Monterey counties.

WIC provides nutrition education, food assistance, and healthcare referrals to improve maternal and child health. In California, half of all babies are enrolled in WIC, and the program generates over $70 million monthly in local grocery sales. Locally, WIC contributes $450,000 to grocers and $45,000 to farmers’ markets each year.

And when your artwork is done, the award-winning Lenz Arts custom framing department will make your art beautiful whether it is for your own enjoyment or as a gift to a loved one. If you are on a thinner budget, Lenz Art stocks thousands of premade frames in a wide range of styles and colors.

Lenz Arts is conveniently located in downtown Santa Cruz with their own free parking lot.

Essential Senior Services

Grey Bears free food bags weekly: Yearly membership $30. Distributes free bags of food to designated sites and homebound seniors. (831) 479-1055 www.greybears.org

Meals on Wheels, offered by nonprofit Community Bridges, free meal delivery to those unable to shop and make their own meals. 9-4 weekdays. 831-464-3180 x100.

Elderda adult-care, 519 Main Street., Watsonville. Health care, exercise classes, art,woodworking, and music for seniors. Bus transportation to Lift Line, transportation offered by Community Bridges. Weekdays 9-5. 831-688-9663. Access for All, $5. Low-income, disabled, no charge.

Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County: Empowered Aging: Retired Senior Volunteer Corps, age 55 and up, 831-427-5070, Helping Hands senior home repair, 831427-5070, Transportation to doctor, dentist, grocery, bank, (831) 427-3435, Stay Connected friendly phone calls, 831-427-5070 118 and A Matter of Balance fall prevention, Monday-Thur., 9-5 and Friday 9-12, 831-427-5070 x115. https://scvolunteercenter.org/programs/empowered-aging/

Family Services Agency, Senior Outreach accepts Medicare 831-423-9444 for Santa Cruz and Soquel appointments. To volunteer, call 831-459-9351 in Santa Cruz or 831-7289009 in Watsonville. Friendly Visitors for Isolated Seniors in care facilities: Volunteers are needed! Commit for 6 months. Call Nancy Cleveland, (831) 459-8917 or email: Cleveland.n@fsa-cc.org.

Senior Network Services, 1777 Capitola Road, Live Oak. Offers ta resource directory and the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) for free Medicare counseling. (831) 462-1433.

Seniors Council, nonprofit operates Area Agency on Aging and offer services such as tax assistance, companionship programs, and day trips.

Senior Citizens Legal Services, offers free legal aid to people 60 and older. Email help@seniorlegal.org or call (831) 426-8824. Bridge of Hope Foundation, visits people living in care facilities and hosts birthday parties for them. https://www.bridgeofhopefoundation.org/ If you can help, email: mary@cruzio.com or call 831-515-9150.

In an Emergency:

In an emergency, call 911, the countywide dispatch service.

For information, call 211, countywide information service.

Mental Health mobile crisis team: 1-800-952-2335

Domestic Violence 24-Hour Bilingual Crisis line: 1-800-900-4232

Suicide Prevention Line: 988

Adult Protective Services: https://santacruzhumanservices.org/ AdultLongTermCare AdultProtectiveServices/ Whoshouldreportabuse

Scotts Valley Senior Center

Valley Heights Senior Rental Community

Valley Heights is an independent apartment community for active senior citizens. We provide services and added features designed to meet changing needs and expectations of retirees from the burden of home maintenance and daily household routines. Along with a spacious, contemporary apartment, Valley Heights provides services to eliminate time consuming tasks of everyday living like housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, social and education activities, 24-hour security, and local weekday transportation.

Our one- and two-bedroom apartments come standard with a complete kitchen, extra storage, washer and dryer, and a personal deck. Valley Heights provides an active and social lifestyle with a variety of programs. We pride ourselves with providing quality service and attention to the small detail.

Owners Richard and Kelly had been involved with senior health care for over 30 years when they began conceptualizing Valley Heights from dream to reality. Their experience led

them to what seniors needed, yet it was important for them to understand and provide what seniors wanted. How better to find out than ask? Richard and Kelly traveled throughout the country visiting more than 150 senior housing developments. They met with developers and administrators but learned most directly from the residents themselves. “We wanted to create a special place where seniors could enjoy a lifestyle of independence and privacy, while at the same time be able to benefit from the friendships and support that’s available in our community.” “We’re proud of the outcome of our years of planning. It’s important to us to be able to provide a gracious setting where seniors can enjoy the quality lifestyle they deserve.”

Cholesterol and Heart Disease: The New Science

By Jondi Gumz

Conventional wisdom in the medical world is that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) raises your risk for heart attack.

A keto diet can raise your LDL. Keto means eating “ruminant” meats such as beef, lamb, bison and venison, fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and anchovies, eggs, liver, shellfish, cooking with butter, ghee and tallow instead of vegetable oil (soybean, corn, sunflower, canola oil), reducing carbs and making sure you get electrolytes and minerals, cutting out processed food packaged in a box and added sugar, and drinking enough water.

So, if you are eating keto to lose weight, or for the nutrients, and your LDL is up, should you worry about heart disease? To answer that question, the Citizen Science Foundation funded an independent study tracking people for four and ½ years.

Dr. Matthew Budoff, professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, led the study, published in Metabolism in June 2024.

The short answer: Researchers found no relationship between high LDL and plaque, the sticky substance that can clog arteries, block blood flow and result in a heart attack.

Here are the details:

The study had 80 participants, average age 55.5 years, average LDL cholesterol 122. After keto eating for 4-anda-half years, their average LDL cholesterol was 272. The highest was 591. Keep in mind that 130 is considered borderline high for LDL.

People whose LDL jumps when they replace carbs with fats and protein are known as “lean mass hyper responders.” Typically they are lean, with lower triglycerides and higher HDL, considered the protective cholesterol. They were matched for age, gender, race, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and past smoking to subjects without symptoms from the Miami Heart Study cohort. The tracking metric: The non-invasive coronary artery calcium CT scan.

Findings:

• No significant difference in coronary plaque burden between the high LDL group and the control group.

• No significant difference in coronary artery calcium.

• No relationship between higher LDL cholesterol and plaque.

View the report at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny2JqAgoORo

Dyslipidemia

What to Do When Cholesterols is out of Balance?

Dyslipidemia refers to an abnormal balance between good HDL and so-called bad LDL cholesterol levels without either being out of range.

Root causes include high-carbohydrate diets, ultraprocessed packaged foods, seed oils, and high-fructose corn syrup consumption, which significantly influence lipid metabolism, according to the Orthomolecular News Service, which reports on therapeutic nutrition.

Deficiencies of vitamins B, C, D, and E, and magnesium, exacerbate the condition, according to a November paper by Richard Z. Cheng, M.D., Ph.D., and Thomas E. Levy, M.D., J.D.

The good news for people diagnosed with cardiovascular disease is the condition can be reversed, and the doctors cite 10 case studies to make their point.

Their holistic strategies:

• Food: A low-carbohydrate, anti-inflammatory diet rich in nutrition and healthy fats, such as the low carb ketogenic diet, can reduce insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

• Target Inflammation: Healthy lifestyle and nutrition supplements such as vitamins and antioxidants (vitamins Bs, C, D, E and K2), omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and selenium, and removing oral and dental inflammations .

• Metabolic and Hormonal Health: Addressing insulin sensitivity through dietary and exercise interventions, and hormonal balance if necessary.

• Detoxification: Protocol to remove heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental toxins that contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation and burden on the cardiovascular system.

• Exercise and Manage Stress: Physical activity, stress reduction techniques, and mental health support.

See https://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v20n20.shtml

Horsnyder Pharmacy & Medical Supply

You Are In Good Hands

Since opening its doors in 1884, Horsnyder Pharmacy has treated every customer like a member of our family. Other companies may offer similar products, but our service is unmatched. With Horsnyder Pharmacy, you’re not just another customer. With us you’re part of the family!

We pride ourselves in being one of oldest businesses in the Santa Cruz and you don’t achieve that longevity without support from the community and a philosophy that puts the community’s well being first. Whether you suddenly find yourself in need of in home health care, a power mobility device, prosthetic device or other consultation service, we’re here for you. We’re a Pharmacy and so much more.

We’re Here For Every Body

The human body. It is a miracle of millions of interlocking pieces – a marvel to behold. But when something goes wrong, you need a partner you can trust in your corner. That partner is Horsnyder Pharmacy and Medical Supply in Santa Cruz. We’re here for every BODY, including yours.

The human body. It is a miracle of millions of interlocking pieces – a marvel to behold. But when something goes wrong, you need a partner you can trust in your corner. That partner is Horsnyder Pharmacy and Medical Supply in Santa Cruz. We’re here for every BODY, including yours.

The human body. It is a miracle of millions of interlocking pieces – a marvel to behold. But when something goes wrong, you need a partner you can trust in your corner. That partner is Horsnyder Pharmacy and Medical Supply in Santa Cruz. That partner is Horsnyder Pharmacy and Medical Supply in Santa Cruz.

Dr. Mark Hyman: Best Supplements for a Healthier You

By Jondi Gumz

Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D., best-selling author of “Young Forever,” has come to the conclusion that most people need supplements because they aren’t getting all the essential nutrients from food.

He says 95% of the U.S. population have at least one nutrient deficiency. Even if you eat whole food and very little food from packages with organic fruits and vegetables, the problem is the nutritional quality of crops grown for food has been declining.

Scientists found a double-digit decline in mineral content of 12 fruits and vegetables from 1963 to 1992: Calcium (29%), magnesium (21%), potassium (6%), phosphorus (11%), and iron (32%).

Reasons cited in a 2024 study: Soil degradation; prioritizing varieties with high yield instead of high nutrition; using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to boost food production; introduction of genetically modified food; and air and water pollution.

Some factors are harder to change than others, but meanwhile, minerals are essential co-factors for vitamins, which means without minerals, your body doesn’t get the benefit of the vitamins.

“It makes it harder to get what you need from food alone,” Hyman says in his podcast, the Doctor’s Farmacy. “That’s why it’s important to supplement to fill nutrient gaps, to achieve optimal health.” The U.S. recommendations for vitamins are based on how much is needed to avoid conditions such as scurvy and rickets, not to achieve optimal health.

Test don’t guess Think you’re fine? Check your levels. Hyman’s FunctionHealth.com startup offers more than 100 tests for $499. For a modest beginning, order tests a al carte – discount prices and no doctor prescription needed – from OwnYourLabs.com, LifeExtension.com or UltaLabs and go to LabCorps.

Hyman recommends a multivitamin for cognition, based on a new study, and multiminerals, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil for brain health,Vitamin D (severe deficiency is under 25) for the immune system, affecting 1,000 genes, bones, and teeth.

How much Vitamin D? Hyman says you can take 1,000 to 5,000 units of D3 a day.

“Some need 10,000,” he pointed out. “You can take a lot more if you’re deficient to load up the tank.”

A study with healthy young men at this dosage, 10,000 units a day for three months, showed no adverse effects. Tip: Take Vitamin D3 with fat to boost absorption.

More essentials

Magnesium, a gatekeeper needed for 600 enzymatic reactions, for relaxation, sleep, blood sugar regulation, and to activate Vitamin D3.

So many symptoms, cramps, constipation, high blood pressure, mood swings, headaches, can be due to magnesium deficiency.

Tip: Take an Epsom salt bath to restore magnesium to your body when you’re depleted by sugar or caffeine or feel stressed out.

Probiotic for your gut, to restore the balance of good microbes vs. bad microbes. This supports digestion and regular pooping and reduces inflammation.

Creatine for muscles, to prevent falls and fractures. Tip: Combine with strength training to build muscle.

Dr. Mark Hyman

Eye Shapes Opticians

Looking for new eye wear? Look no further. When shopping locally you not only support the local economy but you are met with in-person guidance, something you can’t come by when shopping online.

Kip McGooden co-owns Aptos based Eye Shapes with his wife, Judy. Both are licensed opticians and have been serving customers since 1980. Judy credits their longevity to a commitment to excellent service and staying abreast of technology advances, trends, etc.

With a lab on premises ‘Eye Shapes’ success of over 40 years has been based on professionalism and stellar service.

“Because we are individually licensed and insured, we must stay engaged in new developments in our industry which involves continuing education hours. At one time, when we first opened our shop, there were seven licensed independent opticians between Santa Cruz and Watsonville, now we are the only one!” Their clients stretch from San Lorenzo Valley to Royal Oaks. Eye Shapes carries over 500 frames and sunglasses, accessories, and readers.

“Most repairs are done while you wait,” says Kip McGooden.“When shopping for new eyewear, it is very important to bring a recent prescription, know about any vision insurance you may have, and be open to suggestions.

Prescriptions in California are good for two years and McGoodens advise that even if the doctor states there is no change, it’s required by the ‘Federal Prescription Release Rule’ of 1978, that you be given a copy of your prescription.

Doctor-recommended Eye Shapes is Santa Cruz County’s only independent, state licensed Dispensing Optician with a lab on the premises, a complete line of vision correction products, and 500 frames and sunglasses on display.

Eye Shapes has provided quality service without compromise for 44 years at Deer Park Marketplace in Aptos.

(831)688-1516

Deer Park Marketplace #37, Above Deluxe Foods

www.EyeShapesAptos.com

Kip and Judy McGooden

Your Basic Emergency Supplies Kit

To assemble your kit store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-tocarry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following:

• Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)

• Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

• Flashlight

• First aid kit

• Extra batteries

• Whistle (to signal for help)

• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)

• Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place)

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

• Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)

• Manual can opener (for food)

• Local maps

• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Additional Emergency Supplies

Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:

• Soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces

• Prescription medications. About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult for them to refill their prescription or to find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency.

• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives

Continued on page

A Help Button Should Go Where You Go!

To be truly independent, your personal emergency device needs to work on the go.

MobileHelp® allows you to summon emergency help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by simply pressing your personal help button. Unlike traditional systems that only work inside your home, a MobileHelp medical alert system extends help beyond the home. Now you can participate in all your favorite activities such as gardening, taking walks, shopping and traveling all with the peace of mind of having a personal alert system with you. MobileHelp, the “on-the-go” help button, is powered by one of the nation’s largest cellular networks, so there’s virtually no limit to your help button’s range.

No landline? No problem! While traditional alert systems require a landline, with the MobileHelp system, a landline is not necessary. Whether you are home or away from home, a simple press of your help button activates your system, providing the central station with your information and location. Our trained emergency operators will know who you are and where you are located. If you’re one of the millions of people that have waited for an alert service because it didn’t t your lifestyle, or settled for a traditional system even though it only worked in the home, then we welcome you to try MobileHelp. Experience peace of mind in the home or on the go.

• Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution

• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream

• Pet food and extra water for your pet

• Cash or traveler's checks

• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container

• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person

• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes

• Fire extinguisher

• Matches in a waterproof container

• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils

• Paper and pencil

• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Maintaining Your Kit

After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.

• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.

• Replace expired items as needed.

• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Your List in Case of Emergencies

Register at Cruz Aware alert and warning system for the residents of Santa Cruz County at https://cruzaware. genasys.com/

Police Departments

Capitola: 831-475-4242

Scotts Valley: 831-440-5670

Santa Cruz: 831-471-1131

Watsonville: 831-768-3300

Sheriff: 831- 471-1121

Hospitals

Dominican Hospital: 831-462-7700

Watsonville Community Hospital: 831-724-4741

Santa Cruz County Veterans Office: 831-454-7276

Senior Citizens Legal Services: 831-426-8824

California Rural Legal Assistance: 831-724-2253

Advocacy Inc.: 831-429-1913

Center for Independent Living: 831-462-8720

Crisis Lines

Suicide Prevention: 988

Monarch Services Domestic Violence Bilingual Crisis Line: 1-888-900-4232

Santa Cruz County Mobile Crisis Line: 1-800-952-2335

Senior Benefit Services At No Cost

To You!

Senior Benefits is considered one of the most trusted advisors on Medicare in our area. We are located in the Rancho Del Mar shopping center in Aptos and have helped thousands of local seniors choose their health plans for the past 25 years. We can assist with your Medicare enrollment and finding a Medicare Supplement Plan, Prescription Drug Plan, or a Medicare Advantage Plan. We provide these services at no cost to you.

Medicare is a complex system with many rules and regulations and an alphabet soup of choices. What are the ABC’s, D’s, F’s, and G’s of Medicare? We are here to help you navigate the terrain. Whether you are turning 65, leaving an employer group health plan, new to the area, or on Medicare disability under 65, we can assist you in discovering the plans that best fit your needs and budget.

Some of the factors involved in choosing a plan are budget, prescription medications, medical groups, doctor choices, hospital choices, and travel across the country and abroad.

Once you are on Medicare and have chosen your plan(s), there are specific annual time periods to do a review. The Annual

Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 – December 7, is the only window of time to review your Prescription Drug Plan coverage for the following year or explore entering a Medicare Advantage Plan. The California Birthday Rule, which begins 30 days before your actual birthday and extends 60 days after, allows the opportunity to review your Medicare Supplement Plan.

We are always just a phone call away. We look forward to talking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Ken and Kathleen Cook

COASTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION

123 Anna Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 • 800.272.3900 • www.alz.org

The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Through our many initiatives and worldwide reach, the Alzheimer’s Association leads the charge in Alzheimer’s care, support, research and advocacy. The Association is committed to providing all communities with resources and education.

AMERICAN LEISURE

1118 Ocean St., Santa Cruz • 3550 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose 831.423.2425 Santa Cruz • 408.446.9350 San Jose www.americanleisurepatio.com

American Leisure started in 1972 as a small manufacturer of custom-made, one-of-a-kind patio furniture. For over 40 years, our skills have been honed as we have grown the business to what it is today; A leading retailer of topof-the-line indoor and outdoor furniture in the Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay Areas. Family owned, we’ve built our reputation on quality, integrity and providing excellent customer service. We treat each customer as though they are our only customer!

COMMUNITY BRIDGES

519 Main Street, Watsonville, California 95076 • 831.688.8840 https://communitybridges.org

Our mission is to deliver essential services, provide equitable access to resources, and advocate for health and dignity across every stage of life. Since 1977, Community Bridges has been a catalyst for a brighter future by delivering fundamental resources for the people of Santa Cruz County. Our family of ten vital programs across 20 different sites serves thousands of local children, families, and seniors each year. While each program is remarkable on its own, together we are unstoppable.

CURVES

7000 Soquel Dr., Aptos • 831.688.2348 • www.curves.com

Curves has helped women around the world get healthier and stronger with our unique fitness solution, in a non-intimidating small group studio setting. In just 30 minutes, you work every major muscle group through a proven gym program of strength training, cardio, and stretching. Our trusted workouts for women are led by experienced and professional Curves Coaches to support and guide you in a nonjudgmental environment.

DOMINICAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz • 831.462.7712

www.supportdominican.org

As a non-profit hospital, Dominican Hospital relies on voluntary contributions to help meet the changing healthcare needs of our community and keep pace with the most advanced technology. The mission and vision of the Dominican Hospital Foundation is to assure that philanthropic resources are available to respond and support the changing health care needs of the people within the area served by Dominican Hospital.

EYE SHAPES

783 Rio Del Mar Blvd., 37, Aptos, CA 95003 • 831.688.1516 www.eyeshapesaptos.com/

Doctor-recommended Eye Shapes is Aptos’ only licensed eyeglass lens fitter. With a lab on the premises, a complete line of vision correction products, and a tremendous selection of designer frames, Eye Shapes offers quality and service without compromise. Eye Shapes is licensed by the Board of Medical Quality assurance and Kip and Judy are individually licensed as spectacle lens dispensers through the same agency. Precautions are taken to disinfect and to keep recommended distances. Close contact measurements are conducted with a mask; we ask you wear one as well.

HEALTH PROJECTS CENTER

9000 Soquel Ave., Suite 103, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 • 800.624.8304

www.hpcn.org

At the Health Projects Center (HPC), we are a nonprofit committed to ensuring that individuals can age safely and with dignity in the comfort of their homes. HPC delivers exceptional services and programs designed to meet the unique needs of low-income individuals at risk of placement in a nursing facility, family caregivers caring for a loved one with a memory disorder, and healthcare professionals and students to more effectively address geriatrics and chronic care management in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.

HORSNYDER PHARMACY AND MEDICAL SUPPLY

1226 Soquel Ave # A, Santa Cruz • 831.458.1400

www.horsnyderpharmacy.com

Horsnyder Pharmacy was founded by Dr. Horsnyder on Pacific Avenue in 1884, making the store one year older than the Statue of Liberty! Through the decades, Horsnyder Pharmacy and Medical Supply has served generations of families who have come to trust and rely upon the services we provide. Our pharmacy offers an extensive variety of medical equipment and supplies. Our staff will make it as easy as possible to get the equipment you need.

INTERIOR VISION

2800 Daubenbiss, Soquel • 831.476.8780 • www.interiorvision.biz

Unlike the big box stores, we care about this community, because we’re your neighbors. We make customer service a top priority and work hard to exceed your expectations. We pride ourselves on the ability to not only offer you excellent customer service but to also be able to deliver and install your flooring quickly and efficiently. We are happy to schedule a free in-home estimate, as well as bring any samples that you might be interested in seeing.

JIM BOOTH SWIM SCHOOL

123 Anna Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 • 831.722.3500

www.jimboothswimschool.com

Our program started 50 years ago with one goal in mind: Excellence! Our techniques are unique and emphasize good basics. It is easier to learn the right way the first time than to have to relearn later. We’ve taught multiple generations of locals to swim and be confident in the water. Early success leads to bigger successes, one step at a time. Our swim teachers use gentle encouragement plus high expectations to build happy, confident swimmers.

LA VIE WELLNESS

www.drinklavie.com

At La Vie, our mission centers on holistic well-being – mind, body, and spirit. We’re thrilled to add wellness retreats to our menu of locally-sourced, nourishing elixirs. More than just drinks, our products are pathways to health and transformation. With La Vie, enjoy the best of both worlds: healing foods and enriching experiences that guide you towards balanced living and lasting wellness.

LAUDEN INTEGRATIVE PHARMACY

1820 41st Ave #F, Capitola • 831.462.9880 • www.laudenpharmacy.com

Lauden Integrative Pharmacy offers the unique service of compounding, the art and science of preparing personalized medications for the specific needs of both human and animal patients based on a practitioner’s prescription. Ingredients are mixed, and prescriptions are crafted by a team of licensed pharmacists and technicians to meet each patient’s strength and dosage form needs.

LENZ ARTS

142 River St., Santa Cruz • 831.423.1935 • www.lenzarts.com

Serving you for over 50 years, Lenz Arts offers the largest selection of fine art supplies and is the oldest custom frame shop on the Central Coast. Described as “one of the last real art stores on the West Coast,» people drive for hours to take advantage of our comprehensive stock and knowledge. From the finger-painting toddler to the professional gallery artist, we›ve got you covered. Come in and browse our vast inventory of art supplies. We have something for everybody!

MONARCH PILATES

4125 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 • 831.475.8994

www.monarchpilates.com

At Monarch Pilates, we specialize in meeting you at your fitness level, working with current injuries and teaching you to understand your movement and body. Our teachers, classes, and services all provide a cohesive learning experience. Our Pilates+ services include Physical Therapy, Post-Rehab, Injury Prevention and Fitness training. We guide you to strengthen with confidence and achieve your movement goals. We recommend beginning with an assessment to help determine the best practice for you.

MUSICAL ME

801 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 • 831.332.9002

www.musicalme.com

Since 1996, MusicalMe, Inc. has been offering the renowned Music Together® Early Childhood Music Enrichment Program for children newborn through age 5. Over 50,000 students have been served through MusicalMe in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and Monterey Counties in California. As the original parent-child music program, Music Together has enriched the lives of families around the world for over twenty-five years.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY 2025

PACIFIC COAST AESTHETICS MEDICAL SPA

28 Seascape Village, Aptos, CA 95003 • 831.708.2602

www.pacificcoastaesthetics.com

Pacific Coast Aesthetics is your destination for cutting-edge aesthetic treatments. From wrinkle-defying injectables like Botox, Daxxify & Jeuveau to transformative laser resurfacing with BBL HEROic, Moxi and Halo, we offer a comprehensive approach to rejuvenating your skin. Our trained medical assistants provide extra comfort and safety to all treatments.

PARK AVENUE FITNESS

2505 Cabrillo College Dr., Aptos • 831.251.1810

www.parkavenuefitness.com

We Put the Personal in Personal Training! Our personal trainers are dedicated to making your time with us enjoyable and send you out the door feeling taller, stronger, and better equipped to face the world. At Park Avenue Fitness, we believe your workouts should adapt to your lifestyle. We will create personalized workout plans with your specific needs in mind. Our aim is to help you achieve your fitness goals.

QUICKSILVER SWIM SCHOOL

325 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95076 • 831.869.8424

www.quicksilverssantacruz.org

We’re on the Path to Amazingness! QuickSilver Swimming strives to have a nationally recognized competitive aquatics program that teaches and trains all levels of swimmers, emphasizing athlete protection and Safe Sport training, individual progress, team unity, family participation, and competition at the highest level. We’re a “New School”! QuickSilver focuses on the present, but with the future in mind. QSS offers a planned progression built on the most important parts of swimming: correct stroke technique to eliminate drag and potential injuries; correct stroke technique at goal pace.

RISE COLLECTIVE

816 Bay Ave., Suite D, Capitola, CA, 95010 • 831.999.0120 www.risesantacruz.com/

In today’s fast-paced world, where individual achievement often takes precedence, there is a growing movement towards reconnecting with our roots – building a sense of community and wellness. This movement isn’t just about working out alone; it’s about creating spaces where people can come together, learn from each other, and grow stronger together. Explore the wide range of fitness services and programs we offer to help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Whether you’re looking for personal training, group fitness classes, nutrition counseling, or specialized workout programs, we have everything you need to make your fitness journey a success.

SANDCASTLE TOYS

509 Bay Avenue Front, Capitola, California 95010 • 9099 Soquel Drive, Building 2, Aptos, CA 95003 • 831.900.8939 • www.sandcastletoys.com

Welcome to Santa Cruz’s premier toy store, where play meets purpose! Each toy in our collection is thoughtfully selected to nurture your child’s development through open-ended play, natural materials, and timeless design. Whether you're seeking heirloom-quality wooden toys, sensory-rich games, or educational tools that inspire curiosity, we have something magical for every little explorer. Visit us to discover toys that bring joy to children and parents alike!

SANTA CRUZ LIGHT THERAPY™

540 Soquel Avenue, Suite 6, Santa Cruz, CA, 95062 • 831-387-9401 santacruzlighttherapy.com/

Santa Cruz Light Therapy™ offers powerful, documented, and effective light therapy solutions with FDA-cleared LightStim® Light Therapy Treatment Devices. Experience cutting-edge technology that delivers real, radiant results! We offer this innovative treatment to clients who are seeking a safe, non-invasive method to improve their skin, injury recovery, diminish inflammation, and enhance deep sleep. But the benefits don’t stop there – athletes rely on red LED light therapy to improve performance and speed up recovery post-injury or surgery, thanks to circulation-boosting photo-bio-modulation.

SEAHORSE SWIM SCHOOL

1505 Seascape Boulevard, Aptos, CA 95003 • 831.661.5110

www.seahorseswimschool.com

Private, semi-private, small groups a non-competitive swim team and parent-tot lessons are taught with patience, encouragement and expertise. Seahorse Swim School’s goal is to encourage water safety, water confidence and overall fitness in Santa Cruz County. We work with beginning swimmers who have never been in a pool as well as more advanced

swimmers who would like to refine their existing strokes. We can help the intermediate and advanced swimmer of all ages improve their swimming technique, which will in turn, allow them to move more effectively and efficiently in the water.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville • 831.722.7110 • www.thefoodbank.org

At Second Harvest Food Bank, our mission is to inspire and support Santa Cruz County to provide nourishment for all community members. We strive to continually improve processes and protocols to support inclusive and equitable practices and decision making at all organization levels. We share our wealth with our partners – the stronger they are, the stronger we are. We work towards talking less and listening more. We believe in the inherent dignity of all people.

SENIOR BENEFITS INSURANCE SERVICES

64 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos • 831.661.0700 • www.seniorbenefits.care

In 2000, Bill Weber founded Senior Benefits. Due to Bill’s commitment to his client’s needs and the rapid growth of Senior Benefits, he soon needed a skilled partner. Ken Cook, an already established insurance agent, partnered with Bill to help grow Senior Benefits into the top insurance agency specializing in Medicare in the Santa Cruz area. Ken continues Bill’s vision of assisting seniors in navigating Medicare and finding the best solutions for their needs.

SOTHEBY’S

831.566.2263

INTERNATIONAL

REALTY – AMBER MELENUDO

As a Santa Cruz County resident for over 23 years, and SF Bay Area native, Amber can understand and meet the needs of a diverse group of clientele. The cornerstone to Amber’s business is her commitment to integrity and operating under the “Golden Rule,” which has brought her tremendous success and professionally recognized reputation. Amber has become one of the most successful Realtors in the area, and is in the Top 1% of Producing Agents in the county.

STAFF OF LIFE

906 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville • 831.726.0240

1266 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz • 831.423.8632 • www.staffoflifemarket.com

Staff of Life Natural Foods, a Santa Cruz landmark specializing in farm to fork goodness was opened in 1969 by Richard Josephson and Gary Bascou to address the growing demand for organic produce, natural meats, and bulk shopping. From our beginning we have grown from a small natural foods bakery into a major natural foods supermarket that has become a Santa Cruz tradition. Our promise to our customer is simply to offer the best products at the best price.

THE HEALTHY WAY

3251 Mission Dr., Santa Cruz • 831.462.5900 • www.thehealthyway.us

Stay focused on your goals with one-on-one sessions with your wellness counselor. They keep you accountable, offer support, guidance, and lots of education! We offer individualized weight loss programs for men, women, children, vegetarians, and those with special dietary needs such as: gluten-free, food allergies, and sugar addiction concerns. The Healthy Way specializes in blood sugar control. Our clients have had dramatic results improving diabetic and cholesterol issues.

VALLEY HEIGHTS SENIOR RENTAL COMMUNITY

925 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville, California 95076 • 831.722.4884

www.valleyheights.com

Valley Heights is an independent apartment community for active senior citizens. We provide services and added features designed to meet changing needs and expectations of retirees from the burden of home maintenance and daily household routines. Along with a spacious, contemporary apartment, Valley Heights provides services to eliminate time consuming tasks of everyday living like housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, social and education activities, 24-hour security, and local weekday transportation.

WOODSTOVE & SUN

510 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz CA 95062 • 831.425.5123

www.woodstoveandsun.com

Woodstove & Sun has been heating homes on the Central Coast since 1982. We carry gas, wood, electric, and pellet fireplaces, inserts, and stoves. We also now carry a wide array of outdoor products, including outdoor furniture, kitchens, BBQ’s, fire pits, and more. Our friendly team of experts specializes in helping you choose the best fireplace for your home and will assist you with your project from design ideas through installation.

Hard of Hearing Rx: Check Your Nutrients

By Jondi Gumz

Conventional wisdom is that when older adults experience hearing loss, it’s attributed to exposure to loud noise or age – and it’s not reversible.

Last year, five doctors in Korea, studying 6,907 people, some with hearing in both ears, some with one good ear, and others with disabling hearing loss, found those with hearing loss – especially women – are susceptible to nutrient deficiencies. Their study was published in Scientific Reports.

The doctors recommended, along with hearing aids, nutritional consultation or supplementation.

The doctors, led by Sang-Yoon Han at Hanyang University College of Medicine, evaluated the nutritional intake of participants, finding “the quantity of nutrient consumption decreased progressively with worsening functional hearing status in middle-aged and older adults, even after adjusting for other variables.”

Which nutrients?

Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin B complex. Fiber. Calcium, phosphate, potassium, magnesium, iron. Protein and carbohydrates. Water.

For women, zinc was notably deficient. So were omega-3 fatty acids.

For men, fiber intake was notably lower than adequate. The doctors did compare the intake of fat, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and sodium between the hearing loss and hearing groups, finding no differences.

Previous research found intake of magnesium reduced hearing damage among military recruits in Germany exposed to noise from firearms during two months of basic training compared to those who did not take magnesium.

The doctors in Korea concluded, “Therefore, nutritional interventions, including supplements or dietary consultations, should be considered essential for those with disabling hearing loss to prevent further hearing loss.”

A 2013 study in France on hearing of 1,823 subjects age 45-60 over 13 years found consumption of red meat and organ meat, which is nutrient dense, was associated with better hearing in women. Consumption of seafood and shellfish, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, was associated with better hearing in men. A 2014 study of 65,215 U.S. women followed from 1991 to 2009 reported consumption of 2 or more servings of fish per week was associated with a lower risk of hearing loss.

Since 1977, Community Bridges has been a catalyst for a brighter future by delivering fundamental resources for the people of Santa Cruz County. Our family of ten vital programs across 20 different sites serves thousands of local children, families, and seniors each year. While each program is remarkable on its own, together we are unstoppable.

CommunityBridges.org/donate

LEARN