VENTURA COUNTY
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hcg: a new method for
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4
Best venues for your
celeBrations
JULY 2011
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no. 7 | vol. 6
Contents2011 jUly
15
58 42
24
46 20
FEATURES 16
CONNECTION Advanced Health Imaging Offers New Techniques in Preventive Health Care
20
SPECIAL HEALTH BULLETIN Hot Tips for Heat Stroke
24
HEALTH SPECTRUM Three Approaches to Sunburn
28
HEALTH VIEW I Part 1: Ear Candling Shedding Some Light on Ear Candling
34
38
HEALTH VIEW II Be Safe This Summer MIND & SPIRIT Are You an Empath? How to Protect Your Sensitivities in an Overwhelming World
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JULY 2011
46
FITNESS & NUTRITION I No More Yoyo Dieting
50
FITNESS & NUTRITION II Fire Up The Grill!
45
DAWN’S SHOPPING CORNER Win July
FREE
Product Giveaways!
Departments 8
PUBLISHER’S LETTER Celebrations of Life
14
FYI Health Tips + Tidbits
54
15
RECIPE Mojito-Rubbed Chicken with Grilled Pineapple
HOSPITAL CALENDAR Your Local Hospital Health Seminars + Events
56
DIRECTORY OF RESOURCES
58
YHC PICKS The Best Venues for your Celebrations
36
FROM THE HEART LA Community Cats
42
PET HEALTH Earthquake Preparedness — Don’t Forget Your Pets
“My husband feels 100% better, and his medication had been reduced. In addition, you have given us full access to reach you directly by phone. It is rare that a Doctor cares that much, and a patient feels truely cared for.� ~ H and JJ
PUBLISHER’SLETTER | ANN ALCOCK
celeBrations
of life
Call me an incurable optimist, but there is so much to celebrate in my life. Celebrations in the form of weddings, birthdays, national holidays…they all bring loved ones together to forget the stresses of everyday life, to dance to the music, and to toast to one another’s achievements and joy. If you asked me to choose one unforgettable, blessed moment that stands out above the rest, I would have to choose one that shines brightly in the memories of my heart. That is the birth of my son, Dustin. He has made my life rich, joyous and whole. His presence in my life has unfolded into a journal of bright, momentous entries; one just as rich as the other and laced with laughter and love. This year on May 22nd, my son graduated from San Diego State University with his bachelor’s degree in economics. Wow….who knew? As it is, I find balancing my checkbook a chore! But there was my son, in cap and gown, with a look of accomplishment and relief that finals were over. And there we were, loved ones engulfed in elation, pride and celebration, looking like a starstruck paparazzi with our cameras clicking away! I know that he will look back someday with fond memories. He earned the right to celebrate his achievement; that moment belongs to him. And we were honored to have the opportunity to celebrate with him. In this issue, we celebrate health with summer safety tips, the best venues for your celebrations and a special health bulletin about heat stroke. We introduce you to Advanced Health Imaging and take a look at the HCG Diet. Be sure to check out part one of our two part ear candling article and three approaches to sunburn. Fire up your grill after reading our grilling article and try out the Mojito-Rubbed Chicken recipe featured this month.
C ongratulations, my dear son. you are my shining spirit to Celebrate everyday.
join the yHC family!
YHC Magazine is excited to announce that we are providing the opportunity to publish your own local edition of YHC Magazine.
For further information, contact Anthony J. Alcock CEO@yhcmagazine.com
8 | yhcMAGAZINE.COM
JULY 2011
May your celebrations be of light and joy and every toast be to your health! With Peace, Love, Blessings and Gratitude,
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CEO/CO-FOUNDER ANTHONY J . ALCOCK PUBLISHER/CO-FOUNDER ANN K. ALCOCK MANAGING EDITOR KRISTIN SHEPARD CREATIVE DIRECTOR ANTONI PHAM DIRECTOR OF MARKETING DAWN McCARTHY AD TRAFFIC MANAGER ROBERT GRANTZ STAFF WRITERS ALICIA DOYLE / MIRA REVERENTE JODAI SAREMI / KRISTIN SHEPARD CONTRIBUTING WRITERS TERESA RISPOLI, PhD, LAc; DODY TYNEWAY, DVM COPY EDITOR JAN TUCKER, MBA FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES CONTACT DAWN@YHCMAGAZINE.COM CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS JIM DiMODICA / DALE SCHRICHTEN OPERATIONS MANAGER ROBERT GRANTZ WEBSITE MANAGER JOHN DAWSON ACCOUNTING DONNA BRYANT COVERAGE AREA INCLUDES MONTHLY TO VENTURA COUNTY AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY RESIDENCES, MEDICAL OFFICES, LOCAL HOSPITALS, GYMS, HEALTH MARKETS AND LOCAL MALLS. AGOURA HILLS, BURBANK, CALABASAS, CAMARILLO, ENCINO, MALIBU, MOORPARK, NEWBURY PARK, NORTHRIDGE, OAK PARK, PACIFIC PALISADES, SANTA MONICA, SHERMAN OAKS, SIMI VALLEY, STUDIO CITY, TARZANA, THOUSAND OAKS, VENTURA, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, WEST HILLS, WOODLAND HILLS
TO ADVERTISE WITH US OR TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINION, PLEASE CALL, FAX, E-MAIL, OR WRITE TO: 5655 LINDERO CANYON RD, SUITE 423 WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362 PHONE 818.889.8350 / FAX 818.889.8690 E-MAIL INFO@YHCMAGAZINE.COM WEBSITE WWW.YHCMAGAZINE.COM FOR INFORMATION REGARDING EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE ABOVE PHONE NUMBER OR ADDRESS. FOR REPRINTS CONTACT CATHY EVANS AT REPRINTS@YHCMAGAZINE.COM The opinions expressed here are those of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the publishers or management of Your Health Connection. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Publication of the name or photo of any person or organization in Your Health Connection should not be construed as an indication of that person’s expressed opinion. Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility and liability for the content of their advertisement in Your Health Connection. Photographers whose work is published in any advertising or editorial content within Your Health Connection agree to indemnify and save harmless the publishers from all liability, loss and expense due to a photographer’s failure to gain a model release. Your Health Connection is not responsible for loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork, or any other unsolicited material. Unsolicited material will not be returned. Your Health Connection’s liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. Your Health Connection does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein. Follow us on: PRINTED IN U.S.A.
10 | yhcMAGAZINE.COM
JULY 2011
Dance Wellness – A Universal Language
4
Whether your goal is to go out salsa dancing and fit right into the nightclub setting, travel the world on one of our exciting dance cruises, learn the passionate tango, Zumba your way to fitness, or waltz your way into a ballroom competition, our friendly and professional instructors make learning to dance fun and easy. Dance 4 Wellness is a ballroom and social dance studio specializing in ballroom, Latin, swing, and nightclub-style dancing. We offer group classes and private lessons at our beautiful new studio in the Watercourt Plaza of Thousand Oaks as well as weekly social dance parties to help you practice what you learn in a real nightclub setting. “Our goal is to provide a stress-free and safe environment that allows for physical, mental and emotional wellness through learning how to dance,” said studio owner Maria Durant, a certified ballroom dance instructor who teaches all styles of ballroom, Latin and swing dancing. Durant opened Dance 4 Wellness in 2008 with one main objective: to share her love of dancing with people who may have never tried dancing at a traditional dance school. Today, Dance 4 Wellness is proud to offer a wide variety of dance activities in addition to group and private lessons, including, but not limited to: Zumba, dance field trips so that students can actually use their dancing outside the studio setting, an ongoing volunteer dance program with the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, "Dancing with our Local Schools" program in Thousand Oaks (teaching 3rd5th graders in the Conejo Valley), competitions and showcases, in addition hosting weekly Saturday night dance parties. Dance 4 Wellness has a full staff of instructors with varying backgrounds in the world of competitive and social ballroom dancing. “Dance 4 Wellness is more than a way to connect with your partner or meet new people – it is a way to have fun while you exercise,” Durant said. “A recent study revealed that people who dance on a regular basis can add years to their lives.”
Dance 4 Wellness 880 Hampshire Road, Suite D • Westlake Village Learn how to make dancing a part of your life. Call 805.991.6113 or visit www.dance4wellness.net ADVERTORIAL
JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 11
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Hilda Maldonado, M.D. Regenerative & Anti Aging Medicine
NUTRITION & FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE DENISE NOYER-EREZ, LAc, FABORM ACUPUNCTURE & ORIENTAL MEDICINE ACUPUNCTURIST SPECIALIZING IN WOMEN’S HEALTH TIMOTHY A. O'CONNOR, MD VENTURA COUNTY RADIATION
• Over ten years of experience using bio-identical hormone replacement therapy
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12 | yhcMAGAZINE.COM
JULY 2011
GEETA AYURVEDIC HEALING CENTER, INC.
1240 Westlake Blvd., Suite 133 Westlake Village, CA 91361 Phone / Fax: 805.496.6698 www.drhildamaldonado.com
DODY TYNEWAY, DVM HOLISTIC VETERINARY MEDICINE HOLISTIC VETERINARY CENTER
Salon and Medspa Bring Out Your Inner Beauty at Daria Jade Salon and Medspa
At Daria Jade Salon and Medspa, we provide everything you need to bring out your inner beauty. Featuring a board certified physician and medical staff, we offer clinically safe and proven medical innovations to enhance your beauty and diminish the signs of aging. The practice was founded in 2007 by Dr. Masoud M. Azizad, who is board certified in internal medicine. He named it after his daughter, Daria Jade. “I had always been interested in the cosmetic aspects of medicine and began training in cosmetic medicine as well,” said Dr. Azizad, who has a private practice in Northridge, and previously served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Northridge Hospital. At Daria Jade, “I have incorporated the best, safest, and most rewarding aspects of cosmetics to assure a healthy, beautiful, and satisfied client.” The practice offers Lipomatic Vibro-Lipo—the #1 device in Europe for 14 years. “I am the first in California with this amazing device,” said Dr. Azizad. “Not only does it assure better results than conventional lipo, but it also provides a level of safety that cannot be achieved with conventional lipo. We are able to perform the procedure painlessly without the use of general anesthesia.” Daria Jade also features a range of professionalgrade peels. For instance, a pumpkin enzyme peel has naturally occurring Beta Keratin and Vitamin C. Epicuren Glycolic Peels, available in 5 percent and 10
percent strength, encourage the deposition of collagen. Glyco-Bright Acid Peels can help remove or improve undesirable signs of aging skin, such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkling. Lacti-Bright Acid Peel, a combination of Lactic and Hydroquinone, chemically exfoliates and encourages new cell turnover. Lite Modified & Modified Jessner’s Peel, which combines Lactic, Salicylic and glycolic acid, improves tone and texture while removing fine lines and wrinkles. Full Jessner’s is a medical grade peel that improves mild to more moderate scarring. In other highlights, Daria Jade offers a full salon with innovative stylists and expert aestheticians. Services include haircuts, color and color correction, toners, Brazilian Blow Outs, perms, hair extensions, makeup applications and Glo Minerals. Other signature services include Thermage, Botox/Dysport, Juvederm, The Brazilian Butt Lift and breast augmentation surgery using fat transfers from other parts of the body. Fat transfers can also be used to augment areas including buttocks, biceps, triceps, calf muscles and hands.
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JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 13
fyi
save
For Your Information
HEALTH TIPS & TIDBITS
Keep your celebrations healthy! TRY THESE ALTERNATIVES WITH LOWER FAT AND CALORIES AND WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON TASTE… • Turkey burgers instead of beef burgers. • Low-starch red potatoes instead of Russet Potatoes. • Fresh fruit instead of pies or cakes. • Walnuts instead of croutons. • Lentil or black bean chips instead of corn or flour chips • And in your dips, non-fat yogurt instead of sour cream.
10a.m.to 4 P.m.
this is the 6 hour time slot to avoid sun exposure, especially during the summer months.
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Keep a pitcher close… WITH THE EXTENDED DAYLIGHT OF SUMMER, YOU CAN HAVE SUN TEA AT HAND EVERY DAY. PLACE YOUR FAVORITE HERBAL TEA BAGS INTO A PITCHER OF WATER AND IN JUST AN HOUR YOU’LL HAVE A DELICIOUS WAY TO RE-HYDRATE YOUR BODY AND LIFT YOUR SPIRITS!
Pass on the unhealthy stuff… Instead of regular table sugar or sugar substitutes, that are packets of unhealthy chemicals, reach for the Stevia to sweeten your iced teas! This natural sweetener comes from a pretty, herbal plant that looks like mint and is up to 200 times sweeter than sugar and has zero calories. It’s also great for sweetening that pitcher of fresh squeezed lemonade!
date
Nutritional Information: Serves: Calories Per Serving: Total Fat:
4 320 6g
Add this recipe to your list of grilling favorites. Serve a taste of summer with mojito-infused chicken and tasty grilled pineapple.
INGREDIENTS: 4 medium (1 1/2 pounds) skinless, boneless chicken-breast halves 2 limes 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium (3 1/2 pounds) pineapple, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, chopped Salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS: 1. Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling on medium, or preheat large ridged grill pan on medium. 2. Meanwhile, with meat mallet, pound chicken (placed between 2 sheets plastic wrap) to an even 1/2-inch thickness. 3. From 1 lime, grate 1 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. Cut remaining lime into 4 wedges; set aside. In small bowl, combine oil, lime peel, and juice. Lightly brush pineapple on both sides with lime mixture; set aside remaining lime mixture in bowl. Place pineapple slices on hot grill rack and cook 10 minutes or until browned on both sides, turning over once. 4. Stir mint into remaining lime mixture and pat onto both sides of chicken. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to season both sides. Place chicken on hot grill rack and cook 5 minutes or until chicken is browned on both sides and no longer pink throughout, turning over once. Serve chicken with pineapple and lime wedges.
*Recipe courtesy of delish.com
What is your favorite recipe!? YHC wants to hear from you! As a community, we have so much to share with each other. Please submit your favorite recipes to YHC for a chance to have your recipe published and shared with our readership. E-mail all recipe submissions to kristin@yhcmagazine.com.
JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 15
CONNECTION
advanced health imaging offers new techniques in Preventive health care
After the unexpected death of her mother at a young age, ALinda L. Pressler was inspired to help her family and friends with their health issues — as well as address her own. “I felt that, in general, medical doctors were more prone to prescribe a quick fix than a long-term solution,” Pressler said. “I was also convinced that the human body is a modern miracle and that when given the opportunity and a good nutritional program, many health problems can reverse themselves.” With a burning determination to help others — combined with more than 20 years of experience in the field of natural health techniques — Pressler founded Advanced Health Imaging. “Our business is about preventive health care utilizing advanced technology and the highest quality nutrients,” Pressler explained. For instance, one preventive method for early detection is breast thermography for women. “We believe this is an extremely valuable tool for early detection of abnormalities in the breast tissue that could relate to disease far in advance of a mammogram alone.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
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BY ALICIA DOYLE DALE SCHRICHTEN
ALINDA PRESSLER Traditional Naturopath, Master Applied Physiologist
ADVANCED HEALTH IMAGING
our unique, holistic nutrition programs are individually designed to fit the specific needs of our clients. you will not find a one-size
fits all approach here.
Infrared imaging is also useful in detecting carotid artery blockage, referred pain syndrome and countless other concerns. “Our goal is not just to define a problem, rather it is to help people mentally, emotionally and physically remove the toxins from their life and find the proper natural remedies and relaxation methods to begin the healing process.” Through the years, Pressler has achieved unprecedented results using natural techniques, diet and nutritional supplements. A Master Applied Physiologist, she is qualified as a Biofeedback Technician, a Certified Clinical Thermographer, and a Traditional Naturopath.
subluxations, dental concerns, hormone and energy levels, a bodyscan provides individuals with a complete picture of their health,” Pressler explained. “What’s more, the machine even emits harmonious frequencies back to the body to trigger the body’s own healing mechanisms.”
At Advanced Health Imaging, she uses advanced technology to determine the real source of a person’s aches and pains accurately. As a result, she has helped individuals effectively with a range of conditions including fatigue, digestive problems and sleep problems as well as diabetes and auto-immune disorders like fibromyalgia. “Advanced Health Imaging understands that every human body is different,” Pressler said. “Our unique, holistic nutrition programs are individually designed to fit the specific needs of our clients. You will not find a one-size fits all approach here.” As a full wellness center, “our aim is help your body and mind relax and re-stabilize so optimum health can be reached,” Pressler continued. “We carefully work one-on-one with our clients to achieve all of their health and wellness goals through detoxification, proper nutrition techniques, and supplementation or herbal remedies.” The center offers a range of services including biofeedback, in which a biofeedback bodyscan reads the body’s responses to signals and evaluates the stress level of organs, bones and cartilage, muscles, hormones, emotional states, blood and energy meridians. “By determining levels of reactivity to potential allergens, nutritional deficiencies and excesses, examining brainwaves, spinal
Another service called thermography or Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging, is a non-invasive technique in which a scanning device converts infrared heat emitted from the skin surface into electrical impulses that are visualized in color on a monitor. In other words, it takes a picture of the heat coming from your body. “The spectrum of colors indicate an increase or decrease in the amount of infrared heat being emitted from the body surface,” Pressler said. “Since there is a high degree of thermal
>>
JULY 2011
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CONNECTION
symmetry in the normal body, subtle abnormal temperature asymmetry’s can be easily identified. Your thermal images are sent to a medical doctor who will provide you with an analysis of the results, which we will mail to you along with copies of your images.” Applied Physiology monitors 16 muscles in the body in 14 different positions, enabling them to assess the energy in organs and glands and how they are related. “This allows us to work with even the most complex of health issues that otherwise may have been unapproachable,” Pressler said. “We use techniques from the healing arts with pinpoint accuracy; this level of accuracy takes years of study to master.” Quantum Reflex Analysis (QRA) “is a simple but profound way of allowing the body’s wisdom to tell us what it needs to heal,” Pressler said. “It is a highly effective system of testing the bio-energetic status of the body’s key organs and glands using a university-proven muscle testing technique of medicallyaccepted reflex points.” Migun jade massage bed is a therapeutic acupressure massaging bed built on Asian and Western principles. “It combines healing techniques to provide the effect of Chinese medicine, which includes massage, acupressure, therapeutic heat, far-infrared rays, and jade effect,” Pressler said. “The Migun thermal acupressure massage is the modern-day massage miracle that releases you from the stress caused by intense, active, stressful days. The jade stones and heat give a full personal massage that penetrates deep within the body. Aches and pains just disappear as you drift away on a sea of relaxation.” The wellness center is also home to a new 360 wave carbon farinfrared sauna. “The operating temperature of our infrared saunas is between 60° F and 150° F, compared to traditional saunas which operate at 300° F and 1000° F. This is important because with lower temperatures, one can withstand longer therapy sessions, resulting in increased sweat production. The infrared energy released can penetrate up to 1.5 inches deep into muscle tissue; 93 percent of this energy is absorbed through our skin,” Pressler explained. “By heating these tissues, we experience a vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels which can be beneficial in reducing muscle spasms, joint stiffness and achiness, as well as general aches and pains due
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ADVANCED HEALTH IMAGING
The Movement Specialists
to conditions such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.”
SYMMETRY
Another offering, called Nutri-Energetics Systems (NES) therapy, supports the body’s inherent natural ability to heal itself at a chemical, physical, mental, emotional and informational level. “While NES therapy can be used to find relief from acute and chronic symptoms, it is also a powerful preventive measure, correcting imbalances as they arise, allowing you to stay healthy over the long term,” Pressler said. At Advanced Health Imaging, “we have such a unique variety of therapies that many people ask for several each time they come in,” Pressler said. For example, “a popular first time visit is Biofeedback, Thermography and Migun massage or Thermography and QRA. Infrared sauna can be done several times a week and is a must for anyone who wants to get rid of stress, detox or let go of unwanted weight. The wellness center now serves more than 1,000 clients ranging from 6 months old to folks in their 80s. The company was formerly called Balance for Mind and Body, a small family business that began in the Pressler home. As the clientele grew steadily through word-of-mouth referrals, it became necessary to expand four times. “Just before our last move to a custom-built wellness center we added thermal imaging and transitioned into a natural imaging center, one that constantly looks for the most advanced, non-invasive techniques and technology that could help our friends and neighbors,” Pressler said. “We also changed our name to Advanced Health Imaging and took on the responsibility and motto of preventive health care utilizing advanced technology and the highest quality nutrients.” The ultimate goal is “to teach each person who comes to our wellness center that they can take control of their health and how to make the best choices for their life when it comes to nutrition, supplements and stress relief. We are ever-expanding and ever growing in our knowledge of the human body. Our goal is to never stop learning and to continue to offer our clients the latest and best possible products and services available.”
Advanced Health Imaging is located at 484 Mobil Avenue, Suite 26, in Camarillo. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 805.445.1967 or visit us at www.advancedhealthimaging.com.
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND WELLNESS
Physical Therapy Therapeutic Massage Pilates Yoga Zumba
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SPECIALHEALTHBULLETIN HEAT STROKE
BY
JODAI SAREMI, DPM
HOT TIPS FOR
heat stroke WHEN TEMPERATURES SOAR, IT’S TIME TO GET OUT OF THE SUN AND TAKE COVER. FOR SOME PEOPLE THOUGH, STAYING INDOORS JUST ISN’T ENOUGH PROTECTION FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE.
In fact, more people die in their homes than outside because they don’t have air conditioning or adequate ventilation. A number of simple steps can be taken during heat waves to avoid becoming dehydrated and overheated.
DANGEROUS WEATHER According to the National Weather Service Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services, heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics show that during the last 10 years, an average of 115 people a year die from
+++
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics show that during the last 10 years, an average of 115 people a year die from heatrelated causes.
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heat-related causes. More deaths are caused by extreme heat per year than floods, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes combined. As a result, the National Weather Service uses The Heat Index Report to notify the public about alert procedures. Taking into account both relative humidity and air temperature, the Heat Index is a helpful tool in figuring out how hot it feels outside. For example, if the air temperature is 96° F and the relative humidity is 65 percent, the heat index — how hot it feels — is 121° F. When the Heat Index is expected to exceed between 105° and 110° F, the National Weather Service posts alert procedures to aid in preventing hyperthermia.
IS IT ME OR IS IT HOT IN HERE? When the body absorbs more heat than it can dissipate or get rid of, heat-regulating mechanisms such as sweating become overwhelmed and the person enters a state of hyperthermia. This can even occur with mild temperatures if the body is unable to release heat effectively — for example, due to high humidity, constrictive clothing or illness. Those most at risk include the elderly (older than 65 years), the infirm (cardiovascular disease patients whose hearts don’t function well) and the very young. Other factors lending to the incidence of hyperthermia, according to the CDC, are obesity, fever, dehydration, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, alcohol use and prescription drug use. Psychotropic drugs or tranquilizers, e.g., haloperidol or Thorazine, affect the mind, emotions, and behavior or experience, and may lead to abnormal reactions to heat or lethargy/sedation. Medications for Parkinson’s disease can inhibit perspiration, and diuretic medications or “water pills” affect fluid balance in the body.
Children tend to be subject to hyperthermia because their bodies warm at a faster rate than adults. People who engage in strenuous activities outdoors, whether work-related or recreational, also need to be aware of the potential for hyperthermia which leads to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
FIRST SIGNS OF TROUBLE Heat-related illness starts with dehydration and sometimes a case of heat cramps, specifically during physical activity. Physicians at www.mayoclinic.com describe heat cramps as pain in the muscles caused by low salt levels due to sweat loss during strenuous activity. If fluids and electrolytes lost through sweat are not replaced by drinking water or Gatorade, heat exhaustion may occur. “When a person begins to overheat, they may feel faint or dizzy, sweat profusely, get a throbbing headache or a low grade fever and experience nausea, rapid heartbeat, shallow, rapid breathing and cool, moist skin,” says Dr. Garo Balkian, chief of emergency medicine from Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills. “They may also complain of feeling tired and have very dark-colored urine. These are all signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration.”
OPERATING IN THE RED If the situation is not remedied, the symptoms get worse and progress to heat stroke. Sun stroke or heat stroke is the most severe manifestation of heat-related illness, and therefore is considered a medical emergency. Hallmark signs become evident. “The body stops sweating to conserve water. The skin appears bright pink and feels dry and hot as capillaries vasodilate in the skin to allow more blood to the surface to cool. Vascular capacity is increased and the heart has to beat harder and/or faster to maintain the blood pressure,” says Dr. Balkian. “A decrease in blood flow to the brain and electrolyte imbalance also causes changes in mental status.”
children tend to Be suBject to hyPerthermia Because their Bodies warm at a faster rate than adults.
Altered mental status during heat stoke may be noticed as irritability, confusion or the inability to walk or talk well. Fainting, seizures, and eventually
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JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 21
SPECIALHEALTHBULLETIN HEAT STROKE
coma, are serious signs of life-threatening internal overheating.
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During late-stage heat stroke, the skin changes from flushed to dusky blue as blood pressure drops and the vessels in the periphery contract in a last-ditch attempt to save the heart. Body temperature at this point is markedly elevated, measuring greater than 104⁰ F (40⁰ C), and can reach as high as 107⁰ F within 10 to 15 minutes. If urgent treatment is not provided, death or permanent disability may ensue.
(805) 497-2625
DOCTORS’ ADVICE The first thing to do is move the victim to the shade, or better yet, into an air conditioned room where they can be cooled quickly while lying down. If they are confused or unconscious, call 911 and then begin emergency care.
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Clothing should be removed or at least loosened to allow air movement across the skin. Immersion in water is a great way to dissipate heat, but if a pool or tub is not available, a shower, garden hose or wet sheets are effective alternatives. Wetting the clothes and using a fan may help in hot, dry climate conditions too. Ice packs applied to the groin and armpits rapidly decrease body heat at the person’s core, and this method is used in hospitals for heat stroke.
JULY 2011
Continue monitoring body temperature until it drops to 101° to 102° F.
HERE COMES THE SUN The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) Health Studies Branch recommends following some basic rules to avoid heat-related illness. 1. Use a fan. Electric fans are a good source of comfort when air temperature is in the 80s. 2. Use air conditioning when it’s humid or temperatures are running in the 90s. This is the best way to keep the body from overheating. Even a few hours in air conditioned spaces during the heat of the day reduce the risk for heat-related illness. Shopping malls and libraries are great places to take refuge from the heat. 3. Take a cool shower or bath or go for a swim. 4. Drink plenty of fluids. During hot weather, regardless of your activity level, drink more than your thirst indicates, since thirst is a sign that you are already dehydrated. If you must exercise or exert yourself in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses (16 to 32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour. Avoid alcohol because it actually causes you to lose more fluid. Note that even though you lose salts and minerals when you sweat, salt tablets aren’t advised. Fruit juice or sports drinks are safer. 5. Plan your outdoor activities wisely. Appropriate light-weight, lightcolored, loose clothing and a widebrimmed hat will keep you more comfortable in the sun. Use sunscreen to protect exposed skin. Pace yourself: if you feel light-headed, nauseated, are gasping for breath or experience headache and rapid heart rate, take a break. 6. Use a buddy system. Always check on those at risk, and adjust the environment to keep them safe.
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yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 23
HEALTHSPECTRUM SUNBURN
BY
ALICIA DOYLE
sunBurn EVERYONE KNOWS THAT A SUNBURN IS PAINFUL AND NOT GOOD FOR THE SKIN. HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO SUSTAIN SUNBURN FOR THE SUN TO CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE. “Long-term ultraviolet radiation damage can cause skin cancers, wrinkles, various skin growths, pigmentation and textural damage,” according to Payam Abrishami, MD, a board certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist. “While outdoor exposure in moderation can be safe, significant, unprotected sun-exposure, even without burns, can cause much damage depending on one's skin type.” This health concern is so serious, that ultraviolet radiation from the sun — as well as tanning beds — is classified as a human carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization. “Sunburns can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer — especially basal cell carcinoma and melanoma,” said Tannaz Zahirpour, DO a family practice physician with Alta California Medical Group in Simi Valley. “Sun exposure can also increase the risk of developing cataracts and premature wrinkles.” “The biggest myth regarding sunburn is that it is only painful, inconvenient, and drying to the skin,” said Jonathan Breslow, founder of the Acupuncture & Wellness Clinic in Camarillo. “The reality is that it leads to premature wrinkling and aging of skin as well as various forms of skin cancer and sun poisoning with fever, dehydration and fainting. … Not treating sunburn leads to prolonged skin discomfort, danger of
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infection from blistering, drying out of skin, wrinkling and premature skin aging.” Practical measures can be taken to protect yourself, Breslow said. “They include wearing wide-brimmed hats or hats having an extension that drapes down the sides and back of the neck, and cool, light-weight UV ray-blocking clothing including longsleeved shirts.” Additionally, “high SPF sunscreens are recommended: 25 to 30 SPF which offer broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, containing aloe vera in the sunscreen base and having a natural blocking agent such as zinc oxide. Titanium is another good natural blocking agent. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied in regular intervals after exercise, swimming and toweling.” Read on for three medical professionals’ approaches to diagnosing and treating sunburn.
SUNBURN PREVENTION TIPS: 1) Avoid UV exposure. Individuals should seek shade, especially during summer months between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cloudy days do not provide an occasion to skip such measures. Indoor tanning beds may also cause sunburn. 2) Wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants provide protection from harmful UV rays.
APPROACH
3) Wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is the mainstay of sunburn prevention, protecting the skin by absorbing or reflecting UV radiation.
01 ALTERNATIVE
02 INTEGRATIVE
03 CONVENTIONAL
Jonathan Breslow Licensed Acupuncturist , Classical Homeopath, Clinical Nutritionist 350 N. Lantana St., Suite 220, Camarillo, CA 93010
Tannaz Zahirpour, DO Alta California Medical Group 2925 N. Sycamore Dr. Suite #204/205 Simi Valley, CA 93065
Payam Abrishami, M.D. board certified Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist
DIAGNOSIS
805.383.0318 www.breslowmed.com
805.578.9620
310.694.3438 www.abrishamiderm.com
01 ALTERNATIVE
02 INTEGRATIVE
03 CONVENTIONAL
Visual redness, patient experiencing pain.
Signs of sunburn range from painless skin redness to highly painful skin redness with swelling and blistering in sun-exposed areas.
Shortly after a sunburn (intense UV damage on the skin), the skin becomes warm, red and swollen.
Diagnosis is usually not difficult based on the patient’s symptoms and recent history of sun exposure. The appearance of a typical skin reaction on sun-exposed skin with sparing of skin that was covered or shaded is usually sufficient to diagnose sunburn.
Individual skin cells in the epidermis (the upper cell layers of skin) actually die.
If there is fever with blistering, dizziness or fainting, these are signs of sun poisoning and it is recommended to stay hydrated, keep cool and be seen immediately by a medical professional.
The exposure to UV radiation required to produce sunburn is variable among individuals. Increased susceptibility can be expected in people with: • Fair skin. • Light-colored hair. • History of sunburn with limited exposures to sunlight. • Use of photosensitizing medications: NSAIDs, quinolones, tetracyclines, psoralens, thiazides, furosemide, amiodarone and the phenothiazines.
If severe, blisters form and skin peels. If severe enough, a sunburn can be as dangerous as any other large, second degree or deeper body burn. Sun damage presents with pigmentation changes, textural changes, wrinkles, and possibly skin growths including cancers.
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HEALTHSPECTRUM SUNBURN
years before a mammogram Painless and Non-Invasive 805.445.1967 805.445.1967 484 Mobil Ave., e., SSuite uite #26 #26 Camarillo, CA 93010 o, C A 93 010 www.advancedhealthimaging.com maging.co ma ging.com
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01 ALTERNATIVE General self-care includes keeping cool. Taking cool baths with oatmeal added to the water will help soothe the pain and hydrate the skin (an extra drain sieve is recommended to protect your plumbing from clogging). Pat dry with a soft absorbent cloth and avoid rubbing burned skin with a terry towel. Health food stores sell pure aloe vera gel extract. This pure gel kept cold in the refrigerator and applied to the skin is soothing, moisturizing and healing. Aloe vera gel also is non-greasy and allows the burned skin to breathe. Broken aloe vera plant leaves refrigerated and applied to skin are good too, but the ready-prepared gel is much more convenient. Application of refrigerated Calendula gel to peeling and minor skin blistering has a very gentle, beneficial healing effect.
Y
IR
IT
M
IN D BOD
SP
Anxiety Fatigue Insomnia Joint Pain Irritability Depression Mood swings Muscle stiffness High cholesterol Chronic illnesses High blood pressure
Sinusitis Heartburn Low libido Lack focus Headaches Skin itching Memory loss Sweet cravings Lack of motivation Neurological disorders Irritable bowel syndrome
Mind Body Spirit Center 818-707-WELL (9355) 5655 Lindero Canyon Rd Suite 401 Westlake Village, CA 91362
Dr. Sharon Norling 26 | yhcMAGAZINE.COM
JULY 2011
Cooling foods are recommended; eating generous amounts of cucumber is beneficial. Stay well hydrated. Freshly juiced cucumber and celery juice with carrot juice is good. Anti-inflammatory fruits such as pineapple and papaya taken by themselves are helpful. Avoid spicy foods especially in the first week after the sunburn. Once peeling and blistering are resolved I recommend natural skin moisturizers found in better health food stores.
Broken aloe vera plant leaves
refrigerated and applied to skin are good too, but the ready-prepared gel is much more convenient.
02 INTEGRATIVE
03 CONVENTIONAL
Treatment includes products to relieve pain including cool compresses, aloe-based lotions, lotions or sprays with a local anesthetic, ibuprofen, Tylenol, topical corticosteroids, and Benadryl. However, these products do not reduce the long-term risks of sunburn, e.g., skin cancer.
Technically speaking, once the cells die, you cannot recover them. You have to wait for new cells to grow. The radiation that kills the cells causes DNA damage that one cannot see, which increases the rate of cancer development.
It is a myth that sunburns develop over multiple hours of sun exposure. The reality is some people can develop sunburn after less than 15 minutes. Even cloudy days do not provide protection against sunburns. Sufficient UVB may pass through the clouds to cause significant sunburn — people need to wear sunscreen even on cloudy days.
DNA damage is not easily treated. Careful inspection of sun-damaged skin by a skin expert is vital. There are many cosmetic techniques to improve the quality of skin. The most important step is to prevent sunburns and photodamage. If a sunburn does develop, an old medical remedy is to crush an aspirin finely, mix it with skin cream and apply it to the burn (consult a physician first and avoid if you are allergic to aspirin). Avoid tanning booths. There is no safe way to use them in the view of most experts. Know your skin's limitations. Wear sun-protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses to protect your eyes. Sun blocks that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the best choices.
HEALTHVIEW I PART 1: EAR CANDLING
BY
JODAI SAREMI, DPM
Part 1:
ear candlin SHEDDING
SOME
LIGHT
ON
EAR
CANDLING
EAR CANDLING, ALSO KNOWN AS EAR CONING OR AURICULAR HEAT THERAPY, IS AN ANCIENT TECHNIQUE USED MAINLY BY HOLISTIC AND NATURAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS AS WELL AS IN THE HOME TO RESOLVE NUMEROUS ISSUES, MOSTLY RELATED TO THE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT. USED BY EGYPTIANS, CHINESE AND NATIVE AMERICANS, IT WAS BELIEVED ALSO TO CLEANSE THE SOUL AND ALIGN ENERGY FIELDS.
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The literature regarding the purpose of ear candling is unclear. According to Whole Health Network and many other sources, this painless procedure, when performed by a trained professional, removes deep deposits of earwax and fungus, and has many other applications. However, numerous other sources say ear candling is not meant to remove anything from the ear.
ing
Although ear candling can be performed safely, neither the U.S. FDA nor Health Canada (the Canadian national health regulatory agency) support this practice because used improperly, the candles can cause serious injury. From the FDA website, “The FDA has found no valid scientific evidence to support the safety or effectiveness of these devices for any medical claims or benefits.” As with many other natural remedies, proponents of ear candling claim, based on testimonial experience, that ear candling does work. Consumers should be aware of the controversy, the risks and the potential benefits achieved by ear candling so they can decide for themselves.
WHAT DOES EAR CANDLING DO? By law, practitioners of ear candling cannot say the treatment is therapeutic or corrective and they must state that its use is non-medical in nature; but, the list of benefits posted on the Internet is extensive. Treatments can be received by people of any age, including infants and the elderly, and the following problems may be addressed: > > > > > > > > > > > >
Headaches (migraines included). Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Hearing challenges or plugged ears. Inner ear pressure. Ringing in the ears. Excessive cerumen (wax) production. Vertigo. Chronic sinusitis. Ear aches. Blood purification. Stress/tension. Mood instability.
Many medical doctors disagree with the efficacy of this treatment in remedying the above-mentioned disorders.
“the fda has found no valid scientific evidence to suPPort the safety or effectiveness of these devices for any medical claims or Benefits.”
Generally speaking, most websites warn that if there is a known ear infection, patients should seek medical advice, but there is inconsistency regarding its applications among practitioners.
THERE’S A CANDLE IN YOUR EAR! The first step in candling requires participants to lie down on their sides. Sometimes though, to avoid wax dripping toward the head, recipients may be seated. A fire-proof or flame retardant sheet may be draped over the upper body and head. Next, a cone-shaped candle between 9 and 12 inches long is inserted through a catch-plate and the end of the candle is gently inserted into the ear canal. The plate covers the external ear (pinna) to protect the head from dripping wax. If the person is seated, a catch plate may be avoided, since the candle is held in the ear at about a 45 degree angle. Once the candle is lit and starts to burn, charred pieces are snipped off carefully, much as one would trim the wick of a regular candle.
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yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 29
HEALTHVIEW I PART 1: EAR CANDLING
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People frequently hear hissing and popping noises during the procedure. Others report feeling heat inside the ear. Ear candle purveyors warn that some users may experience “warmth and itching” in the ear for a couple of days afterward.
HOW DOES EAR CANDLING WORK? The special candles, made of paper or linen soaked in paraffin, beeswax or other materials, are designed with a hollow center. Herbs such as sage, chamomile, rose or rosemary are sometimes mixed into the wax to result in herbal smoke treatments. As the candle top burns, a small stream of smoke exits the bottom of the candle into the ear. Some proponents claim this is supposed to soften earwax and create a difference in temperature between the ear canal and the outside air, which then draws the impurities out of the canal and into the candle’s center. They explain that a low-level vacuum sucks the wax or other debris away from the eardrum and up into the candle tube. Others explain that no vacuum is created and no substance is removed from the ear at all. After about 45 minutes, the candle is snuffed and removed from the ear canal. The cone remnant can be cut open to reveal a mixture of yellow, brown and white, chunky or powdery residue.
WAX REMOVAL PROVEN FALSE
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A number of experiments have demonstrated that the candles do not create any suction within the ear canal, as tested by inserting the lower tip of a lit candle into a cup of oil — the fluid level in the cup did not change by the end of the candle’s burning time.
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JULY 2011
Another experiment was conducted without inserting the candle into anything. It showed the bottom end of the candle (that goes into the ear) streaming residue-producing smoke and then soon getting clogged with wax as the flame melted the candle. So, there could be
no suction at all in this case. However, the cut open remnant was shown to contain debris, similar to earwax debris supposedly found in candles that suction-cleaned human ears. It does not appear that any remnant sample found in the center of the candle has been sent to a lab for pathology identification/confirmation as cerumen (ear wax). But the above-mentioned experiments prove beyond doubt that the contents of these ear candle remnants were melted candle wax.
A WORD OF CAUTION Dr. Lisa Roazen, an emergency physician based in New York, does not believe ear candling is a good idea due to the risks involved. She quotes a survey of 144 ear, nose and throat specialists published in Laryngoscope in 1996, which reported 14 cases of patient injuries related to ear candling. Thirteen physicians treated patients whose ears were burned by hot, liquefied candle wax. Seven patients were treated for obstruction of the ear canal with candle wax and one patient experienced a perforated eardrum. She also noted that studies attempting to measure the amount of vacuum pressure generated by the candles necessary to extract wax from the ear canal have been unsuccessful, in that no measurable vacuum was created. Dr. Eric Mann, Clinical Deputy Director of the FDA’s division of ophthalmic, neurological and ear, nose and throat devices, states, “There is no valid scientific evidence for any medical benefit from the use of ear candles.” He goes on to say, “Children of any age, including babies, are at increased risk for injuries and complications if exposed to ear candles since they have small ear canals.” If ear candling is your choice for ear hygiene, be aware it is not guaranteed to be effective and carries its own risk with use.
MEDICAL ADVICE For those who have questions about how best to address wax buildup, Dr. Glenn Waldman, a specialist in ear, nose and throat and facial plastic surgery in Thousand Oaks, directs his patients to approach the problem gently. “Although candles and [dilute hydrogen peroxide] eardrops may work okay, getting some wax out, they are not the safest treatments. Even aggressive irrigation carries the risk of infection and damage because you can’t see what’s going on,” he says. Furthermore, cotton-tipped applicators should never be used to clean ear canals, since the canal is funnel-shaped and the swab will only serve to push the wax further into the ear. “The safest way to remove hard deposits of excess wax is to visit a specialist who will use a curette (a type of scoop instrument) with the aid of a microscope and suction.” Dr. Waldman recommends biannual visits to a doctor if a person suffers from what they feel is an abnormal amount of wax production that blocks or obstructs their ear canals or traps water in
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JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 31
HEALTHVIEW I
ARE YOU
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JULY 2011
PART 1: EAR CANDLING
NiNETy FivE PERCENT
oF THE CANAl CAN bE bloCKED wiTHoUT A PERSoN NoTiCiNg ANyTHiNg... their ears. “Sometimes it’s genetic and sometimes it’s occupation-related,” says Dr. Waldman. For example, people who spend a lot of time in cold water get bone deposits, called exostoses, in the ear which narrow the canal and trap wax inside. Or people who have to wear ear pieces or hearing aids may experience wax getting packed back into the canal. In these cases, the treatment is covered by insurance. “Really though, it’s amazing how blocked up an ear can be before a person notices any hearing loss,” says Dr. Waldman. “Ninety five percent of the canal can be blocked without a person noticing anything, since wax still transmits sound waves and the small, 5 percent, opening allows sound through.”
three large manufacturers of ear candles. As an example, they found AJ’s Candles, Inc. in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, ordering them to cease marketing and distribution of ear candles. This was done because their website claimed, without seeking prior FDA marketing approval or product clearance, that “the device is intended to remove impacted ear wax, Candida infections and fungus, is an alternative to surgery, can improve and return hearing, improve physical balance, eliminate ear pains and promote healthier ears.” The FDA also issued an import alert directing field personnel to detain shipments of ear candles. Import alerts identify products suspected of violating the law (in this case by not obtaining prior marketing approval or product clearance) so agency field personnel and U.S. Customs and Border Protection staff can stop these entries at the border prior to distribution in the United States.
FDA STANCE ON EAR CANDLES The FDA’s main concern with ear candling is safety-related. Using an open flame near the head may result in burns to the face or the person’s surroundings. Hot wax may burn the ear canal, the eardrum and the middle ear if the eardrum is perforated. Perforation by the candle end being inserted too deeply may cause bleeding and hearing loss. Wax dripping into the ear canal causes plugging and potential hearing loss. And finally, delaying medical treatment for an underlying condition, such as a sinus or ear infection, hearing loss, cancer and TMJ dysfunction, results in pain and worsening of the problems that have medical cures. In February, 2010, the FDA office of Compliance issued warning letters to
It is not illegal to manufacture or sell ear candles in the U.S. AJ’s Candles is still in operation with a revised website that makes no medical product claims and carries general customer testimonials that do not refer to specific treatments. Next month’s issue will include Part 2: Ear Candling which will review ear candling from the manufacturers’ and users’ viewpoints.
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HEALTHVIEW II SUMMER SAFTEY TIPS
BY
MIRA REVERENTE
Be safe this summer LONG DAYS, BEACH TRIPS, ROAD TRIPS, FIREWORKS AND BARBECUES ALL MEAN THE SAME THING: SUMMER IS HERE! One of the most highly anticipated seasons is unfortunately also one of the most accident-prone seasons due to the large number of people traveling or engaging in outdoor activities. Before you and your family head out for some summer fun, check below for some tips.
SKINCARE As a good rule of thumb, summer season or not, one should avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the so-called “prime hours” for damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
FoR SUNSCREENS,THERE iS No NEED To SPRiNg FoR PRiCiER, PoPUlAR bRANDS. gENERiC bRANDS woRK jUST AS wEll.
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Protective clothing also helps. A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved tops, long pants and other sun-protective clothing are recommended when engaging in outdoor activities. Also look into stores and clothing companies that carry special apparel with built-in sun protection. Lastly, use sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, which should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure. Most dermatologists recommend re-application every two hours.
“Sunscreen expires, so don’t use last year’s,” cautioned Sylvia Wildfire, owner and CEO of On Call Medic, a Thousand Oaks-based company that provides on-site medical services all over the U.S. “Chemicals may have interacted over the years and may cause some rashes,” added Wildfire, who’s also a certified emergency medical technician. Are you confused about which sunscreen form to use — lotion, oil, gel, spray, cream, wax or powder? Most dermatologists agree it’s a matter of personal preference or it depends on which body part it will be used. A person with dry skin might be better off using a cream, while a person with oily skin might prefer the gel or spray lotion. Most people also prefer to use the cream on their face. For broad-spectrum protection, the AAD recommends sunscreens with any of the following ingredients: • • • • • • • •
Avobenzone Cinoxate Ecamsule Menthyl anthranilate Octyl methoxycinnamate Octyl salicylate Oxybenzone Sulisobenzone
Wildfire added, “For sunscreens, there is no need to spring for pricier, popular brands. Generic brands work just as well.”
CHILDREN According to a recent American Red Cross survey, four in 10 households will engage in water-related activities this summer. In the same survey, almost half said that they had nearly drowned at some point in their lives. Here are some water safety tips compiled from the American Red Cross and other children’s safety advocate groups: • Learn to swim well. • Learn life-saving skills if you can or know how to recognize the signs of distress in the water and call for help. • Keep an eye on your children whenever they’re near or around any body of water. • Know the color of your children’s swimsuits to save time finding them in a pool or ocean full of children. • Know that inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties” are not substitutes for approved life vests. • If you have a pool or a hot tub, keep lifesaving gear like a ring buoy, a pole and life jackets handy. • Always use life vests on a boat. • Get out of the water when there’s thunder or lightning. • Get to know your environment and know where help is.
For pool owners, Wildfire also suggests installing a fence and a floating alarm as additional safety measures.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to use an insect repellent on their children and perform a daily tick check when they’re outdoors. It is also important to point out and warn them about the presence of poison oak, poison ivy or sumac.
PETS Like children, pets must also be supervised and monitored when the temperature starts rising. On its website, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) shares some hot weather tips for our furry companions: • Schedule a spring or early summer check-up with your pet’s vet. • Give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot. • Pay attention to the warning signs of overheating such as drooling, mild weakness and excessive panting, among others. • Don’t leave them alone in a parked vehicle. • Don’t leave them unsupervised around a pool or hot tub. • Keep unscreened windows and doors closed to prevent falls. • Give them a lightweight haircut to prevent overheating. • Don’t let them linger on hot asphalt when it’s hot outside. • Keep insecticides and other chemicals out of reach. • Keep alcoholic beverages and potentially dangerous human snacks like raisins, grapes and chocolates away from them. • Don’t use fireworks around them as this may result in severe burns or trauma.
ROAD TRIPS With airfare costs on the rise, more vacation-starved families are expected to hit the road and drive, not fly. Don’t let mishaps put a damper on your much-anticipated vacation, said Wildfire. For the summer season, hydration is the key. “I tell people that they should always have water in the car when traveling,” she said. Wildfire advises against giving children beverages other than water, as these can get bad quickly in a hot car. She is also cautious about giving food like cereal and cookies to small children during road trips as these can be choking hazards. “Just make frequent stops to eat,” she advised.
JULY 2011
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FROMTHEHEART | LA COMMUNITY CATS
MIRA REVERENTE
lA CommUNiTy
CATS
CUDDLY AND CUTE IS HOW MOST PEOPLE PICTURE PET CATS. HOWEVER, NOT ALL CATS CAN BE INSTANT PETS.
Take the case of Rajj, bloodied and deemed untouchable until he was rescued from the animal shelter. Used to fending for himself, this feral cat had trust issues, but with patience and time, his new caretaker won him over.
FERAL CATS Not all cat stories have happy endings — especially not those involving feral cats that have been abandoned, neglected or abused. Living on the streets for an extended period of time with no human contact makes these ferals highly suspicious of humans – and wisely so. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that there are more than 50 million feral cats in the country today. Unlike domesticated cats, feral cats do not easily adapt to people. In fact, some of them may never adapt to living with people.
THE CAT LADY
+++
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rodents can transmit more than 35 infectious diseases worldwide including leptospirosis, salmonellosis and the Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
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Beverly Berwald, Rajj’s caretaker, knows all about feral cats and their many challenges. Almost a year and a half since she adopted Rajj, the gray-haired cat is still distrustful at times. A cat lover all her life, Berwald found herself attracting cats wherever she went. Berwald recalled, “As a child, my mom thought I was talking to imaginary friends. Unknown to her, I was talking to the two cats I’d lured into the back of our station wagon,” she chuckled.
to stabilize the overpopulation of feral cats, the hsus advocates community-based trap-neuterreturn (tnr) programs. A magazine editor by profession, Berwald recalled her foray into the non-profit world of feral cats. “I took over a cat colony when the woman in charge fell. Just like clockwork, I was guided to care for these noble animals,” she said of the natural progression of events.
BEGINNINGS Berwald founded LA Community Cats in 2009. Today, the non-profit maintains colonies in Westchester, Culver City, Long Beach, Norwalk, Downey and Paramount. Nine volunteers or caretakers maintain the safe havens where the cats can be fed and sheltered. Each colony houses about 4 to 20 cats, plus some “drop-ins” every now and then. Berwald shared that in the last two years, donations to the non-profit have totaled $1,000. The rest of the group’s hefty expenses come from her own pocket or from in kind donations from local pet stores and pet food distributors. For Berwald, a major paradigm shift in the community is in order. “We’re trying to raise people’s consciousness and teach them respect for cats,” she stated. The non-profit group’s goals are simple and straightforward. First, to lift the pressure off animal control and overcrowded shelters. Second, to employ feral cats to keep the rodent population in check. Rodent reduction means lower health risks in the community, according to Berwald. “Feral cats do not belong in animal shelters where they will be killed,” Berwald emphasized. “It’s a cruel waste of disease-fighting members of the community.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rodents can transmit more than 35 infectious diseases worldwide including leptospirosis, salmonellosis and the Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). “Today, with antibiotic resistance on the rise, there is no guarantee we would survive another black plague,” Berwald said, referring to the bubonic plague in Western Europe during the 14th century. The main carriers of this infectious disease were believed to be flea-infested rats.
GREEN CATS MOVEMENT Berwald is all about raising consciousness and responsibility among community members. “It is an enormous pressure for just a few people to assume,” she related. “I know there’s this stereotype of single, older women spending their own money to take care of these feral cats, and it’s true,” she described a popular perception of volunteers. “But LA Community Cats also has younger and older men caretakers.” Aside from changing perceptions, there is a larger issue on Berwald’s radar these days — the GREENCats movement, spearheaded by Speedwell Productions, LLC. An organized advocacy campaign, the movement aims to elevate the status of feral cats as neighborhood green exterminators. Feral cats give off a scent that repels rodents and sends them heading for the hills. Using this natural and environmentally-friendly form of pest control eliminates the use of toxic chemicals and significantly reduces the cost of pest control expenditures to the city.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
TNR Berwald posed a question, “Do you know that about four million cats are euthanized every year in the U.S.?” To stabilize the overpopulation of feral cats, the HSUS advocates community-based Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Designed to humanely limit their number through spaying and neutering, Berwald said that TNR programs would also help reduce starvation and euthanasia. TNRs prevent kittens from being born in feral cat colonies. “For the mother cats (that evaded TNR), we try to get their kittens adopted, after weaning and before they take on feral behaviors,” she explained.
A COMMUNITY PROBLEM LA Community Cats, along with other non-profit organizations, is also at the forefront of the movement working to get feral cats that much-needed acceptance from cities and communities. Berwald is looking forward to the day when volunteers no longer need to hide and can openly help the cats. “Because there is a lot of misinformation about feral cats as being carriers of disease — they aren’t — we take great pains to protect the cats and ourselves,” she explained. “We’re acting as responsible citizens to maintain disease-free communities for the rest of humanity, and we have to hide?” It’s less complicated for the felines. “They just want to go on breathing,” she said.
1) Take action. Go to www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ greencats-value-the-feral-catcolony/ and declare your support for this natural alternative to pest control. 2) When you see feral cats, don’t turn them in to animal control. Get in touch with a non-profit organization in your area. Go to www.humanesociety.org for a complete listing. 3) Donate to organizations like LA Community Cats. For more information, visit www.lacommunitycats.com.
JULY 2011
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MIND SPIRIT EMPATHS
DR. JUDITH ORLOFF IS KNOWN FOR TRANSFORMING THE FACE OF PSYCHIATRY. An assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA, she is the author of the New York Times and international bestseller Emotional Freedom — upon which a public television special is based. Her book Second Sight chronicles her challenges and triumphs embracing her own intuition and integrating it into medicine. Her other bestsellers – Positive Energy, Guide to Intuitive Healing, and Second Sight — are a trilogy of books exploring new breakthroughs in intuition and energy. Orloff is an empath — a personality trait she believes set the foundation for her success. “I would never want to give up my empathic abilities,” said Orloff of Los Angeles, who coined the term emotional empath, which she writes about in Emotional Freedom as one of the four emotional personality types. “I am an empath myself and use my abilities in my medical prac-
are you an
emPath?
HOW TO
PROTECT YOUR SENSITIVITIES IN AN OVERWHELMING WORLD
BY
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ALICIA DOYLE
the centers for disease control and Prevention
rePort that more than two million americans suffer from chronic fatigue.
tice to help patients. I encourage my patients to embrace their empathy at the same time learning how to set clear limits and boundaries with others to protect it.” Growing up, “I was told by my physician mother that I didn’t have a thick enough skin and that I had to toughen up — not encouraging comments for an empathic child. Society and physicians look on empaths as week, overly-sensitive hypochondriacs and malingerers. Or else they see them as overanxious.”
From Orloff’s book, Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life. The Empath’s Upside • You have a big heart and are gifted in helping others. • Your sensitivity makes you passionate and exquisitely sensual. • You’re intuitive about people’s thoughts and feelings. • You’re emotionally responsive, can relate to others’ feelings. • You’re in touch with your body and emotions. • You have a palpable sense of spirituality. The Empath’s Downside • You’re an emotional sponge, absorbing people’s negativity. • You’re so sensitive to emotions you feel like a wire without insulation. • You’re prone to anxiety, depression and fatigue. • You may feel hemmed in living in the same space with other people. • You may have chronic, debilitating physical symptoms. • You have difficulty setting boundaries with draining people and get run over by them.
This negative perception is a gross misunderstanding. As an empath, “I am more sensitive and intuitive as a psychiatrist and a woman, more deeply connected to life and nature. I am able to feel deep passion and deeply connect with my patients, friends and family. As long as I learn how to set healthy limits and boundaries I will protect my energy and be able to maximize the benefits of empathy. The same is true of parents and anyone in their career. The world would be a hardened place without the tender hearts of an empath.”
ARE YOU AN EMOTIONAL EMPATH? Empaths are highly sensitive, finely-tuned instruments when it comes to emotions, according to Orloff’s book Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life. “They feel everything, sometimes to an extreme, and are less apt to intellectualize feelings. Intuition is the filter through which they experience the world.” If empaths are around peace and love, their bodies assimilate these and flourish. Negativity, though, often feels assaultive, exhausting. When empaths absorb the impact of stressful emotions, it can trigger panic attacks, depression, food, sex and drug binges, and a plethora of physical symptoms that defy traditional medical diagnosis from fatigue to agoraphobia. “Since I’m an empath, I want to help all my empath-patients cultivate this capacity and be comfortable with it,” Orloff said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than two million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue. “It’s likely that many of them are misdiagnosed empaths,” Orloff said. “Also, others of this emotional type become agoraphobic recluses too spooked to venture outdoors.” To determine whether you’re an emotional empath, Orloff suggests taking the following quiz. Ask yourself: Have I been labeled as too emotional or overly sensitive? If a friend is distraught, do I start feeling it too? Are my feelings easily hurt? Am I emotionally drained by crowds, require time alone to revive? Do my nerves get frayed by noise, smells or excessive talk? Do I prefer taking my own car places so I can leave when I please? Do I overeat to cope with emotional stress? Am I afraid of becoming engulfed by intimate relationships? “If you answer yes to one to three of these questions, you’re at least part empathic,” Orloff said.
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JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 39
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MIND SPIRIT EMPATHS
EMOTIONAL ACTION STEP: HOW TO FIND BALANCE To center yourself, Orloff offers a number of strategies. Allow quiet time to emotionally decompress. Get in the habit of taking calming mini-breaks throughout the day. Breathe in some fresh air. Stretch. Take a short walk around the office. “These interludes will reduce the excessive stimulation of going non-stop.” Orloff also encourages the practice of guerilla meditation. “To counter emotional overload, act fast and meditate for a few minutes. This centers your energy so you don’t take it on from others.” It’s also crucial to define and honor your empathic needs and safeguard your sensitivities, Orloff said. Here’s how: • If someone asks too much of you, politely tell them “no.” It’s not necessary to explain why. As the saying goes, “No, is a complete sentence.” • If your comfort level is three hours max for socializing — even if you adore the people — take your own car or have an alternate transportation plan so you’re not stranded. • If crowds are overwhelming, eat a highprotein meal beforehand (this grounds you) and sit in the far corner of, say, a theatre or party, not dead center. • If you feel nuked by perfume, nicely request that your friends refrain from wearing it around you. If you can’t avoid it, stand near a window or take frequent breaks to catch a breath of fresh air outdoors. • If you overeat to numb negative emotions, practice the guerilla meditation mentioned above, before you’re lured to the refrigerator — a potential vortex of temptation. As an emergency measure, keep a cushion by the fridge so you can be poised to meditate instead of binge. • Carve out private space at home. Then you won’t be stricken by the feeling of too much togetherness.
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iF yoU ovEREAT To NUmb NEgATivE EmoTioNS, PRACTiCE THE gUERillA mEDiTATioN. “Over time, I suggest adding to this list to keep yourself covered,” Orloff said. “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time you’re on emotional overload. With pragmatic strategies to cope, empaths can have quicker retorts, feel safer, and their talents can blossom.”
THE PREVALENCE OF EMPATHS “In my workshops I teach how to identify and deal with empathy in a healthy way,” said Orloff, noting that people at any age — from children to the elderly — can be empaths. “When I ask how many people are empaths, at least half of the people in my audience raise their hands. Probably 25 to 35 percent in the general population.” Recognizing that you’re an empath is the first step in taking charge of your emotions instead of constantly drowning in them, Orloff said. “As one empath to another, I want to legitimize your sensitivity so you don’t think you’re losing your gourd. I’d had numerous patients who’ve said, ‘Judith, I thought there was something wrong with me. I feel like such a sissy.’ Not so. Our systems are just more permeable.” Also realize the fact that you’re the only person feeling something doesn’t invalidate your perceptions. “For instance, when an empath-patient, timid to begin with, asked his wannaberock star neighbor to turn down Adam Bomb, an ear-splitting heavy metal band, the neighbor’s response was, ‘Why? You’re the only one who ever complains.’ This scenario is crazy-making for an empath, since it wrongly implies that a majority vote is necessary to justify one’s stance.” To maintain resolve in an emotionally coarse world, empaths must have enough self-knowledge to clearly articulate their needs, Orloff further emphasized. “Otherwise, like my patient, you may slink away from such encounters feeling beaten, defenseless, licking your wounds. Staying on top of empathy will improve your self-care and relationships … for empaths to achieve freedom and enjoy their assets, they must learn to protect their sensitivity and find balance.” For more information, visit Dr. Orloff’s website at www.drjudithorloff.com.
PETHEALTH | EARTHQUAKE
EARTHqUAKE PREPAREDNESS — DoN’T FoRgET yoUR PETS BY
DODY TYNEWAY, DVM
+++
Many shelters and veterinary offices
microchip pets to ensure they get home safely if they end up in a shelter or in an emergency room with injuries.
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Surprisingly, all the lacerations I sutured after a quick cleaning healed nicely. Other animals were not so lucky. Many had escaped into the streets through broken windows and fallen block walls and had been hit by cars in the chaos after the quake. Proper identification in the form of a collar with name, address and emergency contact can be critically important for your pet. Many shelters and veterinary offices microchip pets to ensure they get home safely if they end up in a shelter or in an emergency room with injuries.
I STILL REMEMBER WHAT A HUGE ADJUSTMENT IT WAS MOVING FROM THE ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY TO A HOSPITAL IN LOS ANGELES. THERE WERE MANY FIRST TIMES: NOTICING HOW TRAFFIC POLITELY STOPS WHEN PEDESTRIANS ON WILSHIRE BOULEVARD STEP OUT INTO THE CROSSWALKS (COMPARED TO NEW YORK), EXPERIENCING THE BUSIEST FREEWAYS IN THE WORLD, AND MY FIRST REAL EARTHQUAKE, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
I moved here in August of 1993 and joined a busy 24-hour practice in Granada Hills. What are the odds that I would be on emergency duty the night of the Northridge quake (practically on the epicenter), never having felt the solid earth move in my life? It was a pretty uneventful evening in the animal emergency room. I had just seen my last patient and was sitting at the desk in the doctor’s office, dozing off. My half-dreams were interrupted by a train running into the building. I remember thinking, where is the train and how did it run into the building? There wasn’t a lot to think about as I instinctively rolled onto the floor and wedged myself next to the desk as the lights went out and the shaking continued. I was paralyzed with fear and could not find my glasses. I felt the ground moving like a wayward ship on the ocean with special effects of gas stations blowing up all around. I remember vividly my first patient after the quake. I don’t remember his name, but he was a little Yorkshire terrier that had cut his feet on glass and was limping after something had fallen on him. There were no broken bones and the bleeding was easily stopped. Many more animals followed with injuries from broken glass. Many suffered severe lacerations and required blood transfusions after having tried to jump through plate glass windows out of sheer terror. Many suffered severe injuries from having furniture fall on them.
I remember worrying about my little kitty Madeline (to whom I dedicated my office). She is the most loving, amazing little cat I have ever known. Was she safe at home in the little guest house I was renting in Reseda? Did something fall on her too? I could only pray, and there was no time to act as the animals with injuries just kept coming. I was finally able to return home later in the day, driving by collapsed apartment buildings and the Northridge parking structure that had bent like a flimsy toy. My thoughts were racing, wondering if she was okay. “Please be there. Please be okay.” I opened the door and
DogS THAT SlEEP iN CRATES woUlD bE SAFE FRom FURNiTURE FAlliNg oN THEm AND woUlD NoT bE HARmED FRom bRoKEN glASS. there she was, untouched and okay — right in the middle of all the furniture that fell forward into the little space I called home. Fortunately I had plenty of food and some water for the two of us. Other than that, I was not prepared. After experiencing that earthquake or any other and watching the more recent events in New Orleans and Japan, we should be reminded to be ready in the event of any disaster. Of course, nobody can predict when a natural disaster will strike or exactly what will happen if it does. We must try to anticipate by looking at the world from the level of our pets and children. If an earthquake caused our furniture to topple, would we be safe? Would our pets and
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have enough food and water for three days — PreferaBly a week for each Pet. children be safe? One very important thing we can do easily is to secure bookshelves and heavy furniture. This can save those close to the floor from very serious injury. Dogs that sleep in crates would be safe from furniture falling on them and would not be harmed from broken glass. It’s important for pets to learn to feel safe and relaxed in a crate. If we had a catastrophic quake, shelters would not likely admit our pets. A crate and some shade would provide safe, temporary shelter for them. Leashes and collars for those that do not usually wear them should also be included in case it becomes necessary for them to be away from home. Following are some pointers to prepare an adequate earthquake kit for pets in addition to what you prepare for yourself. Have enough food and water for three days — preferably a week for each pet. Consider cans with pop-top lids that do not require a can opener or refrigeration. Include small food and water bowls. A light pillowcase makes a nice temporary place to keep a small dog or cat secure if you need to run out of a building. For cats, include a small litter box with some plastic liners and newspaper. You can use real soil or shredded newspaper for litter.
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Make sure you have a small supply of critical medications. Ask your veterinarian what to include if you are unsure. Many pets can go without medications for several days without ill effects, but it is best to be prepared and refresh supplies yearly. You will also need supplies for the critical time following a disaster. Remember to use care when approaching an injured pet, as it may bite. Consider a muzzle or makeshift muzzle to move an injured animal. Or bundle them up in a blanket with great care. A lightweight emergency blanket is very useful. A basic first aid kit and some splinting materials are handy to have. A rolled up newspaper secured with tape can splint an injured extremity. Make a commitment to gather the necessary items in advance so you can be ready in the event of a disaster. Keep these in a safe place with a photo of your pet in case it gets lost.
The American Veterinary Medical Association’s website has a free guide you can download called Saving the Whole Family (www.avma.org/disaster). It includes information for keeping horses and livestock safe. Another great source for general disaster preparedness is at www.prepare.org/home.
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JULY 2011
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FITNESS&NUTRITION I HCG
BY
TERESA RISPOLI, PhD, LAc
no more
yoyo dieting
LIKE MANY PEOPLE, YOU’VE PROBABLY TRIED EVERYTHING TO LOSE WEIGHT AND ARE FINDING IT INCREASING MORE DIFFICULT THAN EVER. YOU’VE TRIED THE NEWEST FAT-MELTING WORKOUT BUT YOU ARE NOW HEAVIER THAN BEFORE. SOUND FAMILIAR?
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more than 60,000 PeoPle have successfully lost 15 to 34 Pounds of toxic fat in fewer than 40 days on the hcg homeoPathic weight loss and detox system.
The homeopathic form of HCG is safe, effective and fast. But it is important to know where the HCG is sourced — preferably here in the U.S. Also be sure that it is from a human source and has an NDC (national drug code) monitored by the FDA. HCG has been known not only to reduce hunger but to improve T3 uptake for sluggish thyroids; reduce leptin resistance (a hormone that plays a key role in fat metabolism); reduce cholesterol, high blood pressure, triglycerides, and blood sugar irregularities including insulin resistance; lower stress and cortisol levels which lead to central obesity; reduce food cravings and improve the immune system. There is evidence it may reduce the risk of breast cancer and improve prostate health. Your chance for weight loss success is greatly improved when you take HCG with a homeopathic systemic detox program, and receive an instructional consultation to teach you to follow the program. With the onslaught of obesogens (chemicals in our foods, water and environment that contribute to obesity by disrupting our hormones), humans now store these toxins in their non-essential fat cells, rendering it impossible to lose weight with standard weight-loss programs. Not to worry, there are ways to get these chemicals out of the fat cells and trick the body into rapid, easy weight loss. HCG combined with a homeopathic weight loss and detox system is the preferred answer to many failed weight-loss efforts.
WHAT IS HCG? HCG (human chorionic gonatropin) is a hormone produced during pregnancy that tells the hypothalamus in the brain to turn off hunger and to use non-essential fat for energy. It is not a sex hormone; thus it is safe for men and women. It is possible to burn 0.5 to 2 pounds or 7000 calories of toxic fat daily while sleeping.
DETOXING WHILE ON THE HCG DIET If you don’t detoxify while on the HCG diet, you will expose yourself to increased toxicity and reduced immune functionality. Failing to detoxify also significantly reduces the probability that your hypothalamus will reset — one of the keys to the long-term success of the HCG weight loss diet. Increased toxicity decreases your body’s ability to rebuild skin and new internal support systems, resulting in loose skin, longer recovery and increased gauntness. A systemic detox system will help your body rapidly restore your skin and other tissues, preventing saggy skin. More than 60,000 people have successfully lost 15 to 34 pounds of toxic fat in fewer than 40 days on the HCG homeopathic weight loss and detox system. I personally lost 25 pounds and found it to be safe, fast and easy. The nice thing about HCG is you do not have to kill yourself exercising and no harmful drugs, injections, pills or surgery are required. Once you complete the required three weeks of maintenance you will keep the weight off as long as you eat sensibly and don’t have other endocrinedisrupting disorders.
>>
JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 47
FITNESS&NUTRITION I HCG
LOOk FOR THe FOLLOwINg eNDOCRINe OR MeTAbOLIC DISTuRbANCeS: Food Sensitivities Lead to Obesity if Left unchecked: Signs & Symptoms: Arthritis; bursitis; low back pain; hives; eczema; itching; asthma; fainting; dizzy spells; recurrent bladder infections; low blood sugar; canker sores; diarrhea; constipation; gallbladder pain; indigestion; gas; bloating; acid reflux and heartburn; migraine headaches; fatigue; learning disabilities; puffy hands, feet and face; and water retention.
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For the long-term success of their patients, I recommend physicians look at symptoms pointing to metabolic and endocrine problems which can lead to weight gain if left unchecked. It is important not to assume that weight loss is simply a matter of will-power to eat less and exercise more. It is crucial to identify the underlying causes of a patient’s inability to lose weight, including hormonal deficiencies, thyroid imbalance, leptin resistance, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic insufficiency, set-point abnormalities and vitamin deficiencies. A wide range of methods are available to treat these conditions, ultimately leading to weight loss. Diet and exercise is rarely successful for long-term weight loss if such metabolic disturbances are left untreated.
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Your Thyroid, Adrenal and Sex Hormones Need to be balanced: Hormonal disturbances cause accelerated aging, poor health, physical deterioration and weight gain. This lethal triad of unbalanced thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones makes traditional dieting useless. It’s no longer about eating less — it’s about being smarter about all the things that go in and on your body. Diets don’t work. Food is not the enemy! It seems like no one is sleeping these days and people are getting fatter and fatter. What does sleep have to do with being overweight? If you don’t sleep, losing weight becomes a losing battle and it has to do with your hormones, especially the adrenal hormone cortisol. When you reach midlife, estrogen and progesterone begin to plummet. As these hormones fall, your cortisol rises. You cannot sleep with high cortisol and high insulin. High insulin leads to weight gain because insulin is the fat-storing hormone. When a person is stressed, their adrenals over-produce cortisol and deplete DHEA. This adds weight around the
the chemicals in diet sodas are linked to the worst kinds of brain tumors and are major contributors to obesity. middle, and if left unchecked can lead to adrenal exhaustion. The adrenals kick in and help produce sex hormones. If you lack sex drive and are feeling fatigued upon rising, or have insomnia or hot flashes, these are symptoms of adrenal disturbances. A simple saliva test called an ASI test can determine the state of your adrenals. In addition, the inability to sleep diminishes your thyroid, so now you have diminished fat-burning hormone. Can you see how, if balanced, these hormones can compound your ability to lose weight and keep it off? When people are seeking bio-identical hormone replacement, I usually check the adrenals first. This is because the adrenals produce sex hormones when the system stops. Once the adrenals are performing properly we can check sex hormones or thyroid hormones. Low levels of DHEA, an adrenal hormone, are linked to obesity in men and women. A number of men suffer from abdominal obesity, the most dangerous kind of fat. It is almost impossible for men to lose inches off their waistline if they are deficient in free testosterone, especially in the presence of excess estrogen. A male hormone saliva panel can quickly determine these levels. Once we have all the facts, a program can be administered.
In women, decreased estrogen and elevated testosterone contribute to weight gain. It is important to establish a hormone base and treat what we find. Fat itself has endocrine (hormonal) receptors. That is why the brain, gut, thyroid, and hormonal connections are vitally important and are affecting the fat cells. Next, Check for Insulin Sensitivity. High glycemic foods over-burden the pancreas which leads to desensitized insulin receptors. This condition adds weight faster than anything! You absolutely must stay away from sugary, starchy foods. Instead choose low glycemic fruits and vegetables. Don’t drink soda because it makes you crave fattening foods. Sodas are made from chemicals. They contain no nutrients for the body to extract. They are full of nothing but empty calories. This confuses the brain, so it tries again and again to get fed, triggering cravings for more. The chemicals in diet sodas are linked to the worst kinds of brain tumors and are major contributors to obesity.
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All or some of the above information may apply to you, but in order for you to know the facts, you will need to be tested and consult your physician. This article represents the views and opinions of its author and not necessarily those of YHC Magazine. Please consult your physician for further information. • Dr. Rispoli has a PhD in nutrition, a master’s in naturopathy and Oriental medicine and is a licensed acupuncturist. She is the founder and director of Complete Health. For an appointment call 818.707.3126. Her office is located at 28247 Agoura Road in Agoura. For more information, visit www.completehealthinstitute.com.
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yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 49
FITNESS&NUTRITION II GRILLING
fire uP the grill! BY
MIRA REVERENTE
FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY, AMERICANS WILL BE ENGAGING IN ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES — GRILLING. WITH IDEAL TEMPERATURES, SAVORY FOOD AND WONDERFUL COMPANY, THE LURE OF THE GRILL CAN BE HARD TO RESIST.
iNTENSE HEAT CombiNED wiTH mEAT CAN lEAD To THE FoRmATioN oF DANgERoUS byPRoDUCTS THAT HAvE bEEN liNKED To CANCER.
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TO GRILL OR NOT TO GRILL Aside from being a social pastime, grilling has a myriad of benefits: health, economic and flavor. For the health-conscious, it is the preferred method of cooking for several reasons. It is easier to trim unwanted fat off of meat compared with roasting or cooking on a stove. Unlike with frying, it does not sear in a lot of fats. There is no cooking oil to deal with. Often, non-stick cooking spray is all it takes to prevent the food from sticking to the grill. Grilling also saves money. By cooking outside, one doesn’t have to worry about raising the temperature inside the house. It reduces the burden on the air-conditioning system and reduces energy costs. Serious cooks and food aficionados also subscribe to the thought that grilling preserves the flavor and tenderness of various meats and vegetables better. They also swear it’s a time-saver since grilling does not take as much time as alternate cooking methods. Grills with their heat-conducting metals are more efficient because they can reach higher temperatures quicker.
GRILLING 101 “Everything can be grilled,” said Marco Gonzalez, owner and chef of Willy’s BBQ and Grill in Agoura Hills. One cannot go wrong with tri-tip beef, according to Gonzalez. This lean, tender and boneless cut of beef can withstand direct heat for up to three hours. The same can be said about hot sausage links.
+++
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), another dan-
gerous byproduct of grilling, are formed when animal or fish fats drip onto hot coals.
“However, some food withstands heat better than others,” he clarified. According to Gonzalez, certain meat cuts are better for other cooking methods. The beef brisket, for one, is more suitable for slow cooking or smoking. “If you grill it, the brisket might get too tough for eating,” he said. For vegetables, Gonzalez suggests zucchini, bell peppers, onions and squash, which are popular and widely available in California. Preferences and taste buds might be different in other parts of the country. Southerners for example, favor collard greens, said Gonzalez. The type of marinade or rub used, according to Gonzalez, can further enhance the grilling experience. “There is no one-size-fits-all for marinades,” he said. “You don’t want everything to taste the same,” he clarified. Whether it’s a store-bought or homemade marinade, certain flavors go with certain types of food, Gonzalez said. For baby back ribs, he suggests something sweet like brown sugar or an apple-based marinade. For chicken, a barbecue seasoning will do. For vegetables, “keep it simple,” he said. Olive oil and salt work best with vegetables.
>>
JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 51
FITNESS&NUTRITION II GRILLING
GRILLING OPTIONS With so many grills and accessories on the market today, where should one begin? First of all, decide if you want a gas or charcoal grill. Push-button ignition is a standard in most gas grills, making them convenient and easy to use. They are generally simpler to clean up too. Gas grills are less affected by wind and other weather factors because the heat emanates from the bottom of the grill. Charcoal grills, on the other hand, have uneven “hot spots,” making it necessary to move food around constantly. In terms of taste, purists insist charcoal grills give food a more distinct smoke flavor, something one cannot get from gas grills. Taste tests have been done and the debate is still ongoing on this issue. Gas grills are more expensive initially but in the long run, some people argue that charcoal can get more expensive than gas. Another item to factor in is time. How much time and effort can you invest? For weekend barbecues, where time is not of the essence, the charcoal grill may be the answer. For a quick dinner or the “afterwork” barbecue, a gas grill may be better. Then, there are grilling accessories like GrillGrates. One of the latest introductions on the market, these modular, interlocking panels are meant to be placed over any grill, to form a new grilling surface. Made of hard, anodized aluminum panels, GrillGrates keep flare-ups down to a minimum, according to its Georgia-based manufacturer. They are designed to drain fat but keep flavorful juices simmering just below the food. There are various sizes and lengths that can fit most standard grills.
THE CANCER CONNECTION Unfortunately there is a downside to grilling. Intense heat combined with meat can lead to the formation of dangerous byproducts that have been linked to cancer. Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) may form when red meat, poultry and fish are subjected to high heat. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), HCAs have caused cancer in lab animals and may increase the risks of certain types of cancer in humans.
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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), another dangerous byproduct of grilling, are formed when animal or fish fats drip onto hot coals. PAHs are believed to increase the risk of stomach cancer. Here are some ways to still enjoy grilling and reduce your risks of cancer:
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1) Pre-cook in a microwave to allow lower temperature grilling. 2) Grill at a slightly lower temperature. 3) Choose leaner cuts of meat whenever possible. Try grass-fed beef; it tends to be leaner and higher in Omega-3s. 4) Cut meat into smaller pieces to shorten cooking time. 5) Use a marinade. Studies have shown that marinating meat before grilling can decrease HCA formation by up to 96%.
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6) Flip meat frequently to reduce carcinogens. 7) Choose more vegetables and soy-based proteins, which have little or no HCA content when cooked. 8) Use proper ventilation to cut down the amount of smoke that saturates meat and increases PAH levels.
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Before you fire up your grill, George Foreman, former heavyweight boxing champion and inventor of George Foreman Grills, also has some safety tips to share: 1) Scrape and clean before the first seasonal use and after each cookout. 2) Check propane grills for leaks, connections and hose integrity. Soak the hoses with soapy water and turn the gas on briefly to look for bubbles.
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3) Never store propane cylinders indoors or within 10 feet of an open flame.
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4) Use long-handled tools and flame-retardant mitts. 5) Thaw and marinade food inside the refrigerator. 6) Keep food covered before grilling. 7) Never attempt to douse a meat fire with water.
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ST. JOHN’S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Free and Low-Cost Cancer Support Groups and Classes St. John’s Cancer Center of Ventura County will be offering several classes and support groups during the month of July. For more information or to register for any of these programs, please call (805) 988-2641. The following classes and services are offered at St. John’s Cancer Center of Ventura County, located at 1700 North Rose Avenue in Oxnard, Suite 145, unless otherwise indicated: Colorectal Cancer Support Group: Offered the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m., this group provides information and support to patients who have been diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer. Co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Facilitated by MaryAnna Palmer, MS, MFT.
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WEEKEND We are pleased to announce Dr. Masoud Azizad is the FIRST in California to offer High Definition Body Sculpting Liposuction (aka "Weekend Lipo"). There is no general anesthesia and most people can resume their activities within 48 hours!
BEFORE
Latina Breast Cancer Support Group: Offered the first and third Thursdays of each month from noon to 1 p.m., this group is geared toward women in need of support or education after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Support group is offered in Spanish. Facilitated by Rosie Hernandez, MSW. Reinhabiting You Yoga Classes: Gentle Yoga for Your Journey with Cancer takes place on Thursdays from 1:45 to 3 p.m. Feeling Better and Stronger with Yoga takes place on Thursdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Taught by Audrey Waltzer, owner and director of the Camarillo Yoga Center. The following classes and services are offered at St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC), located at 1600 North Rose Avenue in Oxnard, and at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital (SJPVH), located at 2309 Antonio Avenue in Camarillo, unless otherwise indicated: Expectant Parent Tours: Reservations are required. Join us for a tour of the facility at SJPVH the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m., or at SJRMC every other Monday at 7 p.m. or on select Sundays at 3 p.m. Tours are available in Spanish at SJRMC once per month—call to make a reservation.
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Childbirth Preparation Course: Topics in this six-weeklong prepared childbirth course include breathing, relaxation, and coping techniques; nutrition; fetal development; recovery; complications; interventions; cesarean birth; medical options; and basic baby care. Offered at SJPVH and SJRMC. Call for dates. For detailed information, to register in a class, or to request a St. John’s Babies First class schedule, please call (805) 988-2784. Visit www.stjohnshealth.org for information.
THOUSAND OAKS SURGICAL HOSPITAL Visit www.toshospital.com for information.
WEST HILLS HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CTR. Visit www.westhillshospital.com for classes available to seniors and new parents.
JULY 2011
yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 55
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Imagine the sloping hillside, Tuscan architecture, fragrant wisteria, jasmine, and lavender and you. Malibu Wines is available year-round to host engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, landmark birthdays, wrap parties, or whatever else you want to celebrate. To eat, drink and live well is the credo of their savvy staff of Malibu insiders. www.malibuwines.com/ private-events
Hyatt Westlake Plaza in Thousand Oaks offers unique and romantic Mediterraneanstyle wedding and celebration sites. With stunning indoor and outdoor garden event spaces, impeccable service and world-famous catering at your disposal, your celebration will be an instant sensation. An informal gathering of friends and family in the garden patio or poolside waterfall areas or an extravagant formal reception in the largest ballroom in Ventura County… the choice is yours. www.westlake.hyatt.com
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You can have it all—a romantic setting, delectable cuisine, and gracious service—at the Sunset Restaurant, set against the Malibu bluffs just steps from Zuma Beach in Malibu, California. Housed in an updated version of a classic beach bungalow, the twostory restaurant breathes with space and light. This venue is particularly event-friendly, with distinct areas that coordinate with each phase of a wedding celebration. www.thesunsetrestaurant. com/weddings-events
Don’t forget how enjoyable your local park can be! Use any excuse to get your family and friends together to celebrate outdoors. Parks often have BBQ facilities, picnic-table seating, playgrounds for the kids and plenty of fresh air. Some facilities can be reserved for large parties, otherwise it’s first come first serve. Check your local Recreation and Park District’s website for more information.
The Bashful Rose Floral Design can transform any venue, bringing it to life with one-of-a-kind floral arrangements. They specialize in weddings, celebrity and charity events, and unique arrangements. Maria has created many different floral designs for A-List events such as the Golden Globes Style Lounge, the Emmy's, and celebrity baby showers. www.thebashfulrose.com
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JULY 2011
Have back surgery with us. Get back to fun faster. Even major back surgery can be performed as a minimally invasive procedure using tiny incisions. That means you spend less time recuperating. Dr. Virella is board certified and an expert in microneurosurgery of the spine, neck and brain. So give us a call if you want to get back into the swing of things faster.
Anthony A. Virella, MD Board Certified Neurosurgeon Education: M.D., Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, NY, 1996
Complex Spine & Brain Specialists
1250 LaVenta Drive, Suite 200 Westlake Village, CA 91361 • dr-virella.com 805.449.0088