ISSUE 141
FINDING the FOUNTAIN of YOUTH ADVANCES IN COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY WITH DR. PATRICK BITTER JR. PG 29
6
WAYS TO MAKE WORKING A DESK JOB HEALTHIER PG 09
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Leading a healthy, well-balanced life is a challenging undertaking for many of us. New advancements in lifestyle or nutrition come to life daily, and the busy rhythm of our lives often prevents us from keeping up with what’s fun and fresh. Here at Top Doctor Magazine, we are on a mission to bring these advancements to your attention and become a source of inspiration for those who want to live their lives to the fullest. Our contributors will constantly keep you up to speed with fresh, entertaining, and reliable content, from nutrition and travel to lifestyle choices! We hope that our handpicked ideas will guide you towards selfrealization, self-improvement, and willingness to help those around you better themselves.
CONT 09 17 22 29 6 Ways to Make Working a Desk Job Healthier
The Effects of Gardening and Plants on Your Wellness
How Fear Affects Your Immune System
Finding the Fountain of Youth: Advances in Cosmetic Dermatology with Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr.
ENTS 36 45 51 56 How Food Can Affect Your Mood: The Psychological Importance of Eating Healthy Food
“Everyone Is an Artist” - An Interview with Dr. Anjali Rajpal
Exploring the Ethics of Regenerative Medicine with Dr. Rathna Nuti
Caffeine and Acne
6 WAYS TO MAKE WORKING A DESK JOB HEALTHIER WORDS BY ANN Y.
8
“One in four American adults sit for longer than eight hours every day.”
T
oo much sitting at your desk can have adverse effects on your health. There are a lot of health issues about sitting for a long time as it will affect your body posture, mental health and stress levels. In a Center for Disease Control
and Prevention report, one in four American adults sit for longer than eight hours every day. On average,
Americans sit for about 11 hours each day. So, how can you make your desk job healthier by eliminating the health issues such as the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other health issues caused by sitting for long hours in the office?
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 9
01
02
TAKE A BREAK, WALK AND STRETCH
STAND UP WHILE WORKING
Make it a point to get up and stretch every hour.
While working, get out of your chair and stand
Our bodies are dynamic systems that require movement. Sitting at your computer for too long can cause musculoskeletal abnormalities as well as other health problems, including heart disease, obesity and diabetes. On the other hand, studies have proven the benefits of regularly
up. Your office should be a place where you can work while standing up for at least some time of the day. Many office workers now have cell phones and laptops, so why not make a few calls while standing up or write out a report while standing at the top of a filing cabinet?
getting up from your desk to stretch and walk. So grab a cup of coffee, go to the restroom, check in with your supervisor, or simply go for a 5-minute stroll! Every hour or two, a 5-minute stretch and walk will do wonders for your body. Stretching your muscles and reorienting your skeletal system takes only a few minutes. The time away from work will also revitalize you and allow you to refocus on your tasks. Take the chance to walk when you answer your cell phone or talk with your co-worker. Through this, you can curb physical inactivity in the workplace. In addition, this is a great way to mobilize your body, burn excess calories and get a chance to boost your mental clarity and energy level. On your next working hours at the desk, make sure to get up, take a break every hour to do some stretches and try not to sit still for longer than one hour or longer!
10
“Every hour or two, a five-minute stretch and walk will do wonders for your body.”
“If you work at a desk job, exercise at least three to four times per week for just 30 minutes to keep your energy up at work and to be able to last the entire day.”
04
03 TAKE THE STAIRS
EXERCISE REGULARLY
Stair climbing can be your best friend if you
With adequate diet, sleep and regular exercise,
have a desk job and spend long hours. You may
everyone can attain a healthy lifestyle. Regular
find it challenging at first, especially if you work
exercise
on the tenth floor of the building. Take the first
maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you work at a
always
an
essential
part
of
two floors and ride the elevator up to your floor
desk job, exercise at least three to four times per
if you’re a first-timer in stair climbing.
week for just 30 minutes to keep your energy up
Aim for 10,000 steps every day and avoid using elevators. Using a tracker, keep track of your daily steps. To get more steps per day, take the stairs. Parking in a location away from your business and climbing up the stairs is a smart option. Make it a daily habit before and after going to work.
12
is
at work and to be able to last the entire day.
05
06
LOOK AWAY FROM TIME TO TIME
DON’T FORGET YOUR POSTURE!
To help your eyesight, take a break from your
Maintaining a proper posture is essential to
computer screen now and then. Your eyes
achieve excellent overall health. While staying
deserve a break, too. Take roughly 15 to 30
at the desk, you should always keep your back
seconds every 10 minutes to glance out the
straight and your feet on the ground. Make sure
window. Who knows, maybe you’ll finally notice
your chair supports your back and posture while
the splendid view just outside your window!
not putting unnecessary strain on your back muscles and discs.
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 13
A PARTING REMINDER Working at a desk for eight hours a day doesn’t mean you have to go home and watch television for another eight hours. Figure out how to get active time into your schedule outside of work as well. For example, take a group exercise class, go to the gym early in the morning, or go on a family walk in the evening with your family. Even if you’re in good health, sitting all day isn’t beneficial for you. However, with a bit of planning, you too can add extra exercise to your daily life!
14
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THE EFFECTS OF GARDENING AND PLANTS ON YOUR WELLNESS WORDS BY ADAM RAUHAUSER
M
Many of us found ourselves spending far more time at
home than we’d anticipated during the past two years. Amid the global pandemic, research indicates that record
numbers of people turned to gardening, cultivating their own “coronavirus victory gardens.” People have
increasingly turned to gardening for several reasons: educating their kids, providing healthy food for their family amid grocery store shortages, and even keeping one’s mind occupied.
Whatever their initial motive, most people report that their wellness has improved. And what you’ve heard about the benefits of gardening isn’t exaggerated: the science tells us that digging into horticulture significantly improves people’s wellness and overall quality of life. But why? The benefits of gardening are two-pronged. It provides exercise for the whole body in a healthy environment. And this exercise, in turn, improves mental health, helping you feel happier and think more clearly. Gardening is not only easy to get into, but it might be just the wellness habit you need to truly thrive amid the pressures of the new normal.
17
GARDENING: THE MODERATE-INTENSITY EXERCISE FOR HIGHINTENSITY LIVES The CDC classifies gardening as a “moderate-intensity exercise.” If you’ve never gardened before, you might be surprised to hear this activity lumped in with a jog on a treadmill, but those with experience know that gardening uses every major muscle group. According to the CDC, working with a garden burns up to 330 calories in one hour, more than walking for the same duration. Just 30 minutes of this moderate-intensity exercise per day is enough to prevent or mitigate high blood pressure. The exercise of gardening has several other benefits, too. For instance, a University of Pennsylvania study found that gardeners are more likely than the average person to get a solid seven hours of sleep per night.
SUNLIGHT: A VITAL NUTRIENT? You and your plants have something in common: you both use sunlight to produce vital nutrients. Believe it or not, your skin uses light to manufacture a nutrient called Vitamin D, so gardening might be just the excuse you need to soak up some sun. Just 30 minutes in the garden produces between 8,000 and 50,000 international units (IU) of Vitamin D in your body, depending on the degree to which your clothes cover your skin. Your body uses Vitamin D to absorb calcium and strengthen your bones and immune system. Low levels of Vitamin D, on the other hand, can lead to several ailments, including psoriasis flares, diabetes and dementia. So even if you’re in a rush to acquire the benefits of having the sun on your skin, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to minimize your risk of skin cancer.
18
20
“GARDENING HELPS YOU FIND THIS FLOW STATE, AND AS A RESULT, CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR ATTENTION SPAN.”
ENTERING THE FLOW STATE This era of multitasking rarely leaves time to focus on a single thing for long. Experts warn that constant multitasking weakens our mental health by depriving us of the experience of “flow state,” or deep concentration arising from a prolonged focus on a single project. Gardening helps you find this flow state, and as a result, can help improve your attention span. The mental stimulation of horticulture is particularly beneficial to the elderly. Several studies in various parts of the world have shown that those with age-related mental issues, such as dementia, experience better memory after gardening as little as 20 minutes per day.
A CALM, GREEN ENVIRONMENT
Gardening is also beneficial for stress reduction. Gwenn Fried, manager of Horticulture Therapy at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation, notes that people’s cortisol levels tend to decrease in calm, green environments. According to a 2011 study, gardening is more effective than reading for draining cortisol from your brain after a stressful activity. Though not a treatment for mental health issues, gardening is the perfect supplement to other psychological treatments.
THE PERFECT WELLNESS SUPPLEMENT Though gardening is not a cure for mental and physical issues, it is the perfect supplement to any wellness routine. As you get your green thumb ready for action, remember that mistakes often happen when gardening: a host of issues, from bugs to poor
Charlie Hall, a PhD at Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension
soil quality, may lead to disappointing results. But
Service, says that being outside increases self-esteem,
don’t let this stop you — in fact, gardening can teach
reduces anger and generally improves individuals’
you that mistakes are a part of life! Learning to master
mental health. Gardening has been shown to decrease
these mistakes will deepen your psychological roots
depression and anxiety. The process of watching your
and bring mental wellness into full bloom.
hard work blossom and grow also boosts your selfesteem because you get to see your hard work paying off.
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 21
FEAR HOW
A F F E C T S YO U R I M M U N E SYS T E M WORDS BY ANN Y.
W
hat do you know about your im-
Memory, Brain and Mental Health: Too much fear isn’t
mune system and fear? Fear is a
harmful only to your body but also your brain. It can
human emotion sparked by the
hinder the formation of long-term memories and cause
perception of danger; it’s a basic
damage to particular sections of the brain, which might
survival system that tells our bodies to fight or flight
disrupt your memory. When long-term fear might lead
when we’re in danger. As human beings, fear can help
to other repercussions such as weariness, sadness
us be safe, but we don’t know that constant fear can lead
and PTSD, your mental health will be jeopardized. It
to a weaker immune system. Fear can have harmful effects in all parts of our lives and even threaten the balance of our immune systems if we live in continual fear, mainly from physical hazards in our environment or the threats we perceive.
ARE YOU L IVIN G UN DE R CON STANT F E A R? Living under continual fear has major health implications. Below are some of the health consequences of chronic fear: Your Body: Fear wreaks havoc on our immune systems, resulting in cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders like ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, and reduced reproductive potential. It hastens the aging process.
22
can have a detrimental impact on our thinking and decision-making, making us more vulnerable to powerful emotions and impulsive behaviors.
FE A R ’ S E FFE C T O N TH E I M M U NE SYS TE M We already know that fear has the advantage of assisting us in preparing to react to dangers. But when in chronic fear, our bodies generate hormones that can slow or shut down functions that are necessary for survival, such as our digestive system. According to Dr. Tracey Stiles, the downside of fear is that it can reduce your immune response, leading to an immune system dysfunction is one of the potential consequences of chronic fear.
“
LIVING UNDER
CONTINUAL FEAR HAS M A J O R H E A LT H I M P L I CAT I O N S .
”
“
DON’T LET FEAR
TA K E OV E R A N D C O N T R O L YO U R E V E R Y D AY L I F E .
”
WHAT IS IMMUN E SYS T EM DYSF UN CT ION ? Immune system dysfunction means that you have an autoimmune disorder where your immune system causes abnormally low activity or overactivity. The body attacks and damages its own tissues. Immune deficiency diseases decrease the body’s ability to fight invaders, thereby causing it to be vulnerable to infections. Examples of autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid bowel
arthritis,
disease,
lupus,
multiple
inflammatory
sclerosis,
type
1 diabetes mellitus, psoriasis and vasculitis.
THE DIF F E R E N CE BE T W E E N HEA LT HY A N D UN HE A LT H Y F EAR Our neurological system has been conditioned to fear ever since we were babies. It instills in us the survival instincts we require to stay safe when in danger. Healthy fear is a normal reaction to danger, such as when you encounter a dangerous snake and run for safety. Unhealthy fear, on the other hand, can be harmful. An example of this is when you are afraid of meeting new acquaintances or people. This is a form of fear that prevents you from doing things you could enjoy.
H O W TO D E A L W I TH FE A R A ND A NX I E TY ? The first thing to do is to acknowledge and learn from your fear and take the proper measures: Take the time to exercise: Because it requires concentration, exercise can help you take your mind out of fear and anxiety. Take the time to relax: Meditation and relaxation techniques can help you with the mental and physical side-effects of fear. Breathing techniques during yoga classes can help you drop your shoulders and breathe deeply. A good massage at the spa can also help you relax. Eat healthily: Choose to eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables while trying to avoid consuming too much sugar, tea and coffee.
A PA R TI NG R E M I ND E R Ask for help if needed; talk to someone if you feel anxious and fearful. Don’t let fear take over and control your everyday life. Your doctor, friends, spouse and colleagues can help ease the burden of what you feel inside of you. Always remember that your health, mind and body matter more than your inconceivable anxiousness and fear.
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 25
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FINDING THE FOUNTAIN
OF YOUTH Advances in Cosmetic Dermatology with Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr. by Ionuț Raicea
I
n 1521, about 500
CEO at Patrick Bitter, Jr., MD
years
Advanced Aesthetic Dermatology,
fantastic time for whoever is inter-
has to share.
ested in keeping their skin healthy
ago,
Juan
Ponce de León, the famous Spanish explorer and conquistador, set foot on Southwest
Florida
with the clear goal to discover the Foun-
tain of Youth. Five centuries later,
another pioneer in the search for
eternal youth, this time in cosmetic
dermatology, bought a house close to where Ponce de León and his party first debarked on Floridian soil.
Coincidence or fate? Either way, it’s an exciting story that Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr., a Stanford University School of Medicine alumnus and
“Ponce de León didn’t find the Fountain of Youth, but I did!” Dr. Bitter said. Although all of us enjoy a thrilling myth from time to time, Dr. Bitter Jr.’s words are as accurate of a statement
cosmetic dermatology, and it’s a
and slowing down the way their skin ages,” he said. All we have to do is seize the moment, and Dr. Bitter Jr. is delighted to guide us towards achieving our facial aesthetic goals!
as they can be. His contagious
Dr. Bitter Jr. enlightens us on IPL
excitement and hopefulness helped
(i.e., Intense Pulsed Light) and BBL
paint a confident image of cosmetic
(i.e., BroadBand Light), the two
dermatology, which now, in 2021,
cosmetic therapies improved and
harnesses more advanced tools than
perfected by himself, and helps
ever in the fight against skin aging. “This is a fantastic and very exciting
us understand the benefits of preventative cosmetic treatments.
time to be in cosmetic medicine and
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 29
Giving Hope to the Patient
So Dr. Bitter Jr. made the patients’ fears, doubts, and discomforts his primary object of care.
Dr. Bitter Jr.’s search for lifelong healthy skin began at a fragile age, when he first glanced at his father’s dermatology-relate journals. Pictures of graphic skin diseases prompted the young Dr. Bitter Jr. to take matters into his own hands and pursue the best training available in dermatology. After finishing his dermatology residency at Stanford, Dr. Bitter Jr. was finally ready to embark upon his quest to find the promised land
patients) was all about giving them hope,” he said. Fortunately, the discovery of superior technologies allowed Dr. Bitter Jr. to switch his area of interest from medical to cosmetic dermatology and approach cosmetic care his way. “With the advent of new treatments and technologies in the last 20 to 30 years that have allowed us to do things for our patients we
of lifelong youthfulness.
only could dream of before, it was
His initial voyages into dermatology
evolve into cosmetic dermatology.
were
primarily
medical
and
surgical. During his medical school years at Stanford, he saw numerous skin issues in elderly patients who were World War I veterans, which
a natural thing for me to really Today, my practice in Silicon Valley is 95% cosmetic dermatology,” Dr. Bitter said.
ed to talk to my patients,” he said.
Serendipity, Observation, Passion, and the Fotofacial Procedure
Even 40 years later, Dr. Bitter Jr.
Five centuries after Ponce de León,
joyfully recalls his patients’ centu-
Dr. Bitter Jr. is happy to claim
ry-old stories.
lifelong youthful skin for the field
gave Dr. Bitter Jr. a chance to choose a future path. “Surgery didn’t appeal to me because it was in the operating room, and you didn’t talk to the patient. I want-
“I realized that every interaction I had with a patient in dermatology was either addressing something that was a fear that they had something bad, or a rash that made them really uncomfortable or they had something visible on their skin that they were embarrassed by,” he said.
30
“My interaction with them (i.e., the
of cosmetic dermatology through his
world-renowned
Fotofacial
procedure. This treatment employs intense light pulses to rejuvenate facial skin, stimulate new collagen production and inhibit natural aging signs. Dr. Bitter Jr.’s discovery relies upon his personalized use of IPL and BBL devices.
I’m not a spot doctor. I’m a skin doctor. And so I started to just experiment by treating not just spots, but treating the whole face. - DR. PATRICK BITTER JR.
Now, at the age of 65, he sees his skin
younger-looking
than
his
43-year-old self. “I think I’ve done 135 or 140 (i.e., BBL
“I’m not a spot doctor. I’m a skin doctor. And so I started to just experiment by treating not just spots, but treating the whole face,” he said.
treatments) on myself by now and
The second ingredient in Dr. Bitter
kept evolving the techniques as the
Jr. ‘s discovery of the anti-aging
BBL technology has evolved. And
power of light was keen observation.
now, 22 years later, my skin looks
After having realized that he was
better than it did when I was 43…
onto something of great benefit
Way better,” he said.
to his patients Dr. Bitter Jr. put his
The Fotofacial procedure owes its
idea to the test. The rest is history.
development to three factors. As
He has now done more than
with most scientific and medical
40,000 treatments on thousands of
discoveries, Dr. Bitter Jr. gives
patients and millions of pulses of
credit to serendipity for discovering
light have been used for treatments.
the right path to youthful skin.
But Dr. Bitter Jr. could never have
“The serendipitous part was the office manager saying one day, years ago ‘Why don’t you learn how
glanced at the shores of lifelong youthful skin without the trust of his patients.
to use the IPL device? And then
“I really have tremendous gratitude for
you could help pay for the lease
all of the patients that have trusted
payments on it,’” Dr. Bitter shared. While his father mainly used the IPL device to treat skin spots, Dr. Bitter Jr.
me to try things on them over the years because that’s where I really learned how to do what I do,” he said.
broke free of the standard approach and took IPL to the next level.
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 31
With the brilliant engineers at Sciton continually improving their technology and passionate clinicians like myself exploring new ways to use this technology, we have a beautiful example of the best of technology meeting clinical expertise.
The third and final ingredient to Dr.
ways to use this technology we
helped Dr. Bitter Jr. achieved his
Bitter Jr.’s phenomenal success is
have a beautiful example of the
well-deserved fame in the world of aesthetic medicine.
brilliant technology. Decades ago,
best of technology meeting clinical
when Dr. Bitter Jr. was making his
expertise. And it is just this coming
first steps into cosmetic derma-
together of industry and clinical
tology, “the original company that
practice that has made possible
pioneered IPL was on the brink
for everyone a lifetime of healthy
of bankruptcy and IPL was on the
youthful skin and today, with Sci-
verge of being abandoned as a tool
ton’s new BBL Hero Technology,
in medicine because it was not well
we now can truly create healthy
received at all in dermatology and
youthful skin anywhere on the
plastic surgery circles”.
body. Something Ponce De Leon
However, after Dr. Bitter pioneered the Fotofacial procedure using IPL
come a reality,” he said.
to treat the whole face IPL began
He estimates that 20,000 people a
to be accepted as an essential
day are treated with a BBL device
technology in treating skin. Within
across the globe. And there is one
five years of the introduction of
simple reason for this: people love
Dr. Bitter’s Fotofacial procedure
the way these treatments make
Sciton introduced BBL, the most
their skin look.
advanced IPL technology available allowing Dr. Bitter to develop even better techniques and protocols.
32
and I only dreamt of has now be-
Passion, astute observation, technology and a drop of luck —”this perfect union or marriage” of fac-
“With the brilliant engineers at Sci-
tors led to many thousands of hap-
ton continually improving their
py customers, whose skin looks, as
technology and passionate clini-
Dr. Bitter Jr. puts it, “half their age.”
cians like myself exploring new
Such a game-changing discovery
“I discovered that light could fix things like red faces and sundamaged skin, and that was the birth of the Fotofacial treatment. I realized that this was valuable, so I gave a name to the process that I came up with,” he said. However, with most great innovations comes great responsibility, and Dr. Bitter Jr. was ready to share his secret to the rejuvenative power of light with fellow cosmetic dermatologists. He has trained almost 10,000 practitioners in using light-based technology. Now, these aesthetic practitioners bring the anti-aging benefits of light treatments to patients around the world.
“I May be 65, but I don’t Want to Look 65” Cosmetic dermatology made it possible for us to create a firm wall between the aging process and its effects on the face.
Dr. Bitter Jr. advises younger adults
For more information on Dr. Bitter
not to wait until they have aged but
Jr.’s work and treatments, make
to undergo light treatments when
sure that you check out his website
already in their 20s or 30s, when
and Instagram by scanning the QR
their skin is healthy and still looks
codes below. For information on Dr.
youthful.
Bitter’s Master the BBL and BBL
“I published several pio-neering papers on the discovery that if you the full face, you could make the
“You don’t have to look old as you
skin not only look a lot better but stay
and you can choose to age while looking great and feeling great.”
looking better with age,” he said. Preventative cosmetic treatments, coupled with a balanced lifestyle
In the end, it all boils down to our
and a healthy diet, will help you
choices: we can accept the aging
maintain younger looking skin and
process and let it affect how we
scan the QR code below.
did regular treatments with BBL on
As Dr. Bitter Jr. helps us. understand, get older. Looking old is not a given,
HERO Advanced Online Training,
Website
“look and feeling great as you age.”
look or we can seek out a cosmetic specialist and do something about it. “I may be 65, but I don’t want to look 65. I know what 65-year-old men look like, and I don’t want to look that way, and I don’t want to feel that way. I live my life, and do Fotofacial treatments with BBL on myself because it’s the choice I make to keep my skin healthy and looking young which makes me feel good,” he said. All of us now have access to the 21stcentury ‘Fountain of Youth” that Dr. Bitter Jr. has discovered and shared with the world. And the sooner we “drink” from it, the better.
A Parting Reminder
Dr. Bitter Jr.’s work and way of life prove that Ponce de León’s quest has reached a noteworthy milestone:
the
aging
process
can be delayed with the proper techniques and technology.
BBL
“Even after 25 years, I continue to be amazed at the magic of broad band light on the skin. The future is very bright for those of us who want to keep our skin healthy and young,” he shared.
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 35
HOW FOOD CAN AFFECT YOUR MOOD:
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF EATING HEALTHY FOOD
WORDS BY MERALD AYSON
H
ave you ever wondered why food tastes different depending on your mood? Believe it or not, the food you eat can affect how your mind feels.
The food we choose to put into our bodies has a significant impact on every aspect of our lives, from physical health and wellbeing to mental and emotional states. It’s an integral part of life that should be taken seriously and given the right amount of attention. The food we eat should make us feel good inside and out – it is designed for more than just satisfying hunger pangs!
36
THE LINK BETWEEN FOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH
How food affects
Becoming conscious of food’s effect on mood is
eat. If you eat lots of foods made
essential to becoming more aware of your mental health. Food is not just sustenance for the body but also for the mind. Therefore, better awareness about food will help you make smarter food choices that are infinitely healthier for yourself. Food influences mood in many ways, from physical cravings based on certain foods to emotional comfort food when feeling down. When we’re hungry, food becomes our source of nourishment that fuels our bodies with energy and optimizes our well-being. However, food should never be used as a replacement for emotional support. The food you choose to eat can considerably affect your mental health, so be careful about food’s role in your life. Psychologists believe that food can influence mood because of the chemicals it contains. When food enters our bodies, proteins are broken down by enzymes and produce amino acids that supply the brain with serotonin, one of the hormones responsible for regulating mood. However, while certain foods contain more serotonin than others (such as carbohydrates which boost serotonin
on what kind of food you from refined carbohydrates such as white bread (sugar), white rice (sugar) and pasta (sugar!), it’s no wonder that you feel like crashing out after eating all that sugar! Your blood sugar levels dramatically rise when consuming large amounts of refined carbohydrates, which is why we often crave sugary food items because we want to crash out and sleep (to recover from feeling tired and sluggish). On the other hand, if we eat food made from whole grains such as brown rice and multigrain bread, the food will break down slower in our systems because of the high fiber content! This means that we won’t experience a dramatic spike in blood sugar levels and therefore keep going for longer (without crashing out). If you want to stay happy and healthy, it’s important to pay attention to your food intake. Eating food that takes a longer time to break down (such as whole grains) is a good idea — this ensures that you benefit from proper nutrients and minerals.
will also be a delayed response from how food
FOODS TO BOOST YOUR MOOD AND ENERGY LEVELS
affects us later on.
By eating foods that boost energy levels, men-
levels), food may not always translate into mood precisely as we expect it to. This is because food doesn’t just affect our mood right away; there
HOW THE FOODS YOU EAT AFFECT HOW YOU FEEL
tal performance, mood and motivation, you will feel more uplifted and ready to face the challenges of today!
Food can be broken down into three main food
Here are some healthy food suggestions to keep
groups: carbohydrates, proteins and fats. All these
your mental health in good shape. It’s a good idea
food groups play a vital role in keeping us healthy and
to eat these types of food every day.
providing us with energy to get through the day.
38
your mood depends
“
By eating foods that boost energy levels, mental performance, mood and motivation, you will feel more uplifted and ready to face the challenges of today!
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 39
LEAN PROTEIN Proteins make up a large portion of our brains and mental health. Consuming lean protein from fish, poultry, pork, eggs and low-fat dairy products will help you feel better about yourself physically and mentally because your brain needs vital vitamins and minerals that only healthy proteins can provide. Foods such as fish tuna (rich in Omega-3 fatty acids), turkey breast, chicken breast (lean meat is significant for mental performance), lean ham and pork tenderloin are all excellent choices for mental health.
GOOD CARBOHYDRATES You don’t want to eliminate carbohydrates from your system because they boost energy levels! Healthy carbohydrates include oatmeal or porridge for breakfast, whole-grain bread or pasta for lunch and dinner.
HEALTHY FATS The brain loves fats, so it’s a beautiful idea to give it some essential fatty foods! Essential fatty acids nourish the brain and have been found to improve mental performance. Foods such as whole-grain cold cereals, avocados, olive oil, seeds, nuts (like almonds) and fatty fish such as salmon are all foods that boost mental health.
40
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Fruits and vegetables are good for mental health because they provide the body with the essential nutrients it needs. It’s best to eat at least five servings of fruit or vegetables per day, so try incorporating these healthy food items into your diet.
VITAMIN C AND ANTIOXIDANTS This natural antioxidant protects our cells from damage caused by free radicals. Try eating more oranges, grapefruits, kiwis or strawberries because these types of fruit contain high quantities of vitamin C!
WATER Mental performance is affected by dehydration, so it’s a good idea to drink at least eight glasses of water per day, preferably more! If you’re not a fan of water, juice and other healthy beverages will work as substitutes.
41
“
Mental health is just as important as physical health, so we should take the same care in nourishing our mental selves as we do in our physical selves.
TAKING THE ROAD TO MINDFUL EATING Mental health is just as important as physical health, so we should take the same care in nourishing our
mental selves as we do in our physical selves.
The foods mentioned above are best for boosting mental performance, mood, and overall mental
well-being. However, it’s important to remember that food should never be used as a replacement for emotional support — good food choices and mindful eating will benefit your mental health while taking care of your body simultaneously. Mindful eating helps you become more aware of why you’re eating food; it’s a way of thinking about what you eat instead of blindly eating food for an energy boost.
As you take on the road to mindful eating, make sure to consider all these points when making decisions about what to put into your body — it’s essential for both your mental and physical health!
42
t is t r a
EVERYONE IS AN AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. ANJALI RAJPAL WO RDS BY I O N UȚ RA I CE A
E
veryone is an artist, the
“I have more of an eye for how a
seems interesting to me. I still paint
smile suits a patient’s face. And it
a lot. I sculpt a little bit, but just oc-
Joseph Beuys famously
just feels like I am creating art,” Dr.
casionally,” Dr. Rajpal said.
once said, attempting
Rajpal shared.
German
art
theorist
to encapsulate the deep meaning
of art and its creator in the fewest
words possible. And the message behind this quote still eludes many of its readers. Some of us identify true art in a sculpture or a painting. Others, in being a good manager, or even a good parent. It’s all about responding to the natural call to creativity and finding one’s voice to respond to it. Dr. Anjali Rajpal, nicknamed the “Diamond Dentist,” a world-renowned cosmetic dentist from Beverly Hills Dental Arts, found her artistic essence in putting a beautiful smile on patients’ faces.
From two of the five fine arts, Dr.
From sculpting and painting to
Rajpal built a successful career in
cosmetic
dentistry. Her academic cursus
dentistry,
Dr.
Rajpal
heeds her calling to art in every-
the
thing she touches.
Rajpal
propensity
has
nurtured
towards
art
most
reputable
learning
institutions in the country, which
ART IN ITS MULTIPLE SHAPES AND FORMS Dr.
honorum took Dr. Rajpal through
endowed her with the knowledge and skills required to start her own her and
creativity from a young age. Having inherited her mother’s passion for painting, Dr. Rajpal took her first artistic steps in sculpting and painting, bringing anything that her imagination conjured up to life. “I love making things in general, anything creative. I will make things out of fabric or different mediums,
practice in Beverly Hills. “I went to the University of Michigan for undergrad where I did a Bachelor of Science in Bio-Psychology. I then went on to Tufts University in Boston for my DMD dental degree. After that, I completed a general practice residency in LA at CedarsSinai Medical Center. I then started practicing in Beverly Hills, and I have been here ever since,” she said.
such as wire, plaster, clay, whatever
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 141 / 45
Not only did this passion for art
ible, restorative materials to help
is her determination to dazzle
point her towards countless perfect
the teeth achieve correct align-
each of her patients with an even
smiles and grateful patients, but it
ment. Tools such as clear ortho-
more dazzling smile that, from the
also gave Dr. Rajpal the peace of
dontic aligners (e.g., Invisalign),
moment she welcomes you in her
mind we all needed to overcome
veneers, crowns and natural-look-
office, Dr. Rajpal already has her
the COVID-19 pandemic.
ing porcelain restorations help Dr.
next masterpiece ready in her mind.
Rajpal replace misalignments and
All she needs is to bring it to life.
“When we were in the lockdown, I was painting a lot because that was all I could do to keep myself busy,” Dr. Rajpal said.
USING COSMETIC DENTISTRY TO ACHIEVE A NATURAL LOOK Years of diligent, industrious education gave Dr. Rajpal the privilege of taking cosmetic dentistry to the next level. For Dr. Rajpal, cosmetic dentistry is the use of biocompat-
46
imperfections with a perfect, natural smile that, with proper maintenance, can last a lifetime. “It is my goal to always have my
“I can naturally make temporaries or make permanent restorations just by hand, without needing anything to help me shape it, just
restorations look as natural as
by using my eye and my ability to
possible, so my patients don’t go
assess the shape of neighboring
out into the world and have people
teeth, or just by coming up with
notice that they had any work
something out of nowhere that
done,” she said.
matches the patient’s look in their
Every patient becomes a unique art project for Dr. Rajpal, who sees all the rewards she could ever hope for in beautiful smiles. Such
face structure,” she said.
“IT IS MY GOAL TO ALWAYS HAVE MY RESTORATIONS LOOK AS AS POSSIBLE, SO MY PATIENTS DON’T GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND HAVE PEOPLE NOTICE THAT THEY HAD ANY WORK DONE.”
natural natura l
- DR. ANJALI RAJPAL
spectacular spectacula r
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT A WORK OF ART CANNOT OVERSEE EVEN THE SMALLEST OF DETAILS, AND DR. RAJPAL, WITH HER ARTISTIC PROWESS, CAN TURN YOUR SMILE INTO AN ENDLESS RESERVOIR OF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. A CHARMING SMILE DOES WONDERS TO YOUR CONFIDENCE Is bringing the perfect smile to life the only purpose of cosmetic dentistry? Or do patients have something even more precious to gain from restorative dental work? For Dr. Rajpal, a dazzling smile is enough to help people turn their lives around! Self-consciousness
about
one’s
smile or the loss of one’s teeth is enough of a reason to put a dent in our confidence and self-esteem. Dr. Rajpal has numerous stories of patients who were traumatized by tooth loss (especially the front teeth) but recovered their trust in themselves by entering her office. It goes without saying that a spectacular work of art cannot oversee even the smallest of details, and Dr. Rajpal, with her artistic prowess, can turn your smile into an endless reservoir of confidence and self-esteem. “And I see so many people that have suffered from lack of confidence with their smile for years and decades, and then I will transform them, and they are immensely
48
grateful because it makes such
“Try to formulate your method
a difference to their lifestyle and
of how you want to practice
their professional and personal
and design it based upon your
lives,” Dr. Rajpal said.
personality,
so
that
you’re
practicing as true to yourself as
BRING YOUR UNIQUE TOUCH TO COSMETIC DENTISTRY
service as possible to your patients
The field of cosmetic dentistry
what you’re doing,” she said.
faces technological challenges that will revolutionize how we imagine a “normal trip to the dentist.” From 3D model printing to CT scans, technology assists Dr. Rajpal every step of the way, from the first consultation to the perfect smile’s big reveal. Such is the world where the next generation of cosmetic dentists will have to make a name for themselves, steadily build their own practice and change patients’ lives. For Dr. Rajpal, it was the “Diamond Smile” that helped her shoot for the stars. But amidst this race for selfaffirmation, Dr. Rajpal advises future generations of cosmetic dentists to let their artistic self shine and guide them towards a unique approach to dentistry, one that will earn them the gratitude of their patients and the respect of their fellow dentists.
possible and providing as best of a so that you feel fulfilled and enjoy
Once
everything
your
touch
turns to “diamond,” and you see fulfillment in everything you create, your art becomes genuinely unique, and Dr. Rajpal’s work will remain as a memento to those who seek to artistically express themselves in medicine. You can research more about Dr. Rajpal’s dedication to the art of dentistry by accessing her website here.
EXP LOR ING THE ETHICS OF REGENERATIVE MEDICINE WITH DR. RATHNA NUTI WORDS BY MERALD AYSON
R
techniques to treat or cure diseases. Most
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE: FROM SPORTS TO AESTHETICS
regenerative treatments are still under
Dr. Nuti is a member of several sports
egenerative medicine is a rapidly growing, innovative practice that applies regenerative medical
development, but regenerative medicine
medicine organizations, including the
has already begun to change how we
American Medical Society of Sports
approach health care. Regenerative
Medicine (AMSSM) and the NHL Team
treatments can be utilized in nearly every
Physician Society (NHLTPS). She uses
field of medicine and for any medical
both family medicine and psychology
condition. Because these treatments
to complement her approach to sports
represent cutting-edge research, they
medicine. She also specializes in the
require ethical considerations for both
aesthetics portion of regenerative
researchers and patients alike.
medicine.
At its core, regenerative medicine seeks
Aesthetic regenerative medicine is a
to understand health on a cellular level
growing field that uses regenerative
and bring newly regenerated cells into the
techniques to improve the appearance of
body to help maintain healthy cell growth.
skin, hair, and nails. While regenerative
There are many ethical considerations surrounding regenerative medicine, but it is a promising solution for conditions once considered untreatable or fatal. Dr. Rathna Nuti is here to let us in on her latest practice on regenerative medicine,
therapies have been used for many years to treat sports injuries and joint pain, regenerative therapies for aesthetic purposes are a relatively new development. Many different regenerative therapies can
with its underlying ethics, procedures
be used for aesthetic purposes, including
and treatments.
platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and stem cell therapy. Dr. Nuti has started helping patients to use these techniques.
Top Doctor Magazine / Issue 139 / 51
“As with any medical field, ethical considerations are crucial to the wellbeing of both doctors and patients, and regenerative medicine is no different.”
“Treating fine lines, wrinkles, or the ‘turkey’
“One of the biggest ethical considerations
neck nowadays does not only just involve
in regenerative medicine is to make sure
BOTOX or fillers; there are chemical
the patient understands that we’re not
peels to help in skin rejuvenation and
reversing what happened now to what you
other treatments such as PRP for both
were 20 years ago,” Dr. Nuti explained.
facial rejuvenation and hair growth and microneedling for the improvement of the texture of the skin that I offer as well to help people achieve their aesthetic goals,” Dr. Nuti said. She said she is exploring more into the body aspect of contouring, where tightening skin, trimming fat, and toning muscle can sculpt the body. Things are constantly evolving in the practice as doctors like Dr. Nuti try to help with whatever the patient’s needs are.
KNOWING AN ETHICAL VS. AN UNETHICAL PRACTICE As with any medical field, ethical considerations are crucial to the wellbeing of both doctors and patients, and regenerative medicine is no different. For doctors, aside from the importance of abiding by ethics guidelines set forth by regenerative medicine associations such as the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT), it is vital that what they offer is science-backed, evidencedbased and is marketed with integrity to avoid “false hopes” for the patients. On the other hand, patients must completely understand regenerative medicine’s risks and benefits before signing up for it.
Patients mustn’t undergo regenerative treatments with unrealistic expectations. “Patients must understand that regenerative treatments are not a quick fix,” Dr. Nuti emphasized. She also debunked the biggest myths in regenerative medicine at this time. “It does not regrow tissue at this point. And it is not 100% guaranteed either. Unethical use of regenerative medicine would be to give that false sense of hope when there’s no research that backs it up,” Dr. Nuti said. With the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent crackdown on clinics that offer stem cell treatments from amniotic fluids due to unethical use and patient fraud, it has become difficult for the doctors like Dr. Nuti to provide similar treatments as they are removed from the market. “A lot of the amniotic products got pulled off the market. So companies and other clinics are now looking at how to utilize it appropriately. And of course, it’s good that we have the FDA to govern it, but it does put the people who use it ethically like myself and other clinics in a tough position because now we can’t offer that type of treatment,” Dr. Nuti said.
52
THE CHALLENGING PART: AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
THE FUTURE OF REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
Patients must understand that there is no
The regenerative medicine field is
one-size-fits-all approach to regenerative
constantly evolving as researchers explore
medicine and that each patient’s
new ways to improve the practice.
treatment plan will be tailored specifically to their needs. However, not many individuals who want to have regenerative treatments realize this, especially if they only learned about it from other people who had gone through the same treatments. “We do have patients coming in asking us, ‘Hey, can you please do this? Can you please do that? We want this; we want that.’ I’ve had patients walk into my office, tell me that they want PRP. They don’t want to try anything else, so I have to take a step back and tell them that getting this or that treatment is not like a pharmacy or grocery store where you can go and get what you want and walk out. That’s not how medicine works,” Dr. Nuti explained.
54
“Regenerative medicine is here to stay. We have new evolving, exciting data to help out and show us of its potential and capabilities,” Dr. Nuti enthusiastically shared. One of the exciting future possibilities of regenerative medicine is having a longterm effect on treatments compared to the current ones. For example, PRP can have the possibility of longer outcomes in terms of pain control compared to what is offered by steroid injections. “Regenerative medicine is definitely an innovative treatment plan that is constantly evolving for the better of the future of medicine. It is here to stay.
“Patients must understand that there is no one-size-fitsall approach to regenerative medicine and that each patient’s treatment plan will be tailored specifically to their needs.”
It’s just a matter of getting more information and robust data to help guide us into the future in terms of what treatment plans we can offer for our patients,” Dr. Nuti said. Regenerative medicine is still in its infancy, but regenerative treatments will become more effective with continued research and development. If you are interested in regenerative medicine, it is essential to understand the ethical practices that should be followed. In this article, we have outlined some of these ethics and why they’re so crucial for regenerative medicine practitioners like Dr. Nuti.
A PARTING REMINDER We thank Dr. Nuti for joining us in this interview with Top Doctor Magazine. We appreciate her informative insights on the ethics of regenerative medicine. You may reach out to her and check her website to know more about regenerative medicine.
55
Y A DA M R A U H A US DS B E
R
veryone loves a cup of coffee to start their day. It’s
nothing to be ashamed of — in fact, studies show that caffeine consumption in moderation is a good thing, promoting feelings of well-being, alertness and
sociability. However, four or more cups of either tea or coffee per
day lead to symptoms such as jitteriness, migraines, nervousness and sleep cycle interference. More importantly, excessive caffeine consumption can affect your skin. Did you know that cutting down on your caffeine consumption can significantly improve certain forms of acne? Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea cause your body to produce cortisol, the stress hormone, which leads to increased acne outbreaks even if you drink your caffeinated beverage without sugar or milk.
CAFFEINATION: FRIEND OR FOE? While caffeine doesn’t directly cause acne, it does everything to make it worse. Caffeine causes your body to produce extra quantities of cortisol, the stress hormone, which in turn stimulates your sebaceous glands. These glands begin to overproduce sebum oil, the excessive quantities of which clog pores, trapping germs and bacteria in the process. Your body sends white blood cells rushing to the area to fight perceived infection threats. This is called inflammation, which results in pimples. One study showed that a stressed person who consumed caffeine had a cortisol increase of 211%! Not only is the stress produced from excess caffeination bad for your mental health, but it can also send your sebum production through the roof, burying your pores in unneeded oils.
56
E
F E
R WO
CN
CAF
E & N I A E
BAD NEWS FOR MORNING JOE Unfortunately for all you coffee fiends out there, your favorite brew may be one of the worst offenders in terms of caffeine-related acne outbreaks. There are a few reasons coffee tends to trigger acne outbreaks far more than other caffeinated beverages like tea: • Tea has more antioxidants, which fight acne outbreaks. • Coffee has more caffeine, making it more likely to increase cortisol production. • Tea contains a compound called L-Theanine, which promotes a healthier stress response.
preparation techniques. Generally speaking, tea’s relationship to acne remains the same regardless of the specific type of tea. As mentioned earlier, tea is high in antioxidants, which help skin cells repair themselves if oxidation occurs. Oxidation happens when sebum oil on the skin goes bad, which happens for various reasons, including exposure to sunlight, hormones and environmental factors like smoking tobacco. Antioxidants help prevent oxidized sebum oil from clogging your pores, minimizing the infections that form acne outbreaks. Tea also lowers your insulin levels after meals, fighting back hormonal acne. Studies also indicate it might reduce
On the other hand, coffee
dysbiosis by improving
typically does more harm
absorption of certain
than good for acne-
nutrients, such as zinc.
prone people. Coffee contributes to dysbiosis,
A HIDDEN SOURCE OF FLUORIDE?
a condition in which the growth of harmful bacteria in your gut microbiome outpaces
That being said, tea
the growth of good
contains caffeine, too,
bacteria. This occurs
meaning that it’s important
because coffee happens
to choose a variety carefully
to be highly acidic, which disrupts normal gut flora when you drink a lot of it. The resulting dysbiosis leads to poor absorption of nutrients like zinc, selenium and iron, all needed to fight acne. One study found drinking coffee an hour before or after meals inhibited absorption by 72%! An unhealthy gut can also increase stress because 95% of serotonin is produced in the stomach.
TAKING SOME TEA Tea tends to be a much healthier alternative to coffee when it comes to skincare. This is because all types of tea share the same plant and are
58
differentiated only by different harvesting and
and consume it in moderation. Caffeine in any quantity increases your cortisol production, which clogs your pores with sebum oil. But tea also has its own unique acne-related weakness, especially for people with thyroid-driven acne. People with thyroid problems experience hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid fails to produce sufficient quantities of the thyroid hormone. People with thyroid issues try to avoid fluoride consumption as it exacerbates this problem to the point that those with high sensitivities have issues even with tap water.
“By limiting your coffee or tea consumption to 2-3 cups per day, you’ll avoid the worst acne-related side effects of caffeine consumption.”
What does this have to do with a warm cup of Earl Grey? It turns out that acne outbreaks are a leading symptom of hypothyroidism, and tea contains some fluoride. Though the fluoride deposits in tea are not particularly concentrated, those with thyroid issues need to be aware that tea could be contributing to their breakouts for this reason. Fortunately, the detrimental effects of fluoride in tea can be mitigated by consuming iodine, which is found in seafood, egg yolks or supplements.
STICK TO THE GOLDEN MEAN Balancing caffeine consumption and acne problems is all about quantity. As the old saying goes, the dose makes the poison. Unless you suffer from extreme sensitivities, experts generally agree that a little caffeine is rarely an issue. By limiting your coffee or tea consumption to 2-3 cups per day, you’ll avoid the worst acne-related side effects of caffeine consumption. As with so many things in life, moderation is the key to balancing caffeine and acne.
MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY TREATMENT DEDICATED FAMILY MEDICINE IN LOS ANGELES, CA With every patient that walks into the Beverly Hills Medical Institute, Dr. Shaghayegh Tavassoli’s primary goal is to build a relationship that will last a lifetime. Her services are strategically centered around comprehensively treating the individual, not just the symptoms.
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