BEAN LENTIL SUPREME

1/2 cup
dried white beans
1/2 cup
Lentils
1/2 lb.
Cabbage
4
Carrots
3
stalks celery
1/2 lb.
Chinese mushrooms
3
tomatoes
2
potatoes
2
onions, chopped
2
cloves garlic, minced
6
cups water
1 tsp.
tomato paste
8
slices whole-wheat bread

white pepper to taste
Cook beans and lentils separately. Save cooking water. In blender or food processor, puree half the beans and lentils. Set aside.

Wash all vegetables. Core and shred cabbage, grate carrots, chop celery, slice mushrooms, peel and chop tomatoes and dice potatoes. Saute onions, garlic, carrots and celery in water. Add cooking water, plus enough water to make 6 cups, tomatoes, tomato paste, remaining vegetables, seasonings, beans, pureed beans and more water if necessary. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about 1 hour.

Toast bread, break into croutons. Mix soup and bread pieces in bowls; garnish with chopped green onions and parsley.

Serves 8.

MARGARITA’S BLACK BEANS AND RICE

1
Onion
1
sweet red pepper
1
clove garlic
2 qts.
water or stock
1 lb.
black beans
1 tsp.
Oregano
1
bay leaf
2 tbls.
cider vinegar
1
cup brown rice, cooked

a pinch of cayenne pepper
Slice onion, dice pepper and crush garlic. Cook all ingredients, except rice, together for 3 hours, or until beans are tender. Serve over 1 cup cooked brown rice. Garnish with tomato wedges, chopped green onions and chopped parsley.

Serves 6 to 8.

*73\80\8*

I’m sure you’re aware of the link between excess fat and heart disease, excess fat and strokes, excess fat and cancer; in fact, excess fat and all kinds of diseases.

Imagine trying to work in an office filled with thick, gooey fat. It’s all over your desk, in your drawers, oozing out of the walls, falling from the ceiling. It’s packed so thickly over your telephone receiver that you can’t hear what your caller is saying. You can’t even write, because your papers are covered. You can barely wade through the gunk piled two feet high in the hallway, and when you open the door to the adjoining office you’re buried in an avalanche of glop.

How much constructive work could you accomplish in such an environment? None. You’d spend all your time trying to clean up, to get the junk out of there before it destroys the office, and you along with it. How much health-building work can your

“doctor within” do if his workplace—your body—is literally covered with fat? If the fat has clogged up and closed your arteries, your “doctor within” can’t even get basic nourishment, let alone try to build good health.

We do need fat in our diet, but only in small amounts. Inside the body, a small amount of fat is useful for storing energy, carrying fat-soluble substances through the watery bloodstream, protecting and insulating us. Fat is like protein, in that a little bit is good, but too much is dangerous. Unfortunately, the S.A.D. is absolutely loaded with fat. And fat contributes to or exacerbates an amazing number of health problems. The “cancers of affluence’—cancers of the breast, colon and rectum, prostate, pancreas, ovaries and uterus—give gravestone testimony to the deadliness of dietary fat. So, do your “doctor within” a favor: keep your fat intake as low as possible.

*29\80\8*

Because the structure of your mouth and jawbone changes as you age, if you wear a partial or full denture, you should expect the fit of the denture to change as well. In fact, because of the loss of teeth, the jawbone, which supports the dental appliance, will shrink even more quickly than if your own teeth were intact.

Your lower jawbone is especially at risk if you wear a full or partial lower denture, since the base plate of the denture places an abnormal amount of stress on the natural gums and underlying bone. This can cause the jaw to deteriorate even more. As the bone changes, you’ll probably find that you have to change the dentures to fit better. Fortunately, new technology is making possible dentures that fit better and adjust to changes in pressure. They’re also better able to absorb the shock of chewing and biting down, thus redirecting some of the stress away from the gums.

*231\167\8*

As with any viral infection, the most severe period is the initial flare-up. When your physician determines that your rash is Ramsay Hunt syndrome, he will treat it with corticosteroidal preparations in either oral or topical form. But because the virus hides in the nerves of the spine for many years, it may cause permanent nerve damage when it surfaces after being dormant for decades. Though this is rare, you should see a neurologist at the first sign of a flare-up.

Special Mention for the Elderly

When an elderly person is affected with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, an extremely painful condition called postherpetic neuralgia can sometimes occur. Men and women 60 years and older are prone to postherpetic neuralgia because of their naturally lower immune systems. Postherpetic neuralgia is signified by facial paralysis, constant headache, and severe pain where the rash initially occurred.

Medications such as Zovirax and pain medications will help lessen the outbreak. If pain persists, a medication such as Zostrix can be very helpful in alleviating it.

*214\167\8*

For most of us, a certain amount of deterioration in our vision is almost inevitable as we grow older. I find I can no longer work on models with small parts, as I have trouble focusing my eyes. I refuse to give in, however, which runs counter to the advice that my own ophthalmologist has given me. I will not wear reading glasses or bifocals, mostly for reasons of vanity. Instead, I wear contacts. The lens in one eye is for distance, while the other lens helps me to do close-up work.

I’ve found that what is almost universal among midlife adults and older is the gradual appearance of a kind of farsightedness called presbyopia, in which you will find it increasingly necessary to hold a book or newspaper farther away from you in order to see clearly. Whether you’ve traditionally been nearsighted or farsighted in the past doesn’t matter. And if you’ve always been envious of a friend who’s enjoyed 20/20 vision most of his life, relax, because there is such a thing as divine retribution—even people blessed with perfect vision are affected by presbyopia to some degree.

*197\167\8*

Flashing lights are pretty when they’re part of a Christmas or Fourth of July display, but when they regularly occur as part of the early stages of a migraine headache, they quickly lose their luster.

Migraines have the reputation of being able to totally disable a person, and for good reason. If you’ve ever experienced a migraine, also known as a vascular headache, you know that the pain in your head can be so intense that you’re physically unable to do more than lie in bed in a darkened room and wait for the pain to subside.

Before a migraine hits fully, the flashing lights appear because the constricted arteries reduce the flow of blood to the part of the brain that controls your vision. In addition to the flashing lights, you may experience blind spots, vertigo, and nausea. These are all signs that a migraine is imminent.

We don’t know exactly what causes a migraine headache. However, at a migraine’s worst, the carotid and vertebral arteries in the brain, which supply it with blood, first narrow and then swell up, sometimes to twice their normal size. This decreases the amount of blood supplied to your brain. The combination of the swollen arteries and the reduced blood supply is the reason for the crushing pain that can totally incapacitate you. Most migraines last from a few hours to several days. After the pain subsides, you’ll probably feel groggy and lethargic for a while.

*182\167\8*

If you think you have temporal arteritis, you should see your doctor immediately, especially if you have experienced sudden blindness. He will conduct a blood test that includes a test for the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or ESR, which will check how quickly red blood cells settle in the bottom of a test tube. A high ESR is an indication of an inflamed artery, as in temporal arteritis. Your doctor may also perform a biopsy of the temporal artery in order to make a positive diagnosis.

If you do have temporal arteritis, you will need to treat it with a regimen of corticosteroid medication such as prednisone on a long-term basis, possibly for months. This will help reduce the swollen artery to its normal size. In order to prevent future problems, however, you will need to continue taking the medication for a year or more; regular blood tests that monitor the ESR in addition to your symptoms will help your doctor to guide your treatment.

*167\167\8*

Due to the increasing number of reports about possible serious side effects from collagen, many people are looking for a safe, effective and inexpensive alternative face-smoothing treatment. There are actually many such treatments available. Here are four of the most recommended alternatives to collagen injections:

1) Dermabrasion— this is a technique which has been around for awhile. It involves the use of a hand-held machine which a doctor uses to sand down the skin. The procedure is effective in smoothing out deep scars caused by acne. lt has also been used effectively to smooth out fine-line wrinkles, especially those around the mouth. After the procedure is done, it will take about two weeks for the swelling to go down completely. You’ll also have to avoid exposure to the sun, and use a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 all year long. This is a permanent procedure, so give it plenty of thought before you have it done.

While this treatment can be highly effective, it can also result in some problems. In some cases, the treatment has resulted in uneven pigmentation, and it can cause deep and permanent scars. Dermabrasion can cost up to $5,000, depending on the extent of the treatment.

2) Chemical peel— this is a newer version of dermabrasion which peels off layers of skin, using acid instead of sanding. There are three types of peels: superficial, for people with active acne and fine surface lines or wrinkles; medium, for people who have skin that has been damaged beyond its years by the sun, and excessive wrinkling; and deep, for those people with excessive sun damage, obvious pigmentation irregularities, and moderate to severe wrinkles.

The chemical used for the peel is a mixture of two or all of the following, in various combinations: Retin-A, alpha hydroxy acid and trichloroacetic acid. The exact mixture depends on the level of the peel. Following the treatment, you should not be exposed to the sun at all for about six months. When the six months is up you have to wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 year round.

The procedure, incorrectly performed, can cause scarring, burning or infection, and possibly even heart damage. Make sure you have plenty of information before you opt for this procedure. A superficial chemical peel will cost from $300 to $700, and a deep peel will cost approximately $2,000 to $3,000.

*232\27\8*

A boil is an inflamed, pus-filled area of skin— usually a blocked oil gland or hair follicle. The inflammation and pus are a result of a pitched battle between the body’s immune system and staphylococcus bacteria which have invaded instigating the fight. The next thing you know, you have a boil. These “battle scars” are common on the arms, groin, back, and buttocks, and just about anyplace where the skin gets rubbed.

Boils are both unattractive and painful, and they sometimes leave scars. Here’s how you can treat them yourself and get some relief.

1) Apply warm compresses— at the first sign that a boil is developing, begin applying warm compresses over the boil several times a day. Leave the compress on the boil 20 to 30 minutes at a time. This treatment should bring the boil to a head. Continue to apply warm compresses for a few days after the boil opens to help drain the pus.

2) Take a shower instead of a bath— doing this helps to minimize the likelihood that the infection will spread to another area.

3) Keep your hands clean— it is especially important that you wash your hands well before you handle food. That’s because the germs which caused the problem can multiply in warm food and produce toxins that can cause food poisoning.

4) If the boil fails to open, or if you are plagued with recurring boils, consult your doctor.

*269\27\8*

Studies have shown that strenuous exercise causes physiological stress and strain on the body. And without adequate time for the body to rest, recover and rebuild, injury or illness can result. That’s why experts agree that moderation is the key to safe and effective exercising.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine most healthy adults should workout 3 to 5 days a week, with no more than 2 days between workouts. Exercising an average of less than 2 days a week doesn’t result in any significant improvement in your overall physical fitness. But, if you exercise more than five times a week, you increase the risk of injury. That’s why 3 to 5 times a week is the recommended “course of action”.

You should take care to monitor the intensity of your workouts. Work your heart rate at 60 percent to 90 percent of capacity and exercise nonstop for 20 to 60 minutes. You can calculate your ideal training zone by determining your maximum heart rate, using the following formula: Subtract your age from 220; then multiply that number by the percentage of how hard you plan to work out. For example, the maximum heart rate for a 40 year old is 180 (220 minus 40 equals 180); 60 percent of 180 is 108, and 90 percent is 162. Therefore, the ideal training zone is a pulse rate between 108 and 162.

For nonathletes, or people who haven’t exercised in quite some time, the American Heart Association recommends working at a target heart rate of between 60 and 75 percent of the maximum rate. Older people or those in poor health should start out at the low end of the range, while better-conditioned people can start at the high end. And after 6 months or so, exercisers may want to increase up to 75 to 85 percent of maximum heart rate. Most people can stay fit working out at 75 percent of maximum heart rate.

Another key to safe and effective exercise is to “listen to your body”. Many times we may experience pain, stress or exhaustion from the whole body or from particular joints and muscles. The concept of ‘working through the pain” is, at best, foolhardy. To avoid injury, you must acknowledge and respond to pain and/or discomfort swiftly and positively. This means changing your pace or switching to another activity that uses different muscle groups, or stopping the activity altogether.

Here are some signs of a high-stress workout. The symptoms may indicate that an individual is exercising too hard, too long or too often, and should take the necessary steps to modify his or her exercise routine:

1) Muscle aches and pains 2) Muscle cramps 3) Pain in the feet, knees or hips 4) Generalized fatigue 5) Chest pains 6) Light-headedness or confusion 7) Loss of appetite Sleeping difficulty 9) Nausea or vomiting 10) Pale or bluish skin tone 11) Shortness of breath (lasting for more than ten minutes) 12) Palpitations

*306\27\8*