When visiting your dental hygienist, keep in mind that they want to help you as much as possible, but they can’t exactly read your mind! There are a few things you may want to discuss before and during your next appointment.

Here are a few tips to bring with you on your next dental visit!

Before getting started, notify your hygienist about any major changes in your physical health as well as any new medications you may be taking (or dosage changes).  Also, describe your daily dental care regiment and tell them when your last professional cleaning was done (if elsewhere).

Ask your hygienist about any questions or concerns to get results!

During the appointment, you should bring up any chief concerns you may have.  If you are interested in whitening or straightening your teeth, let your hygienist know.  Don’t forget to discuss how you feel about the way your teeth look.  This will help your dentist to provide you with the best care possible to suit your needs.

Before leaving the office, don’t forget to inquire about when you should set your next appointment.  Regular dental visits are important to maintaining healthy teeth.

http://bancroftdentalcare.com
680 Bancroft Avenue
San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: (510)569-0218
Email: info@bancroftdentalcare.com

This year has flown by!  I am a little, okay, make that a lot, overwhelmed at the fact that it’s almost 2013.  Tonight is all about celebration.  I’m lucky enough to be celebrating at home with my husband, my kiddos, and some family friends.  But today, I thought I’d take a few minutes to think back on the best moments of the year and my hopes for the year to come.

2012 has been an eventful year for me!  I kept my first-ever New Year’s resolution by starting to write again.  We moved to a beautiful house and I love it, although it was bittersweet to leave our first family home.  I started a new business, my son started preschool, my baby (he might be 16 months old, but he’s still my baby!) learned to walk, talk and climb. And by climb, I mean proving beyond a doubt that he definitely does not have a fear of heights.   Ever wonder why moms get migraines?

Speaking of, I also made the huge leap of faith of taking myself off of a daily preventative medication for migraines that I’ve taken since 2004.   I have been seeking alternative treatments, like essential oils and preservative-free eating.  I am not migraine-free.  BUT, I have not had any more migraines off the medication than I did while taking it.  So there, side effects!

I learned how to can homemade food without preservatives and I’m pretty proud of my pantry.  It feels great to know that my whole family is eating healthier because of my hard work.

In 2013, I want to continue the path I started. My main resolution is to do my best to be completely medication free by the end of the year.  I want to continue to find healthier ways to live for myself and my family.  And I want to continue to write about anything and everything that inspires me.

Happy New Year to you!  What resolutions are you making (or breaking) this year?  You’re welcome to join me in mine!

I was first called to serve in 1981 to in the highlands of Guatemala. I started as the director of a clinic that mostly served the Mam indigenous peoples.

One day I had finished the morning seeing patients, I was back at the house getting ready to eat lunch and a nurse knocked on our back door. She told me, “there is another patient, can you see her?”

As I walked into the clinic I saw a young, tiny, Mam woman carrying her baby on her back in bedsheets. I thought the mother was the patient, but when I picked up the form I realized it was her son who was sick.

I read his age; a three year old boy. When I read his weight I thought there had to be some confusion here because it said that he only weighed 15 pounds. I knew I had to correct this before continuing so I asked her to place her son on the scale. I was in shock, I only saw skin and bones.

The kid was in the terminal stage of malnutrition.

So I started getting patient history. I asked about his birth, his medical history, and if he had been breast fead. The boy had been breast fed for a year and a half so the story wasn’t making much sense. I asked if she had given him more milk, and she said yes. I couldn’t understand how an apparently well-fed boy could be presenting with such a severe case of malnutrition.

I told her that we needed to take the child to the nearest hospital. She said she couldn’t go for all kinds of reasons: her husband didn’t know his son was sick, she didn’t have the money, and it would take days to travel by foot. I offered the suggestion knowing it was already too late, medically, to do anything for her son. He was going to die no matter what I did.

We gave her some nutritional supplements and let her go back to her village, which was a full day’s journey away. I was sure that the child would die before she even returned home.

To my surprise, five days later she returned and the kid was still alive. He was so weak he could barely sip water. I wondered why he hadn’t died yet so I went back over their history and I asked her all the same questions again. I asked, “do you feed him milk?” She replied with a yes so I finally asked (more out of frustration than anything else), “What kind of milk do you give him?”

She was a tiny lady, less than 18 years old and she said in her tiny lady voice, “Philips, milk of magnesia.”

My heart almost stopped. This tiny, innocent, sweet, child of God had been living on a diet of mostly laxatives for who knows how long.

It felt like a knife in my chest. It felt like I heard a voice say, “Wake up, what my people need is education, not just doctors and hospitals.”

This changed everything. My life, my medical career, my ministry, my mindset, my words, and my very purpose changed.

I had to begin educating people, not just treating them. We had to focus on prevention more than cure.

So I began going out to the villages to educate them on basic health and sanitation practices. I did this with the hope that I could prevent more than I could cure.

That’s what changed everything about the way I served. Instead of focusing exclusively on curative practices, I realized that God wanted me to teach prevention as well. Later, I learned that Jesus did the same thing throughout the New Testament. He would go into villages to teach, preach, and heal people.

Ever since, I’ve been doing Community Health Evangelism (CHE).

I believe in development and transformation through education; promoting good health and teaching evangelism and discipleship. These things cannot be separated.

Photo Cred: Susan and Helen Goodvin

If you’re not convinced after those dazzling faces ^^ you #cray. Lucky for us, Susan gave some insight on her go-to’s and must-haves, seeing as she’s no Mary Kay nor beauty amateur.

• TimeWise Matte-Wear Liquid Foundation: Never too early to begin treating and caring for youthful skin today, to ensure it sticks around year after year. With a blend of collagen building peptides and a matte finish, it fights fine lines and the mid day shiney-ness.
• Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation: Weightless, skin-perfecting powder giving your liquid that extra “oomph”.
• Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color: Winter months call for some color in those cheeks. (did anyone else’s mother used to pinch their’s for that insta-rosy look?!) Oil-absorbing properties and true to color form make it a must.
• Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color: Crease-resistant?! I’m in. With 17 shades, let the choosing begin.
• Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara: Available in black and brown, this flake-clump-smudge resistant mascara puts itself on Mary Kay’s Best Seller list.
• Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss: Pucker up for the Holidays in a hue that’s sure to make a statement…Rock ‘n’ Red anyone?

The surprise I felt when Susan told me her cosmetic of choice was Mary Kay only revealed my ”old school” mentality toward the line that has evolved into trendy, beautiful, preventative and results-oriented products.

The proof’s in the pudding. Call me a bandwagon-er ;)

To find out more information or to find a local consultant go to www.marykay.com

Happy findings, beauts! xo

Which brand of floss is the best?

If you think all dental floss is the same, think again!  You can get floss that is thin, thick, wide, spongy, slick, flavored, unflavored…the list goes on.  Choose the floss that’s best for you, but be careful if using thin, unwaxed floss…it can cut tender gums between teeth if not used with caution.   We recommend using a floss pick…they are easier, quicker and can be used with one hand.

How many times should you floss each day?

Flossing should be done at least once a day.  Create a “bridge” of floss between two fingers for proper flossing technique.  If you have young children, they should start flossing regularly at 5 or 6 years of age, or once they have proper finger coordination to do it themselves.  Happy flossing!

http://bancroftdentalcare.com
680 Bancroft Avenue
San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: (510)569-0218
Email: info@bancroftdentalcare.com

I often wonder how many healthy habits any given person really has room for.  I’ve seen and experienced time and time again that there is a real and deep fatigue that can come from a prolonged need for self-care.  Big injuries, surgeries, illnesses, etc. require a tremendous amount of time and energy – from the appointments themselves (and the time it takes to get to and from), to the at-home work required, to the research and decision-making around what therapy or approach is going to help the most, to fending off what everyone else thinks you should do to help yourself.  At some point you just have to take a break, eat a deep fried donut with bacon and mayonnaise on top, and let the television lull you into a heartburn-fueled stupor of horror and delight.

But even outside of the “big” injuries and whatnot there is just the everyday taking-care-of-oneself that must be done.  And we all seem to have different tolerances for it.  Some of us stumble out of bed straight into our workout shoes like dutiful and semi-cheerful robots.  Some of us stumble out of bed straight for the coffee pot and get around to thinking about maybe doing some sit-ups before we go to work.  Some of us stumble out of bed for a green smoothie, and some of us for bacon, some of us for no sustenance at all.  I’m sure it just all hangs on what you value.  (That seems like a “duh” statement.)

But really, I know that I want my teeth when I’m 80 if at all possible and so I floss and brush like it’s my job – that is to say, whether I really want to or not.  I exercise only because (and when) I thoroughly enjoy it.  And I never look a gift donut in the mouth.  I’m not sure where that puts me on the spectrum of the daily banana eaters from which I hail, but somewhere in there must be a happy medium of health and wellbeing, don’t you think?

• Check your Christmas Trees before bringing into your home.  Coniferous trees attract a variety of small insects that may only be visible in large numbers. Aphids are common pests of evergreen trees, and the warm conditions of your home may cause overwintering aphid eggs to hatch. Some conifers host adelgids, which produce cottony secretions over their bodies. Your Christmas tree may look quite festive, since the adelgids resemble a dusting of snow. Mites and scale insects also inhabit Christmas trees.
• Larger Christmas tree insects include bark beetles and adult mantids will be long gone from the cold temperatures, but mantid egg cases can hatch when introduced to the warmth of your home. If that happens, you’ll have hundreds of tiny mantids wandering in search of food. Christmas trees often harbor spiders, too so look for evidence of bugs or nests on the branches, as well as on the interior of the branches; bugs will love the warmth of your home!
•  Inspect Holiday Décor before bringing inside.   The best way to store is to utilize hard plastic containers with secure lids.  However, if plastic containers were used but the lids weren’t sealed properly the previous year, there may be a few surprises awaiting you!  You may find insects or evidence of rodent inhabitants such as mice droppings.  If you see mice droppings, there is most likely also urine…whether you see it or not.  If you see rodent droppings, it’s probably best to toss the items because they could be contaminated with bacteria or viruses.
• Keep your kitchen pest free.  First and foremost, examine your baking supplies before purchasing them.  No one wants to cook with bugs in the flour or ants in the sugar.  After purchasing, be sure to store ingredients in air-tight containers and consider adding a bay leaf to canisters and packages of dry goods to distract bugs.   Have your home maintained pest-free by participating in a monthly or seasonal pest-control program.

For answers to all of your pest and rodent questions, contact a Wisconsin professional such as Safeway Pest Management.

Written by Local Vocal, on behalf of Safeway Pest Management.

       The future of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obama Care, depends on  primary care physicians. This act, which was deemed constitutional June 2012, is going to change almost every aspect of the American health system. An estimated “32 million Americans will gain access to health care by 2019” (Goodson, 74). While this number is alarming, what is most alarming is the lack of primary care physicians the United States has. The amount of physicians today cannot provide quality care to this large influx of new patients. Obama Care intends to ensure a wider population of Americans by mandating everyone to be health insurance consumers. America’s new health care will focus extensively on providing preventative medicine. Other developed nations have a strong primary care physician workforce, yet America continues to favor specialized medicine. Medical research journals have noted that “robust primary care systems are associated with lower health care spending, reduced health disparities, and a higher quality of care”( Hofer, 71). If the ACA is to survive and uphold its visions, primary care has to be given a lifeline. To change primary care’s future we have to understand why so many medical students today are not going into primary care, what the ACA is doing to encourage residency numbers in primary care, and how the attitudes of young medical students about primary care are changing because of the ACA. If primary care is “the best cure for ailing the health care system” (ACP, 2), the ACA has to make sure all facets of its bill sections consider the future of primary care physicians.  

      Every year less and less medical students enter primary care residencies. Primary care physicians consist of: Family Practitioners, Internists, Pediatricians, and OB/Gynecologists. (ACP, 1) These physicians are characterized as primary care because they spend the most time “providing cognitive services, such as acquiring and assimilating information, developing management strategies, coordinating care, and counseling” (Goodson, 742). They are the holistic doctors that teach their patients and take time out of their day to not only diagnose the patient and provide treatment, but to counsel them when facing different stresses on their lives that could be affecting their mental health. As rewarding and intimate patient-doctor relationships are, American healthcare problems have caused a considerable shortage in primary physicians. Primary physicians today can be “aptly compared to a hamster on a treadmill, struggling to provide prompt access and high-quality care” (Bodenheimer, 2694). By not providing quality care that consists of having enough time for the doctor to listen to patient’s concerns and teach the patient, the primary care physician is stripped off an enjoyable aspect of practicing primary care medicine.

      Opponents of primary care claim that “more than 40% of primary care is given by specialists today” (Hofer, 71), and that expanding the funds for “primary care physicians is worthless to such an incompetent group of physicians.” (Gosh, 1) These claims are assuming that we have enough physicians to provide primary care. The reason so many people are receiving primary care from specialists is because there is a huge shortage of primary care physicians; therefore, patients seek primary care services from the vast majority of doctors, which are specialists. These people who are under the care of specialist are often patients whose illnesses became so severe that they had to seek medical help. Had they had a primary care physician in the first place, they might have been diagnosed earlier on and given preventative advice and medications to control their illness. Although it is true that many specialists are providing primary care, it does not mean that this is the best model for healthcare. This dilemma only further highlights our inability as a nation of providing adequate primary care and disease prevention before it gets out of hand. To those in the medical field that feel that primary care physicians are incompetent also emphasizes one of the largest problems in the medical community: respect. Many medical schools play little emphasize on the importance of primary care, and talk only of the prestige of the more compensated physicians. The level of disrespect and disdain given to primary care physicians by specialists throughout medical school education really perturbs medical students and even steers them away from applying to primary care residencies (Gosh, 1). The undermining of primary care doctors could not be farther from the truth, because they must “combine an exhaustive store of medical knowledge with ever-changing clinical trial data and practice standards within the unique bio-psychosocial situation of each patient” (Gosh, 1). These general practice physicians also make tremendous contributions to health policy, clinical research, and teach at medical schools since they have a wide breadth of clinical science knowledge and mentorship.

     Current reimbursement models have “contributed to the imbalance of generalists and specialists” (ACP, 3). Insurance companies pay by procedures and many duties of generalists are not procedural-based. Duties like counseling and educating the patient are not reimbursed because they are not procedures. The way reimbursements have been given has been attributed to the huge payment gap between primary care physicians and specialists. Primary care physicians “compensation has declined to levels that are 30% to 60% lower than those of specialists” (Goodson, 743). With a lower pay, students that choose to go into primary care fields repay their student loans slower and earn a lower income throughout their lifetimes. Lifestyle choices are also a big factor with this large discrepancy, because highly specialized physicians exert greater control over their lifestyles. American medical schools emphasize more specialty field and prestige of specialties. Unlike other developed nations, America “has 30% of the U.S. physicians practice primary care, whereas 70% are specialists.” whereas Britain that has “50% to 60% of physicians practicing primary care” (Goodson, 744). This large primary care physician workforce allows for the country to focus extensively on preventative medicine. The nation must take “immediate steps to address the issues that threaten primary care’s survival.” (ACP, 3) The ACA can only survive with the help of primary care physicians. The complaints of current primary care physicians must be taken into account so that the bill does everything possible to encourage growing number of primary care physicians.

    Many physicians that specialized feel that the huge payment gap between them and generalist doctors is fair because they perform several treatments which require more years of training to master. As discussed earlier, we have a “current fee-for-service payment system, which tends to reward tests and procedures over so-called ‘cognitive services’ such as patient consultations” (Harris, 1). Although primary care physicians perform fewer procedures, they spend much time counseling patients suffering from depression, dealing with social problems, and ensuring chronically ill patients’ treatments are effective. This time should be compensated because many studies are starting to realize the impact of primary care on the nation’s health. Duke University School of Medicine created a community partnership that treats patients in their own neighborhood (Harris, 1). This program has proved that improving and extending primary care to communities has led to “improved health outcomes while reducing costs by keeping patients out of emergency rooms” (Harris, 1) If primary care was implemented strongly across the nation, patients would prevent many diseases and our overall population would become much healthier. Hospitalization causes a large amount of money to be spent, especially when the patient is uninsured. With primary care being a focus of the ACA, many emergency hospitalizations costs will be prevented. The ACA should invest in primary care physicians and the quality they will bring to healthcare. Increasing payment to primary care doctors would compensate them for preventing expensive health care costs on taxpayer dollars. In the long run, focusing on primary care will lower health costs and increase the overall health of Americans.

    According to studies done by the Milbank Quaterly, “44,000 to 46,000 physicians are needed within the next fifteen years to meet future primary care demand.” (Hofer, 73)  The ACA needs to address workforce shortages that primary care is facing and devise provisions that target the problems that are contributing to these shortages. One way the bill is hoping to recruit primary care doctors is by increasing reimbursements with a “10% pay increase for their care of Medicare patients” (Bodenheimer, 2695). This will help students pay for their loans much easier if they choose to enter primary care residencies. Much of the money that is given to fund residency programs are used by the hospital and suggestions have been given that the “funding should be given directly to residency programs” (Bodenheimer, 2694). If the money would be given directly to the program, primary care residencies would have more control and provide more resources to train residents. Title VII, section 747 of the ACA recognizes the needs for primary care training and calls attention to creating more programs that provide more education and “funding to expand primary care capacity” (Goodson, 743) Expanding education and providing “need-based financial assistance for physicians in training and practicing primary care physicians” (Hofer, 82), will provide more resources and give more value to the role primary care will be playing in our near future.

    The ACA aims to make primary care a central focus for American healthcare. In order to make these changes, the number of primary care physicians must be increased. The primary care field must appeal more students and a change in attitude towards primary care must be elicited as well. The ACA has already begun to make changes. Out of a study “44% felt that the ACA was a good start” (Sommers, 1697), and 2011 marked the first increase in over a decade of physicians entering into primary care residencies. In fact, 2011 had the greatest increase in “family medicine, with a 21% increase (from 1071 residents in 2009 to 1301 residents in 2011)” (Sommers, 1698). Medical school applications have also increased, meaning that instead of discouraging students from going into the medical field, they are “responding positively to the ACA” (Sommers, 1697). Medical admissions must now give priority to “applicants with a strong underlying disposition towards primary care” (Hofer, 73).

     Medical scholars argue that simply funding primary care programs and even making more medical schools will not increase the number of primary care physician to specialist ratio. With all the funding given this will not directly make medical students choose to go into primary care. To fix this problem, “residency slots for specialist will have to be limited.” This is the only way to change the ratio and increase the number of primary care physicians before 2019, when the bill takes full effect. Opponents also say that increasing the facilities to provide primary care shadowing for medical students will also not increase interest because “students are more intrigued by “high technology procedures and training.” While this is true to an extent, the reason why many students are not interested in primary care is because they see primary care physicians overburdened by administrative paperwork and living off poor reimbursements for their hard work. With the ACA, primary care physicians will enjoy a payment increase and will be awarded according to their contributions to medicine. If the ACA does increase quality life for these physicians, they will be happier with their career and will inspire students to pursue a career in primary care. Not all medical students are into high tech medicine, many students go into medicine for the patients… for the strong human interactions they will have the privilege to engage in.

     As more students become excited about primary care under the ACA, more students will want to become part of a movement that is going to change healthcare in America. A stronger workforce in primary care will provide preventative care for millions of Americans and decrease health disparities across the nation. The attitudes of young Americans are positive about the future of primary care in America. With a strong focus on primary care, the lives of Americans will be changed. No longer should a person neglect their well-being and end up in an emergency room losing their life. Primary care will deal directly with all the major health problems America is known for: hypertension, obesity, Diabetes type II, and preventable emergency room visits. Primary care physicians under the ACA will become advocates for increasing health awareness in our nation, changing policies for the equality of health care for all, and saving our economy millions of dollars worth in health care costs. 

This test evaluates 22 SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) associated with increased risk of impaired detoxification capacity especially when exposed to environmental toxins. It also identifies individuals potentially susceptible to adverse drug reactions.

Each of the 22 SNPs will be briefly individually discussed in separate blog posts. So stay tuned and return back frequently. Thanks.

Definitions

Single-nucleotide polymorphism

Chiropractic Boosts Immunity
Friday, February 04, 2011 by: Dr. David Jockers

The nervous system and immune system are hardwired and work together to create optimal responses for the body to adapt and heal appropriately. Neural dysfunctions due to spinal misalignments are stressful to the body and cause abnormal changes that lead to a poorly coordinated immune response. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to boost the coordinated responses of the nervous system and immune system.

The autonomic nervous system is hardwired into the lymphoid organs such as the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow that produce the body’s immune response. Growing evidence is showing that immune function is regulated in part by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.

Subluxation is the term for misalignments of the spine that cause compression and irritation of nerve pathways affecting organ systems of the body. Subluxations are an example of physical nerve stress that affects neuronal control. According to researchers, such stressful conditions lead to altered measures of immune function & increased susceptibility to a variety of diseases.

Inflammatory based disease is influenced by both the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Nerve stimulation directly affects the growth and function of inflammatory cells. Researchers found that dysfunction in this pathway results in the development of various inflammatory syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis and behavioral syndromes such as depression. Additionally, this dysfunctional neuro-endo-immune response plays a significant role in immune-compromised conditions such as chronic infections and cancer.

Wellness based chiropractors analyze the spine for subluxations and give corrective adjustments to reduce the stress on the nervous system. A 1992 research group found that when a thoracic adjustment was applied to a subluxated area the white blood cell (neutrophil) count collected rose significantly.

In 1975, Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute and professor in Environmental Health at New York University, began researching the most scientifically valid ways to estimate individual susceptibility to various chronic diseases. He has conducted a tremendous amount of research in this area that includes over 160 published reports in peer reviewed journals.

Pero and his colleagues discovered that various DNA-repairing enzymes could be significantly altered following exposure to carcinogenic chemicals. He found strong evidence that an individual’s susceptibility to cancer could be determined by these enzymes. Lack of those enzymes, Pero said, ‘definitely limits not only your lifespan, but also your ability to resist serious disease consequences.’

Pero was fascinated by the relationship cancer-inducing agents had on the endocrine system. Since the nervous system regulates hormone balance, he hypothesized that the nervous system had to also have a strong influence on one’s susceptibility to cancer.

To support this argument he found a substantial amount of literature linking various kinds of spinal cord injuries and cancer. Pero found that these injuries led to a very high rate of lymphomas and lymphatic leukemias. This understanding led Pero to consider Chiropractic care as a means of reducing the risk of immune breakdown and disease.

Pero’s team measured 107 individuals who had received long-term Chiropractic care. The chiropractic patients were shown to have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care, and a 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer or serious diseases. Interestingly, Pero found no decline with the various age groups in the study demonstrating that the DNA repairing enzymes were just as present in long-term chiropractic senior groups as they were in the younger groups.

Pero concluded, ‘Chiropractic may optimize whatever genetic abilities you have so that you can fully resist serious disease…I have never seen a group other than this show a 200% increase over normal patients.’

Kent, Christopher. Models of Vertebral Subluxation: A Review. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. August 1996, Vol 1:1. Pg 4-5

Sternberg EM, Chrousos GP, Wilder RL, Gold PW. The stress response and the regulation of inflammatory disease. Ann Intern Med 1992; 117 (10):854

Brennan PC, Triano JJ, McGregor M, et al. Enhanced neutrophil respiratory burst as a biological marker for manipulation forces: duration of the effect and association with substance P and tumor necrosis factor. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1992; 15(2):83

Mouthwash can be a helpful tool for maintaining good oral hygiene, but be careful! Using mouthwash too frequently can stain plaque and leave discoloration on your teeth!  The primary function of mouthwash is to get rid of garlic or onion breath, NOT to be used as a daily replacement for flossing or brushing.

When selecting a mouthwash, avoid any brands with alcohol in them.  Alcohol dries out your teeth and oral tissues and harbors more bacteria.  If you’re stumped regarding what brand to use, try Biotene…it is the only mouthwash that is effective for treating dry mouth, and doesn’t stain your teeth like other brands.   Additionally, Crest Prohealth does not have alcohol in it, but can still stain plaque.

Remember to use mouthwash in moderation…frequent use can turn your teeth brown!

Dr. Vernon Jones
Copperfield, Houston Dentist
(281) 463-3538
7825 Hwy 6 N., Suite 109
Houston, TX 77095

Soda has become a staple of the average American diet.  Many of us that grew up drinking a lot of sweetened carbonated drinks have a difficult time not drinking it well into adulthood.   There’s a reason why dentists are less than thrilled about this.  Most sodas contain lots of sugar, which weakens teeth by feeding plaque and causing tooth enamel to erode!

How Much Soda Do You Drink?

If you’re drinking one 12 oz can a day or more, you are drinking too much soda!  That said, soda CAN be enjoyed responsibly.  Our personal favorite sodas are ginger ale and orange soda.  Always try to match your soda intake with an equal ratio of water, and don’t forget to brush your teeth afterwards!

The first thing you should look at before cleaning out a greenhouse is- what exactly are you cleaning up? Not knowing how to efficiently tackle pests, fungus, and bacteria can actually make the problem worse if not handled correctly! Fungus can spread easily through clean-up processes like dropping infected plant parts on the floor, sweeping them up with a broom, using a vacuum without a HEPA filter, and hosing down floors are just a few examples. When all is said and done, make sure you are armed with the correct tools that fit your particular problem to ensure safe and efficient clean up.

Now that you know what not to do, many of you will tackle those pesky bacteria with some heavy-duty chemicals. But what many of you don’t know is this can be equally damaging in the long haul! Not only are chemical cleaners extremely hazardous to you (and your employees working in the greenhouses), they are prone to breed “super bacteria”. These will not only survive the harsh chemical treatment, but reproduce at a higher rate. Know your enemy, and more importantly, know the safest and most effective way to rid yourself of them!

Getting back to bugs, there are some special guidelines to make sure you don’t harm the good guys during cleanup. First, is to be extra careful when cleaning up leaf cuttings. Many of these cuttings already have the beneficials on them (e.g. Encarsia formosa on pruned tomato leaves), and throwing them out will require extra applications in the new season! Your best bet? Tackle pest problems in a more preventative nature by using beneficials during and before your growing season starts. One helpful hint for new growers just starting an IPM program is to spread Stratiolaelaps scimitus around the perimeter walls and where plumbing is- these are hot spots for spider mites to over-winter. Then, just before you put out your new plants put in some bush beans which will act as trap plants (for more information about trap plants, see our October Newsletter). Once the spider mites move in on the bush beans, remove the plants, and subsequently the spider mites, before you begin new planting!

Cleaning out the greenhouse is an essential part to most growers’ end of season routines, and it is important to do it safely and effectively! We hope you will take these helpful hints to be productive and jumpstart your pest management before the next growing season!

Did you know that for every soda you drink you decrease your body’s oxygen requirements by up to 25%?  If you want to make your teeth healthier, strengthen your bones, lose weight and boost your immune system, it is recommended that you stop drinking soda!

Acidity in Soda

Sugars in soda will cause tooth decay, but the real danger is in the drink’s acidity.  The acid dissolves the calcium out of the enamel, allowing bacteria to easily enter your teeth!  If you think drinking a diet soda decreases the risks, think again!  Diet sodas actually have MORE acid in them than regular sodas.

How Much Are You Spending on Soda?

It can also be an expensive habit! If you drink just one soda a day, you are spending an

estimated $1.50 a day, which adds up to $547.50 annually (before soda tax).  A three soda-a-day habit will run you up to $1642.50 a year!

If you wish to enjoy soda responsibly, be sure to rinse your mouth with water after drinking, use a mouthwash and fluoride (your best bet is to get a professionally-applied fluoride treatment from your dentist).

MOUSE IDENTIFICATION  House mice are mainly nocturnal, however they are occasionally seen during the day.  The first sign that you have a house mouse problem may not be the mouse itself.  Often times you’ll notice their nesting materials, droppings, urine, gnawing or possibly smudge marks left by oil and dirt of the mice’s fur.  In one year, one mouse produces up to 18,000 droppings; it will deposit hundreds of micro-droplets of urine every day as it marks its trails.

MOUSE MULTIPLICATION  A single mouse can live about one year.  A month or so after birth, a house mouse is mature.  Their first litter can come as early as just two months of age, producing up to (8) pups.   Therefore, if two mice shack up in your home, the pair  could potentially produce a population of more than 500 young in one year!

MOUSE DESTRUCTION  To find materials for their nest, mice can chew through and ruin just about anything in your home.  (The mouse can even chew through cords which can cause electric fires.)  Mouse urine is difficult to see when it’s dry, but it has a strong ammonium like smell.  Once the urine is on household items, or in the foundation of your home itself, it’s difficult to remove the odor.  Mice can transmit various pathogens just by walking across your countertop, pots & pans, dishes or by contaminating food directly.  They also carry fleas, ticks and other ectoparasites, which  potentially can spread diseases.

MOUSE-PROOF HOME  The construction and age of your home plays a part in how easily mice can get in.  These rodents have the ability to gain entry to structures by gnawing, climbing, jumping, swimming and squeezing through very, very small spaces.  Good sanitation practices may not be the solution, but poor sanitation will make a mouse infestation that much larger.  Keep your home as sanitary as possible; never leave food or dirty dishes out.  Place potential food items and clothing in sealed containers, and that includes your pet food!  If you suspect a mouse problem, make an appointment with Safeway Pest Management for a full inspection of the inside and outside of your home.   Safeway is an A+ BBB business, locally owned and operated in Wisconsin.  A professional from Safeway will locate the areas of entry and seal them off.  In addition, they can offer more advice regarding how to protect your home from further infestations.

Written on behalf of Safeway Pest Management.  For specific professional advice, please contact Safeway directly at 262-679-4422.

We all know it’s best to brush your teeth at least twice a day, but what if you can only brush once? Consider the options: brushing in the morning helps to treat bad breath throughout the day, while brushing before bed can help relieve dry mouth during the night.  In fact, you are more susceptible to decay overnight as there is little-to-no saliva flow when sleeping.

Selecting the right toothbrush is also very important. Never use brushes that are firm or hard.  Don’t even bother with medium brushes!  For the most thorough cleaning at home, an electric or battery-operated toothbrush is best.  We recommend the Oral B Braun & Pulsar electric toothbrushes because they are the most effective at removing plaque and stains.  You can’t get that same vibrating action from a manual brush!

Regardless of the toothbrush you use, make sure you’re not applying too much pressure.  Make sure to replace your toothbrush once every 3 months or when the bristles start to fray.  Some brushes (like the Oral B) have an indicator on the brush…when the color starts to fade, it’s time to replace it!

The drive and desire to help people using a therapeutic relationship, looking at the whole person lifestyle and environmental factors as contributing factors to ones health, sparked the creation of United Multi-Care Health Centers. United Multi-Care Health Center is a Holistic Medical, Chiropractic, and Acupuncture treatment Centers located in the San Gabriel Valley. With a team of 7 doctors with different disciplines (specialties) and availability of options besides drugs and surgery make this place a diamond in the rough. The philosophy is that the body has the ability to heal itself when placed in the right environment and support system.  There are many testimonials and stories of people who have recovered from sicknesses and health challenges using these therapies. The traditional methods of medications and surgery did not solve the problems and in some cases made them worse.

In a conversation Dr George Win he states “Today the healthcare situation is unstable and is problematic because of the sick care mentality where patients only go to the doctor when they have an urgent need. Thais kind of care is causing many people to file bankruptcy and live sickly lifestyle. More people need to know the truth about the health crisis and solutions.” Dr Win feels that preventative care, health, and wellness are the true way to a healthy existence. His standards and principles for United Multi-Care Health Center are “Better Care, Better Choices, and Better Results.” He is working to be a leader in shifting the paradigm of healthcare and wellness.  With studies showing that 15-20% of all the population will have diabetes in 2013 and that is alarming and a sign for change.

His journey has been fulfilling and a few patients stand out in his mind.  A patient he recalls came to him with severe carpel tunnel and was set to have surgery in the coming weeks. When treatments began she was handicap and later did not need to have surgery because of her progress in 9 months. Dr Win also recalls a patient that was suffering from Hyperthyroidism and was taking medications that were making her quality of life poor because of the side affects. His treatment and care improved her major health problems and also improved her health condition by losing weight.

The power and abilities to control our health and experience progressive change is available. People’s Lives are precious and significant and to have access to more choices gives us power to take positive action. United Multi-Care Health Center and its staff are making a positive impact by sharing health and wellness education and therapies with our society.  They encourage taking actions to improve your health by learning ,observing, and mimicking those who are healthy.  Knowing also that there are three factors that affect health are poor nutrition-toxins in the body, stress, and trauma can give awareness to change.

It’s terrible to be suffering from bad health and it gets worse because your family can not get positive love and support from someone who is suffering. Cherish your health by moving toward the direction of people who are experiencing optimum health and learn from them. This is an opportunity to grow and develop into a healthier person because you are significant and your family deserves you.

Contact the office for a free comprehensive and intensive evaluation and get your life back. United Multi-care health Center has two locations at 2630 San Gabriel Blvd #200, Rosemead CA 91770.Phone:  626-280-9968. The other office is at 18575 E Gale Ave #265 Rowland Heights CA 91748 Phone:  626-369-9663. Call and mention this story and qualify for a free intensive and comprehensive evaluation. Get your life back!

By Paul Villarreal

Marketing Director
United Multi-Care Health Center

Welcome Friday! I’m ready to begin my anti-stress weekend, and I invite Word (((HUGS))) friends to come along with me!

Stress is a part of life, the part we can live without.

There are things we can do to relieve stress in our lives, but many times the thought of doing those things stresses us out, so we forego doing them. The following are some great stress-less, anti-stress ideas from the The Ultimate Stress Blog!

The first thing we should prepare to do to reduce stress is PREPARE the night before for the things we will be required to do the following day. If you have trouble choosing what to wear every day, pick out your clothes the night before. If you really despise getting home from a long day and stressing out about what to make for dinner, here’s some food for thought, how about planning your menu for the week on the weekend.

This is an easy-to-do, anti-stress technique: BREATHE. I concur, breathing is good. We all do it, but are we doing it right? Here’s the proper way to breathe to melt away the stress and it really is EASY: “1) Inhale deeply, 2) Hold your breath for 4 seconds, 3) Exhale for count of 4 seconds, 4) Repeat this pattern for about one minute.” Remember throughout the day to pay attention to your breathing. Release stale air and replace it with the air of calm…R~E~L~A~X. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a little like one of those swim noodles…pliable and ready for some fun!

Another practical idea is to PRACTICE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. This one is a tough one for me. I constantly put off things like dental and physical exams, home maintenance, etc. I know these things are important, but doing them makes my blood pressure rise! Today, I’m going to make the commitment to myself to make some appointments, follow through, and then be able to put them aside for a while and feel good about it.

This next suggestion looks good to me: VISUALIZE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENING TO YOU. Look forward to whatever that may be. Go as far as placing a picture of the something good you’re thinking about on your refrigerator or on your desk. This will help to fade the pictures of stressful things that linger in your mind.

I’m really going to sink my teeth into this: EAT ICE CHIPS. What? Really? I thought eating ice chips is bad for your teeth and there’s a good chance doing so will bring on that dental exam I’m stressed about a lot sooner. As much as I am hooked on ice, I always shave the ice before I chew, thus reducing the stress of an emergency call to my dentist over a cracked or broken tooth.

Here’s some advice that will make you feel good: LIGHT UP THE HOT TUB, DRINK TEA (PREFERABLY CHAMOMILE), AND EAT YOUR GREENS. That’s right, do all those things and you’ll feel the stress fall off your body and much of that will be in the form of extra weight! Also, reduce sugar intake, get plenty of rest, and make time for your cuddle pet…that means cuddle with your pet. If you have an iguana, just stare at him and cuddle with a soft, fluffy stuffed animal instead.

It’s all in the way you look at things, so maybe you should LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY. Try not to rip yourself to pieces over everything. Pick and choose what to get all bunched up over. If you think about it logically, most of the stuff you’re worrying about is really not that life shattering. Turn off the fear and turn on the hope. You’ll feel a lot better about yourself…about life.

Last but not least, EXPECT BUT DO IT REASONABLY and KEEP IT POSITIVE. It’s okay to expect. Expectations are good as long as you’re not trying to be perfect. Perfection is unrealistic. So ease off the ‘there’s no way’ expectations and just stay positive about your performance on any given day. Be happy that you tried your hardest and did your best (as long as you did) and give challenges a go with a good attitude.

Thanks, The Ultimate Stress Blog, for these fantastic stress-less, anti-stress ideas. There’s a bunch more to read and employ in your life, so visit their blog and put your favorite ideas into action. I’m going to work on this list, and I’m going to begin today!

It’s FRIDAY! Go get ‘em and do it without stress.

Tell me about the techniques you use to reduce stress in your life.

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So where do we begin? The first thing you need to know is that the two most commonly used materials on the market today are EVA (ethylvinyl aceate) and PolyShok™. So which one is the best? In our own independent study conducted by Sandia National Laboratories, research indicated that “Polyshok™ is a superior energy absorbing material compared to commercial EVA products” and “would be a comparatively better energy absorbing material than EVA.”[1] This research is also backed by the American Standards in Testings and Measurements (ASTM).

Now the second thing you want to take into consideration is fit. There are two types of mouthguards on the market: boil-and-bites and custom fit mouthguards. Each one has their own unique fit, but how do they differ? A boil-and-bite mouthguard is immersed in boiling water and formed in the mouth by using finger, tongue, and biting pressure. The instability and distribution of material does not lend themselves to proper fit and protection. Custom mouthguards are made by taking an impression of the athlete’s teeth and then formed in a dental office or a professional laboratory. They fulfill all the criteria for adaptation, retention, comfort, and stability of material. They interfere the least with speaking and have virtually no effect on breathing. Because the mouthguard is made to fit your teeth exactly, it offers a fit that essentially “snaps on”, thus providing the best protection. This allows for maximum impact dispersion. Impact dispersion works by transferring the impact from one area to the surrounding area.

For example, think of the stereotypical image of an Indian mystic who would lie on a bed of nails. Hundreds of nails support the weight of their body because the pressure is evenly dispersed over the entire area. With more force comes more pressure, and with more area comes less pressure. If the nails were concentrated in one single area, the Indian mystic would be in for a trip to the emergency room to say the least. Just like the bed of nails disperses pressure over a given area, a custom mouthguard protects your teeth much the same way via impact dispersion. If an impact (such as that from a knee) were to occur to your front teeth, a custom fit mouthguard would disperse that energy to the side and molar areas of your jaw. If an athlete’s front teeth were to receive this force without wearing a properly fitted mouthguard, that athlete is more likely to have one or more teeth break or dislodge as a result of the impact.

Now that we have established that custom fit mouthguards are better than boil-and-bite mouthguards, why are the boil-and-bites still the most commonly used mouthguard on the market? The answer is price. A boil-and-bite costs a fraction of what a custom mouthguard does so at a glance, a boil-and-bite seems like a better deal. However, a dental injury is much more likely to happen while wearing a boil-and-bite and can cost thousands of dollars to fix should one occur. Factor in that a custom mouthguard can last much, much longer than a boil-and-bite if proper care has been followed and suddenly, a custom fit mouthguard seems like a much more viable option. Not to mention that they are completely customizable including colors, graphics, and 3D designs.

Damage Control Mouthguards makes custom fit[2] and boil-and-bite mouthguards.[3] We have a fast turnaround time, all our mouthguards are made with PolyShok™ material, and we do 3D and custom designs. So what are you waiting for? Add style to your smile and pick up your Damage Control mouthguard today!

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To start with I am tracking my multivitamin taking. I decided to start taking these as an added preventative for the flu and cold sores (which as you know I seem to have a lot of lately), as well as a general top up for my dietary intake. Each day I simply check off on the app that I have taken the multi and the app continues to track my progress on developing this habit and keeps statistics. 

If I like what it does with the multivitamin tracking I’ll probably start to use the app for other purposes also.