SEPTEMBER 2016 MIAMI for web

#EXPRESSNEVERSUPPRESS

The Curl Experts 

BY CHADWICK & IGOR 

WHAT MAKES OUIDAD SALON UNIQUE? 

Chadwick: We know and understand curls. We have put a great deal of time and effort 

into working with all types of curls and have developed techniques that offer solutions 

to the challenges of naturally curly hair. Our salon is a haven for those who are blessed 

with naturally curly hair. After just one visit it becomes obvious that we are addressing 

the needs of curls and then bringing them to life. Because we address four curl types 

we can customize services that offer solutions to even the trickiest head of curls where 

sometimes 3 or 4 curl types live together on one head of hair. 

What will a client experience at the salon on a typical visit? Most individuals with 

curly hair are either nervous or have anxiety about visiting a salon. We want to give 

them a place where they can be heard and understood. A thorough consultation will 

be rendered and a plan created so that a beautiful head of curls is the destination. Our 

guests will recieve luxurious shampooing and conditions treatments specially formulated 

for their unique head of curls. You will receive a prescriptive at home regime and be 

taught how to properly care for and maintain your look. We want our clients to be 

empowered when it comes to her curls. 

WHAT ARE TWO WAYS A GIRL CAN CHANGE UP HER CURLS 

Chadwick: Currently one of the hottest coloring techniques we offer is Color Melting. 

This technique seamlessly blends multiple tones together on a head of curls creating 

a melting effect that is stunning. Not ready to shampoo yet? Let us teach you how to 

build out your look and keep going about your day with out having to shampoo and 

start over. We also offer styling techniques that help to elongate curls. 

Visit us at chadwickandigor.com and on Facebook 

for updates on the salon grand opening. 

Chadwick Pendley 

is a Master Artistic 

Educator of Ouidad. 

He is a recognized 

expert in the art of 

creating beautiful hair. 

His innate approach 

to hairstyling is 

solidly rooted in his precision cutting 

expertise and rich knowledge of state-ofthe 

art styling skills for all types of hair. He 

constantly pushes the boundaries of his art. 

Born in Brazil, Igor 

Araujo brings the 

passion, energy and 

zest for life of that 

cultural region to his 

work. Igor gravitated 

toward hair coloring 

from an early age. He 

is both a Ouidad Certified Stylist, highly 

knowledgeable about the sculpture of curly 

hair, and a Goldwell Technical Artist, always 

raising the bar of his color skills for the 

world’s premier maker of color products. 

3530 N. Federal HWY Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33308 • 954.613.0405

Claudia Portillo 

Editor in Chief 

PUBLISHER 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

MARKETING DIRECTOR 

COPY EDITOR 

WEBSITE DIRECTOR 

ART AND DESIGN 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

DIRECTOR 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

CONTRIBUTING 

WRITERS 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 

Mauricio Portillo 

Claudia Portillo 

Arnaldo Del Valle 

Lora Incardona 

Andres Portillo 

Maria Alejandra Wehdeking 

Carolina Pedraza 

Maria Alejandra Wehdeking 

Gala Ricote 

Meg Meeker, MD 

Bruno V. Gallo, MD 


Maria Luisa Salcines 

Sarah May Bates 


Maydeline Moreno 

Sylvia Morales 

Carolina Martinez 

Sarah Roach 

Andres Portillo 

Diana Diaz 

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intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, 

probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments. healthy magazine and its contributors 

accept no responsibility for inaccuracies, and the advertiser is solely responsible for ad content 

and holds publisher harmless from any error. 

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@HEALTHYVALLEY 

Finding Love in my Everyday Working Life 

I’d describe myself as a practical person, on any given day you’ll 

find me in a pair of skinny jeans and a smile. No fuss, no mess. 

Sadly our summer has started coming to its end, which means 

our kids are back at school, and we are all falling back into our 

usual routines. 

For me that means saying goodbye to my son yet again as 

he returns to college later this week, driving my daughter to 

school every morning; though this time around it’s two hours 

earlier than usual, going back to the gym on a regular basis, 

and cooking my family dinner every night. It’s a bittersweet 

time for my family and I, saying goodbye and starting anew it’s 

important for us all to keep a positive attitude. I love the days 

when the rain washes over our beautiful city, which we've had a 

few of lately-- it makes me feel renewed. 

This month, Healthy magazine is serving up a special kids 

issue. The majority of this issue is filled with our best-inclass 

health articles, including a piece from the Alliance for a 

Healthier Generation, on the grave consequences of childhood 

obesity. And Valeria Arcila; the heartwarming story of a girl who 

still looks up to Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, who should 

be entering the Fourth Grade right now, but instead is fighting 

through more trials and tribulations than most could even 

imagine. 

There are a lot of things that cross my mind each month while 

I’m preparing this magazine for you, but what empowers me 

and keeps me motivated are the people that I surround myself 

with and those that I get to meet each month. Individuals who 

are confident, motivated, and passionate enough to overcome 

new challenges. 

Things like these are what make me love my everyday working 

life. 

Have a Happy and Healthy September! 

cportillo@healthymagazine.com 

/HEALTHYMAGAZINEONLINE 

Contact@HealthyMagazine.com / 1172 South Dixie Hwy Ste. 191 Coral Gables FL 33146 United States / PH 305-395-4554 / www.HealthyMagazine.com

EDITORIAL 

CONTENT 

ISSUE 40 

HEALTHY KIDS 

8. 

10. 

12. 

14. 

16. 

18. 

MORE YES! KEEP IT GOING 

VALERIA ARCILA FAITHFULL TROUGH 

THE STORM 

PROVIDING SOUTH FLORIDA’S 

CHILDREN WITH THE BEST PROTECTION 

POSSIBLE 

EAT YOUR BREAKFAST FOR BETTER 

LEARNING 

CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD 

OBESITY 

PASSING ON MATERNAL LOVE 

HEALTHY BODY, MIND & SOUL 

20. 

22 . 

WHAT IS EPILEPSY? 

IN LIVING COLOR: THE PATH TO A REWARDING LIFE 

FITNESS & BEAUTY 

26. 

28. 

HOW TO AGE HEALTHY AND 

GRACEFULLY 

DISFIGURING SKIN CANCER ON 

THE RISE 

30. 

32. 

FITNESS IS A SIDE EFFECT OF 

WELLNESS 

HEALTHY FOOD 

ON THE WATCH FOR YOUR 

NATURAL VITAMINS & MINERALS 

34. 

THE GREATNESS OF 

CUCUMBERS 

Contact@HealthyMagazine.com / 1172 South Dixie Hwy Ste. 191 Coral Gables FL 33146 United States / PH 305-395-4554 / www.HealthyMagazine.com

HEALTHY 

KIDS 

8. 

10. 

12. 

14. 

16. 

18. 

MORE YES! KEEP IT GOING 

VALERIA ARCILA FAITHFULL 

TROUGH THE STORM 

PROVIDING SOUTH FLORIDA’S 

CHILDREN WITH THE BEST 

PROTECTION POSSIBLE 

EAT YOUR BREAKFAST FOR 

BETTER LEARNING 

CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD 

OBESITY 

PASSING ON MATERNAL LOVE

HEALTHY KIDS 

"Rewrite 

that feeling 

of dread into 

a positive thought 

even if you don’t 

believe it at first. 

Do it anyway." 

MORE 

YES! 

KEEP IT GOING 

Most mothers (and fathers) struggle with a sense that 

they’re not getting things right when it comes to 

parenting. But we don’t stop there. We (and I lead 

the pack) doubt our ability to succeed at even small things, feel 

good about life, get healthier or to do a job really well. I don’t 

mean a job- job. I mean anything that we find challenging. In 

fact, in my almost 50+ years of living, I can count on one hand 

the number of mothers (women) I have met who have a strong 

self confidence. I don’t mean arrogance; I mean bonafide strong, 

healthy sense of self. 

We can change this. Here’s the truth: every single one of us has 

extraordinary value. God handcrafted each of us- our eyebrows, 

knees, wrists, minds, hearts- everything. And He did this for 

many good reasons. The most important reason is to love us and 

have us experience love. Then He did it so that we could make 

the lives of others better. And the list goes on. 

This week, use the word YES to motivate yourself to be who you 

were meant to be. Start with, “YES, I can be the best mother,” 

“YES, I will challenge myself to start that new project and know 

that I can be really good at it” or “Yes, I can recover from my 

depression or anxiety because God wants me to be happy.” 

When we say YES to ourselves, we give ourselves freedom to 

believe what is true, to understand who we are and to be loved. 

Most of our thoughts revolve around who we aren’t, why we 

can’t or how many mistakes we’ve made. Most of these negative 

thoughts aren’t even true, but they circle in our minds like 

hungry vultures hovering over a carcass. They are relentless. 

So replace them! Every time you feel that dread in your belly 

whispering that life is never going to get better or that you will 

never be good enough, stop it dead in its tracks. Speak to it. Tell 

it where to go and pull out the YES weapon. 

Rewrite that feeling of dread into a positive thought even if you 

don’t believe it at first. Do it anyway. “YES, I can face my boss, 

husband, child.” “YES, I do have the right to demand respect 

from my family” or “YES, I have great instincts.” 

The most profound life changes we make begin between our 

ears. Your thought process is a great weapon so use it to make 

you stronger and healthier. And start by putting a lot of “YES” 

into your inner vocabulary. 

By Meg Meeker, MD 

8 / HEALTHY MIAMI

HEALTHY KIDS 

" 

She leans on 

her mother 

and father, the 

two people she 

understands to 

be the definition 

of bravery." 

Valeria Arcila 

FAITHFULL TROUGH 

THE STORM 

At the center of her being, Valeria appears to be just like 

any other 11-year old girl. Her favorite colors are purple 

and fuchsia. She loves to bake cookies (chocolate chip are 

her favorite). She keeps her favorite movie, the Princess 

and the Pauper, on constant repeat. She wishes she could 

have water-bending powers, so she could glide over 

the water and visit her native Venezuela whenever she 

chooses. She dreads math and loves spending time in 

Art Class, experimenting with pastels and oil paints. Her 

favorite place in the world is Universal Studios in Orlando, 

a place she visited two years ago for the first time. She has 

a dog named "Peluche", a tiny Lil Fella who tirelessly plays 

with her and keeps her company while she sleeps. There 

she has dreams of running around and hiding under the 

mango trees in her Grandma’s backyard with her two best 

friends, Farrah and Doeli. 

All in all, It seems to be a pretty normal existence, and it 

was… until late last year when she started getting frequent 

headaches at an alarming rate. This led her parents to take 

her from doctor to doctor until she got an MRI and was 

heartbreakingly diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer 

known as Brainstem Glioma, specifically Diffuse Intrinsic 

Pontine Glioma (or DIPG). 

DIPG is a tumor that brings one’s nervous system to a 

complete halt by sprouting up at the Pons portion of 

the brainstem, which connects the Brain to the Spinal 

Cord. It has an awful reputation among those in the field 

of pediatric oncology for being highly aggressive and 

incredibly difficult to treat. This is not only due to its 

dizzying array of rapidly worsening symptoms such as 

double vision, facial weakness, and weakness in the 

limbs, but thanks to it being 

unprecedentedly resistant to 

chemotherapy, with realistic alternative 

treatments are few and far between. As 

a result, parents are often left without 

many options, while the young children 

it tends to target are encouraged to undergo risky clinical 

trials so that they may have the slightest hope for a 

miracle. 

It’s a terrifying prognosis, but that doesn’t mean that the 

Arcila-Rodriguez family has given up hope, least of all 

young Valeria. She keeps faith in God, who she says has 

given her the strength to stay at peace through the pain. 

She leans on her mother and father, the two people she 

understands to be the definition of bravery. She looks 

towards her friend Farrah, who had a terrible accident and 

"fought like a giant to get through it all". This is a girl who 

still looks up to Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, a girl who 

should be entering the Fourth Grade right now, but has 

gone through more trials and tribulations than many will 

see in a lifetime. And all she wants to do is ride her bike to 

school with her dad again. 

But her family can't afford to keep going through with 

treatment much longer. They weren't very well-off to 

begin with, and the ever-amounting medical fees have 

led towards the rabbit hole of bankruptcy. To help ease 

the burden, they set up a GoFundMe Site and have raised 

almost four thousand dollars so far, but, really, that's just 

a drop in the bucket when it comes to treating such a rare 

and invasive disease. So we at Healthy Magazine have 

taken it upon ourselves to encourage you to donate to the 

cause and help save this little girl's life, and help find a 

cure to this terrible disease. 

By Andres Portillo 


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HEALTHY KIDS 

PROVIDING 

SOUTH 

FLORIDA’S 

CHILDREN 

WITH THE BEST 

PROTECTION 

POSSIBLE 

FREE COMPREHENSIVE CHECK-UPS 

AND REQUIRED VACCINATIONS FOR 

SCHOOL STARTING JULY 1, 2016 

Care Resource recognizes that 

no matter what grade your 

child is about to enter, there’s 

the yearly back-to-school checklist 

of to-dos like shopping for school 

supplies, filling out permission 

forms and, of course, scheduling 

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Resource. In recognition of the 

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from July 1 to September 30, 2016, 

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Covered vaccinations include, but 

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pediatric patients may also receive 

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redeem this promotion, one MUST 

first make an appointment by calling 

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Getting every recommended dose 

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Keep in mind that there are many 

opportunities to catch-up on vaccines 

for your preteen or teen. Preteens 

Give Your 

Kids the Best 

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and teens typically see their doctors 

or other health care professionals 

for physicals before participation in 

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There are important advantages to 

pediatric care. At Care Resource, 

our locations are staffed with board 

certified pediatric staff. We strive 

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Services include well child care; 

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patient that they are not insured. The 

promotion applies to appointments made 

between July 1st and September 30, 

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Offer has no cash value and becomes 

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ABOUT CARE RESOURCE: 

Care Resource is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit 

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Care Resource provides comprehensive 

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www.careresource.org 


HEALTHY KIDS

HEALTHY KIDS 

"Eating a nutritious 

breakfast is an 

essential component 

of academic success 

as it gives the body 

the jump start it 

needs to get going 

and the nutrition it 

needs to keep going." 

foods. The problem is that they are too 

high in sugar: 17 grams, 13 grams and 11 

grams per serving, respectively. Throwing 

all of that sugar into your body at once, so 

early in the morning, does more harm than 

good, as sugar actually increases hunger 

and offers a burst but then a sharp decline 

of energy. 

EAT YOUR 

BREAKFAST 

FOR BETTER 

LEARNING 

Eating a nutritious breakfast is an essential 

component of academic success as it gives the 

body the jump start it needs to get going and the 

nutrition it needs to keep going. In addition, a 

healthy breakfast keeps away the hunger pangs that cause 

students to lose focus on their lessons because they are 

more concerned about meeting the first level of Maslow’s 

Hierarchy of need—food. 

Eating a healthy breakfast doesn’t mean grabbing a Pop- 

Tart, Nutri-Grain Cereal Bar or a bowl of Frosted Flakes, 

although all three are advertised as being good breakfast 

When thinking of a healthy breakfast, think 

of foods that spoil or need to be cooked 

such as fruit, eggs and dairy products, 

excluding sugar-laden yogurts that tend 

to contain twice as much sugar as a bowl of sugar coated 

Frosted Flakes. As with any meal, try to make your breakfast 

complete by including protein, fruit or vegetable, and whole 

grain in order to give your body brain the nutrients and 

long-lasting energy they need to perform at their best. And 

don’t forget to drink water. A dehydrated brain is no way to 

begin your day. 

According to the Food Research and Action Center, students 

who skip breakfast show increased errors in school work 

and have slower memory recall, lower math scores and 

poorer cognitive functioning than those who do eat 

breakfast. Studies also show that students who eat a wellrounded 

breakfast work faster and actually make fewer 

mistakes in math. Eating a good breakfast also improves 

performance on demanding mental tasks. Overall, eating 

breakfast has been proven to markedly increase cognitive 

function, comprehension and learning in general. 

No matter the success you want to achieve, academic 

or otherwise, it all begins with a healthy, well-balanced 

breakfast, whether you eat it at home or in your school 

cafeteria! 

By Lora Incardona 


HEALTHY KIDS 

CONSEQUENCES OF 

CHILDHOOD 

OBESITY 

"Today about 1 in 3 kids is overweight 

or obese. And studies show that 

overweight kids are likely to become 

overweight and obese adults." 

- Alliance for a Healthier Generation 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 

"OBESITY" 

Means a child is severely 

overweight with a body mass 

index (BMI) that is equal 

to or greater than the 95th 

percentile 

"OVERWEIGHT" 

Means your child is above 

a weight that is considered 

normal and healthy. Being 

overweight as a child can lead 

to obesity as an adult. 

CONSEQUENCES OF 

CHILDHOOD OBESITY 

Obese and overweight children are at risk for a number of 

serious health problems such as: 

• DIABETES: Type 2 diabetes was once called adult-onset 

diabetes. Now with the rise in childhood obesity, there is a 

dramatic rise in the number of children suffering from type 2 

diabetes. Untreated, this can be a life-threatening condition. 

• ASTHMA: Extra weight can make it harder to breathe and 

can inflame the respiratory tract. There is a correlated rise 

in childhood asthma and children with serious asthma are 

more likely to be overweight. 

• HEART FAILURE: Being overweight makes the heart work 

harder. Overweight children are more likely to grow up to be 

overweight adults who develop heart problems. 

There is 

no single 

reason for 

the rise in 

childhood 

overweight, 

but there are a number of 

contributing factors: 

• TELEVISION AND MEDIA 

Screen time is a major factor 

contributing to childhood 

obesity. It takes away from 

the time children spend being 

physically active, leads to 

increased snacking in front of the 

TV, and influences children with 

advertisements for unhealthy foods. 

WHY 

CHILDHOOD 

OBESITY NOW? 

• MARKETING OF UNHEALTHY FOODS 

Nearly half of U.S. middle and high schools allow advertising 

of less healthy foods, which impacts students' ability to 

make healthy food choices. Also, foods high in calories, 

sugars, salt, and fat, and low in nutrients are advertised 

and marketed extensively toward children and adolescents, 

while advertising for healthier foods is almost nonexistent in 

comparison. 


HEALTHY KIDS 

• LIMITED 

ACCESS TO HEALTHY 

AFFORDABLE FOODS 

Some people have less 

access to stores and 

supermarkets that sell 

healthy, affordable 

food such as fruits and 

vegetables, especially 

in rural, low-income 

neighborhoods and 

communities of color. 

Supermarket access is 

associated with a reduced 

risk for obesity. Choosing 

healthy foods is difficult for 

parents who live in areas 

with an overabundance 

of unhealthy options like 

convenience stores and fast 

food restaurants. 

• LACK OF DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 

Most adolescents fall short of the Physical Activity Guidelines 

for Americans recommendation of at least 60 minutes of 

aerobic physical activity each day. Only 18% of students in 

grades 9—12 met this recommendation in 2007. Daily, quality 

physical education in school can help students meet the 

guidelines, however, in 2009 only 33% had access to and 

attended daily physical education classes. 

A FIFTH 

OF TEENS 

Drink the equivalent of an extra 

meal in sugar sweetened beverages 

• HIGHER CONSUMPTION OF SUGARY 

BEVERAGES 

Sugar drinks are the largest source of added sugar in the 

diets of children and adolescents. Increasing consumption 

of these high caloric beverages that offer little or no 

nutrients is associated with the increasing rates of 

childhood obesity. 

Surrounded by water on three of its sides, Florida is the 

southernmost state in the continental U.S. Known as 

the “Sunshine State” for its favorable weather, Florida 

unfortunately struggles with a darker problem: 1 in 4 

children in the state is overweight or obese. 

Additionally, the significant racial and ethnic disparities 

that exist in obesity prevalence among U.S. children are 

pronounced in Florida’s diverse communities: Nearly a 

quarter of the state’s residents are Hispanic or Latino.* 

More than 

1 IN 4 CHILDREN 

IN FLORIDA IS 

OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE 

There is no federal 

law requiring 

PHYSICAL 

EDUCATION 

In American foods 

• INCREASED PORTION SIZES 

Portion sizes of less healthy foods and beverages have 

increased over time in restaurants, grocery stores, and vending 

machines. Research shows that children eat more without 

realizing it if they are served larger portions. This means they 

are consuming a lot of extra calories, especially when eating 

high-calorie foods. 

"The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded 

by the American Heart Association and the Clinton 

Foundation, works to empower kids to develop lifelong 

healthy habits by ensuring the environments that 

surround them provide and promote good health." 

www.healthiergeneration.org 

HEALTHY MIAMI / 17

HEALTHY KIDS 

PASSING ON 

MATERNAL 

LOVE 

In the mornings after my sons would 

leave for school and my husband 

had left for work, I’d pour myself a 

cIup of coffee and sit in my kitchen 

reading the paper. My daughter would 

always come and sit on the stool next 

to me. 

“Mami, can I have some coffee?” she 

asked me one day. I poured some warm 

milk into a mug and a drop of coffee, 

just enough to make the milk look 

darker, and handed it to her. We sat 

there for a while quietly enjoying our 

morning coffee when she turned to me 

and said, “Somos dos amigas tomando 

café.” We’re two friends drinking coffee. 

“Yes we are,” I said, leaning over and 

giving her a kiss on the forehead. 

Already at the age of four she 

understood that although I was her 

mother I could also be her friend. Many 

mothers and daughters don’t get along. 

They love each other, but somehow 

they never really get to know each 

other. 

A child has no sense of what her 

relationship with her mother should 

be like, so when I see mothers and 

daughters that don’t get along, I always 

wonder what happened. As the adults, 

we must reach out to our children. It’s 

up to us to develop close relationships 

with our daughters. 

When I think back on my childhood, I 

can always remember my mother being 

there for me, not only during important 

events in my life but on a daily basis in 

small ways. 

One of my favorite things to do as a 

child was to sit on the kitchen counter 

and watch my mother cook. We would 

have wonderful conversations with the 

soft chirping of the pressure cooker in 

the background and the smell of black 

bean soup seeping from the pot. 

"WHEN A YOUNG 

GIRL HAS A GOOD 

RELATIONSHIP WITH 

HER MOTHER, SHE 

GAINS A LIFE-LONG 

FRIEND." 

When my family came from Cuba, 

my parents could not afford to buy 

our clothes, so my mother had no 

choice but to learn how to sew. I can 

still picture her in front of her sewing 

machine, the dining room table covered 

with patterns and different color fabric. 

On Saturdays she would always have 

something simple for me to do. She 

taught me how to mend my clothes, 

and I learned about life from all of our 

long talks. 

My mother always knew when to be 

my mother and when to be my friend. 

Unless you allow your daughter to know 

you as a person, you will never be able 

to develop a close relationship with her. 

Some women put themselves way 

above their daughters, so far from reach 

that no matter how much a child tries 

to be close to them, they always end up 

feeling alienated and misunderstood. 

When a young girl has a good 

relationship with her mother, she 

gains a life-long friend. Mothers give 

sustenance and courage to their 

daughters. The nurturing they receive 

from their mothers is the thread that 

holds together generations of families. 

Where would I have found maternal 

wisdom if I hadn’t had my mother by 

my side guiding me through the stages 

of motherhood? 

When I look at my daughter and think 

of all the things she will have to go 

through in life, I can’t imagine not being 

by her side. 

From my mother I learned that the 

bridges of love must be built from the 

first moment you hold your child. A 

mother-daughter relationship is not 

something built from a quick kiss or an 

occasional hug but from daily love and 

understanding. 

God blessed me with a daughter who 

will someday grow up to be a mother. 

I will pass on to her all the love her 

grandmother bestowed on me, and 

within her my mother’s love will live on. 

Maria Luisa Salcines is a freelance writer, and 

certified parent educator with The International 

Network for Children and Families in Redirecting 

Children’s Behavior and Redirecting for a 

Cooperative Classroom. Follow her on Twitter 

@PowerOfFamily or contact her at her Web site 

at www.redirectingchildrenrgv.org. 


HEALTHY 

BODY 

MIND 

& SOUL 

20. 

22 . 

WHAT IS EPILEPSY? 

IN LIVING COLOR: THE PATH 

TO A REWARDING LIFE

HEALTHY MIND 

WHAT IS 

EPILEPSY? 

Epilepsy has been common throughout history. Somewhere between 

2 and 2½ million Americans suffer from epilepsy. In years past the 

general population held on to a belief that convulsions and seizures 

were a condition of the young. This is no longer a valid statement. 

The incidence of epilepsy (ie, the number of new cases per unit of the 

population) increases with advancing age. The incidence of epilepsy in 

people over the age of 60 exceeds that of children.1,2 Findings from a 

population based study from England and Wales have revealed that this 

population (aged 65-80) is at a much higher risk of developing epilepsy. 

3 This we believe is due to the fact that these patients carry a higher risk 

of seizures and epilepsy because of increased risk of medical diseases 

that predispose patients towards developing seizures. 

Acute symptomatic seizures (those caused 

by an underlying disease like strokes, 

tumors, head injuries or infections of the 

brain) are approached differently than 

unprovoked seizures. 

WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR SHOULD I SEE? 

Most neurologists have received training and are well versed in the 

treatment of seizures and epilepsy patients. 

Neurologists that have extra training in dealing with seizures are known 

as “epileptologists”. They complete additional training (approximately 

one to two years of a fellowship program) at the end of their residencies 

to learn more about seizures, epilepsy and the tests used to diagnose 

patients. And how to treat patients with all the new therapies now 

available. 

WHAT IS EPILEPSY: 

Our brains conduct small currents of electricity between cells. When 

these electrical discharges are made abnormally you develop a seizure. 

If you develop 2 or more seizures in your lifetime that are unprovoked, 

your doctor will diagnose you with epilepsy. 

During a seizure the electrical impulses are “in-sync” compared to 

the normal conduction. And depending on what area of the brain is 

affected this will produce different clinical manifestations. Patients 

will complain of losing consciousness, falling, biting their tongues, 

losing bladder or bowel control and in some cases may even jerk all 

four limbs (arms and legs). Some milder forms of seizures may only 

make the patient appear “lost” for a short period of time, then regain 

consciousness and composure without injury. This brief disturbance of 

consciousness can be accompanied by what seems like repetitive nonsense 

movements of the hands, arms or legs. 

Seizures are caused from many different problems including liver and 

kidney failure, stroke, brain tumors, infections in the brain (meningitis 

& encephalitis) alcohol, drugs, and in children even very high fevers. 

Head injuries and low blood sugar may also be responsible. 

Epilepsy is very complex and the cause of seizures, for many people, is 

never known. There is evidence that a genetic component exists, but is 

not common. In as many as 65-70% of cases the specific cause if never 

identified. When not identified it is called idiopathic epilepsy. 

MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS: 

The diagnosis of epilepsy is arrived at clinically by your neurologist/ 

epileptologist. A history and complete neurologic examination 

followed by special tests of your brain are also ordered, including 

electroencephalograms (EEG), computerized axial tomography (CT 

scan) and special magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on more powerful 

magnets with special sequences for seizure patients. These tests may 

help in making the diagnosis and in classifying your seizures so the right 

medicine is chosen. 

There are many different types of seizures and your doctor will help you 

in classifying the type of epilepsy you suffer from. The most important 

thing is to obtain a good history from someone who can describe in great 

detail a “typical attack”. It is important for your doctor to distinguish 

which kind of epilepsy you are suffering from because it allows him/her 

to choose the most appropriate medication. 

TREATMENT: 

The treatment of seizures are a complex task. Since 1993 many 

new medications have become available to treat epilepsy. 

Depending on the type of epilepsy and the seizures you suffer 

your epileptologist will select the most appropriate medication 

for you. Sometimes the levels of these medicines are measured 

in your blood. Regular check-ups are a must. 

In certain cases an option for the treatment of seizures is 

“epilepsy surgery” where the abnormal focus creating the 

discharge that produces the seizures is removed from the brain 

if possible. The decision to have brain surgery is not an easy one 

to make and requires extensive testing. Ask your epileptologist. 

Many patients are not candidates because the removal of some 

parts of our brains is not possible without leaving the patient 

with a significant & unacceptable deficit. 

Finally there are some devices approved by the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for the treatment of epilepsy. Some 

patients may have read about the Neurocybernetic Prosthesis 

(NCP)® system for Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy and 

Responsive neurostimulation (RNS). Ask your epileptologist 

about this particular treatment modality. 

Support systems to help patients with epilepsy are available. 

Many mechanisms like safety issues, transportation problems, 

memory tricks, and national support groups are available. Local 

chapters are present in practically every state. 

By Bruno V. Gallo, MD 


HEALTHY SOUL 

IN LIVING 

COLOR: 

The Path to a 

Rewarding Life 

"And because we don’t like 

discomfort, collectively our 

pastimes take over for the 

common moments we would 

have previously suffered: 

when we’re alone, we can 

be entertained." 

Because I think a lot of us are spending a lot of our lives 

not fully aware that our range is narrow and predictable. 

We are automating a lot of life and simply following a 

popular routine. It’s in part because of all the modern 

luxuries and social media stimuli that we find ourselves attached 

to – and how this removes us from a lot of our less desirable 

emotional experiences. I will talk about culture and how it acts 

as an organism, and I want you to reflect on your own habits as 

you read– whether or not you feel inside this organism, on the 

border, or outside of it. Just take mental notes – and see how it 

sits with you. It’s not wrong or right, so don’t judge where you fit 

in these as too much or too little. It’s more about making sure 

you are choosing according to what you want for your life and its 

sum– from a conscious and aware place. 

THE WHAT 

Being partly somewhere else, all the time – as opposed to just 

sitting with yourself as you are, with the boredom, the anxiety, 

the vulnerability. By that I mean using a phone or clicking instead 

of interacting – anything that removes you from the place 

your physical body currently sits and removes you from a fully 

immersive in-person experience of your life. Avoiding discomfort 

is what drives most everything we do, in that most of the modern 

amenities of culture are designed to support us tuning out and 

soothing. If you think about it – plugging in is really just a way 

to not be alone with ourselves. Not to be bored, or worse – not 

to be tortured by thoughts of our own life and whether or not it 

measures up. 

And because we don’t like discomfort, collectively our pastimes 

take over for the common moments we would have previously 

suffered: when we’re alone, we can be entertained. When we’re 

lonely, we can get a confidence boost. When we’re unoccupied 

in the elevator, we can read about the many important events in 

our important friend’s lives. Convenience is really just another 

word for enabling – we grow addicted to the input because it 

helps us avoid feeling vulnerable or tired or not important – 

think about online shopping, online tabloids, texting, twitter, 

Facebook, Tinder. All of this stimuli is a way to be something 

other than just where you are – it’s like ego food in that it 

engages the thinking brain – when it should be quiet, now it is 

still solving and quantifying. Which is part of the reason it makes 

us less happy, in the long term. 

The soothing habit is an unconscious one – it’s like a knee-jerk 

reaction to a lull in distraction, because to be always connected 

to something means you’re not alone, you’re not one place – 

and therefore you’re not vulnerable to all those present in your 

thinking body with silence kind of thoughts. 

I want you to take a brief sec and just mentally go there now. 

Imagine yourself without a phone. Just you sitting on a bench on 

a street full of people walking by, and you don’t have any props. 

Not even a book. What does that feel like? Pretty uncomfortable 

right? In my mind I start to play with a button or examine my 

nails. Anything at all to show I’m not all here – I’m somewhere 

else. All the engaging with another virtual space is like putting 

on a shell complete with a pacifier. It’s a soothing mechanism 

that keeps us protected from the full gravity of our full present 

experience – because, well just like your bench told you: the 

present experience can make you feel unsure. It can feel like not 

enough. It can make you feel the impact of everything around 

you. In short, it requires you participate in ways that make you 

feel less protected and less numb to the outside world. 

All the modern accoutrements designed by present day culture 

remove our connection to pain and keep us more stuck in 

thoughts. Machine-mode apps give endless streams of stimuli, 

similar to slot machines that dole out ego-boosts. Pings report 

news about celebs, friends, and likes to our posts – more egoboosts. 

Chat apps put your solar system into your brain at all 

times. You can read every book twice as fast, or access limitless 

podcast content at all times, even while you watch something 

else. Platforms like Netflix give you every show and film so you 

can watch anything and any show, all the way through. Amazon 

lets you shop for anything with one click, without a second 

thought or an interaction with a human. Meds like Adderall and 

Xanax allow you to keep working and stop worrying. By using 

these amazing innovations, we avoid having patience, fatigue, 

anxiety, mental slowness, loneliness, boredom, insecurity, 

silence, emotional vulnerability, and appearance of weakness. 

All of this sounds like it’s a good thing – and in the moment, 

it likely feels like a good thing. Like an ice pack on a burn. It 


HEALTHY SOUL 

doesn’t make that discomfort go away, but it gives us something 

to do in the face of it. It’s a cultural move! We are all doing it. 

BUT HERE’S THE CATCH. 99% of us are doing it out of habit and 

without understanding how it’s distorting us. It’s a choice that’s 

unconscious, made out of convenience – and eventually simple 

routine. And why not, right? It’s fun to watch the same shows 

everyone else is watching and talk about them with everyone 

you meet at a party. There’s no apparent reason to stop. 

I am not suggesting these are bad things that should not 

exist. Technology that connects us to others and convenience 

enhancing services are great things, and they all serve their 

purpose. What I invite you to examine is the trade off you are 

getting in your own life and whether or not it’s aligned with 

your true goals. Most don’t think of their social media use as 

a soothing mechanism: it’s just part of life the way everyone 

lives it. To stop participating seems antisocial, like you’re going 

to fall out of favor with society. Because to stop checking in 

and replying right away is somehow like unplugging from the 

world, right? My argument is no, it’s not – and in reality, very 

little changes when you create boundaries around technology. 

Even though it feels like you’re more connected, you’re less 

connected to your own experience of life. 

Living via technology is like a projection of life – like watching 

a movie of dolphins instead of swimming with them. And 

here’s why that’s important: the depth of your engagement is 

vastly different when you are physically somewhere and when 

you are not. The sensory input that comes from sound, smell, 

and physical touch is a deeper and more powerful interaction. 

Imagine right now – someone you really like standing right in 

front of you. Now imagine that same person, but via FaceTime. 

These are two very disparate experiences. So when it comes to 

the superficial experiences becoming a majority of your time 

"Most don’t think of 

their social media 

use as a soothing 

mechanism: 

it’s just part of life 

the way everyone 

lives it." 

spent in a day, the difference comes down to your range of felt 

emotions. The depth of your experiences narrows, and with that 

– your life’s depth. At the end of this life, you are but a ratio. You 

can translate your day today – where you spend it, how deep you 

go with it, into an overall ratio at the end of your lifetime. I want 

you to think about that right now: if not today, then yesterday. 

How does this ratio sit with you? Are you really getting to the 

meaty parts of yourself, as a human? Do you want to expand 

that range? Ask yourself, how much of my life did I choose to live 

and how much did I spend plugged into something else? 

Sarah May Bates 

Founder of Yay With Me a hub of 

practical tools to create change in 

yourself, from Podcaster/Author, 

Sarah May Bates, @sarahmaybee 

HEALTHY MIAMI / 23

FITNESS 

& BEAUTY 

26. 

28. 

30. 

HOW TO AGE HEALTHY AND 

GRACEFULLY 

DISFIGURING SKIN CANCER 

ON THE RISE 

FITNESS IS A SIDE EFFECT 

OF WELLNESS


How to Age 

Healthily and 

Gracefully 

Have you looked at your wrinkles 

today and wondered how to age more 

gracefully? We are all concerned with 

how we look today. No one wants to age, 

but not everyone can spend a fortune on 

expensive surgeries and treatments to 

stay looking more youthful. 

Fortunately, there are things that we can do in order to age 

in a healthier and more graceful manner. By focusing on 

our own well-being, we can make the necessary changes to 

improve the quality of our lives. Here are some suggestions 

that are going to help you age well. 

SLEEP 

Bags under your eyes are not an attractive sight. When you 

get enough sleep, you are going to be healthier to begin with. 

This can be seen in your skin as you are going to have more 

of a glow without those baggy eyes that cause a loss in the 

elasticity of your skin. This will cause wrinkles that could have 

been avoided by getting /a good night of sleep. 

WATCH WHAT YOU CONSUME 

Smoking and drinking are not only bad for your internal 

body but it can also worsen your wrinkle situation. Smoking 

and drinking alcohol can cause premature aging, so you 

should quit smoking and limit the amount of alcohol that you 

consume. On top of that, drinking plenty of water is going to 

improve the elasticity and glow of your skin, which is perfect 

for aging in a graceful and healthy manner. You should also 

try adopting a healthier diet as great foods have the vitamins 

and minerals that are essential to healthy skin. 

FITNESS 

Fitness will keep you healthy inside and out, which is perfect 

for helping your skin stay youthful. Even something as simple 

as walking for a half an hour every day can have a huge 

impact with you in regards to having youthful skin. Plus, 

exercise can also reduce stress and make you happier. 

Be Happy 

You would be surprised how being happy can help you. When 

you are more positive and happier, you are going to be a 

healthier person. This is because these are things that help 

prevent stress, which can boost your immunity. If you are 

healthy and not sick often, you will not age as quickly as other 

people. So stay happy and positive and you will retain that 

youthful glow. 

VISIT AN ANTIAGING SPECIALIST 

If you have any questions about your skin or how to look 

more youthful without going under the knife for invasive and 

expensive treatments, an antiaging specialist is a perfect 

resource. They can help you live a life full of vitality, leaving you 

looking and feeling your best-- All of it done form the inside out 

. 

To age well, you need to take care of your body 

mind and spirit. These are just some of the ways 

that that you can have a more youthful appearance. 

Living a healthy life is the best thing that you can 

do for yourself. There is no magical fountain of 

youth, and you really have to work to stay young. 

By following these tips you can keep that incredible 

glow of your youth. 

"You don't have to suffer; you can enjoy your life." 

Because, really, the main goal is to live life pain-free, without 

depression, anxiety, or chronic disease; looking and feeling 

amazing. With effective treatments from around the world , 

gear-up for your anti-aging journey! 

By Maydeline Moreno 


HEALTHY BODY 

DISFIGURING 

SKIN CANCER 

ON THE RISE 

All skin cancers 

fall into one of two 

categories—melanoma 

or non-melanoma. 

Melanoma begins 

in melanocytes, the 

cells that produce the 

pigment, and nonmelanoma 

is any other 

type of skin cancer. 

MALIGNANT MELANOMA 

Melanoma is more aggressive 

than non-melanoma cancers and 

does not only occur on the skin; it 

also can be found on the mucous 

membranes and in the eye. As 

the name states, melanoma 

originates in the melanocytes 

and presents as dark spots on the 

skin; however, some melanomas 

don’t contain pigment, making 

them difficult to diagnose. 

The thickness of a melanoma 

spot can reveal if the cancer has 

likely spread to nearby lymph 

nodes (small structures that are 

part of the immune system) or 

other areas of the body such as 

the lungs and liver. 

Most melanomas that are 

localized to the skin can often 

be treated surgically; however, 

if the melanoma has spread to 

the lymph nodes or other organs, 

surgery is not an option and no 

successful treatment has been 

discovered. Interestingly enough, 

though, partial auto-regression 

28 / HEALTHY MIAMI 

has been seen with melanoma, 

most likely due to its rejection by 

the person’s immune system. 

The risk factors for melanoma are 

UV radiation, family history and 

fair skin. UV radiation is basically 

any light that results in a tan or 

burn, whether it is from the sun or 

a tanning bed. People of all skin 

colors should protect their skin 

by using sunscreen, a hat and 

sunglasses with UV protections on 

a regular basis. This is especially 

important for those with fair-skin, 

those who burn easily and those 

who spend time in the sun on a 

regular basis. 

It is important to know your skin 

and to keep an eye out for any 

changes. Take note of any new 

skin growths and changes to 

its surface and remember your 

ABCDs: A for Asymmetry of moles 

in any way; B for uneven Borders; 

C for various Colors within a mole; 

and D for a Diameter greater than 

6 mm. Report any ABCDs to your 

physician right away. 

NON- 

MELANOMA 

The two main 

types of nonmelanoma 

skin cancer are 

squamous cell 

carcinoma and basal 

cell carcinoma: the 

first affects the outer layer of 

the epidermis and the second 

the round cells just beneath it. 

Although non-melanoma skin 

cancers do not tend to spread 

(metastasize) to distant areas 

of the body, they can spread to 

nearby tissue and be disfiguring 

due to scars or the surgery 

performed to remove the cancer. 

Basal cell carcinoma generally 

appears on the skin as a raised 

pearl-like bump or a flat scar and 

can cause extensive damage to 

the skin and surrounding tissues. 

Very rarely does it metastasize. 

Squamous cell carcinoma often 

appears as a red bump that may 

or may not bleed or a rough or 

scaly area on the skin. Although 

not common, it has a greater 

chance than basal cell carcinoma 

of metastasizing to lymph nodes 

and distant parts of the body. 

Both squamous and basal cell 

carcinomas most commonly 

develop on areas of the body 

that have been or are constantly 

exposed to sunlight or the like, 

Skin cancer is on the rise in 

children and young adults, 

especially in Texas, a state high on 

the list for newly diagnosed cases. 

In order to understand skin cancer, 

it is necessary to understand the 

skin. The skin is the largest organ 

of the human body and is formed 

of two layers—the dermis (the thick 

inner layer), and the epidermis (the 

outer layer that is seen), where skin 

cancer tends to develop. Within the 

epidermis are three types of cells: 

squamous cells that form the flat 

top layer of skin, basal cells that 

are round and found beneath the 

squamous cells and melanocytes 

cells that form the bottom layer 

of the epidermis and produce the 

pigment that gives skin its color. 

especially the head, neck, ears, 

nose, lips and hands; however, 

the cancers can develop 

elsewhere, so be aware of sores 

that do not seem to be healing, 

any new growths that appear and 

changes to what is normal for 

your skin. 

Be mindful of your skin. Find 

fashionable ways to keep the sun 

off your face and neck and use 

quality sun block on skin areas 

that are constantly exposed to 

the sun. If you are tanning your 

skin for the sake of beauty, take 

note that non-tanned skin is 

more beautiful than scars and 

disfiguration. If you think that you 

may have developed skin cancer, 

see your physician right away. 

Sources: American Cancer 

Society, Cancer Prevention and 

Research Institute of Texas, 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, National Cancer 

Institute 

By Lora Incardona


FITNESS IS A SIDE 

EFFECT OF WELLNESS 

Fitness is a side effect 

of wellness. Wellness 

incorporates proper 

nourishment, exercise, and mental/ 

emotional balance as well. 

The benefits one receives from this 

combination cannot be found in 

any “magic” pill. The best and most 

efficient way to lose and maintain 

consistent weight loss is through 

a balanced and nourishing diet 

combined with 3-5 days of moderate 

exercise. This will take longer, but 

the return will be healthier and 

provide longer-lasting results. 

There are many options available 

now that help make exercise much 

more accessible. With so many 

options available, it is important to 

write down your goal, make it clear, 

and then begin making the changes 

necessary to lead the healthy 

lifestyle that you see yourself in. 

Change can be difficult, and for 

those that are new to the gym, most 

gyms offer one free personal training 

session just to help get you started. 

There are also several great books, 

magazines, and YouTube tutorials for 

novices. 

If you are really pressed for 

time, DVDs and YouTube 

offer great workout routines 

to do at home. The only 

excuses for avoiding 

exercise are the 

ones we make up 

ourselves. 

We are many times the roadblock to 

our own wellness. If that all seems 

a bit too overwhelming, making 

one really small change can help. 

Commit to a brisk 15-minute walk 

in the morning and another walk in 

the evening. If you cannot commit 

to those two 15-minute intervals, 

then ask yourself: what are you a 

slave to that is preventing you from 

dedicating a total of 30 minutes in 

your day to yourself for the sake of 

your wellness? 

Small 

changes can 

and will yield 

long-lasting 

and beneficial 

results. 

I am a mom constantly on the go, but 

I still squeeze in one hour of exercise 

4-5 days out of the week and 

dedicate that to my sanity. Some 

days, I am lucky enough to make 

it to the gym; others, I pull out my 

yoga mat and my favorite DVD, 

and I work out in the morning 

while my twins are still sound 

asleep. (Where there is a will for 

health, there is a way). I exercise 

for sanity, not vanity, and I think 

that is an important goal to hold 

on to. 

On Sundays, I prep my lunches for 

the week. I also plan out our dinners 

for the week; this saves me a ton of 

time! Healthy eating does not have 

to be bland. 

This is one of my favorite simple 

recipes: Turkey burgers: Turkey 

patties Whole grain bread rounds 

Tomatoes Spinach Avocado Sweet 

potato wedges Slice up a sweet 

potato and marinate it in olive oil 

and oregano. Place the slices on a 

baking sheet and sprinkle sea salt 

over them. Bake for about 35-45 

minutes. (Premade sweet potato 

fries are good, too, if you are in a time 

crunch!) 

Allow the goals to be the following: 

Exercise for the maintenance of 

life, not perfection. Use food for 

nourishment. 

Given enough patience, 

dedication, and time, a fit 

and healthy body will be 

the byproduct of the two 

combined. I like to think 

of exercise as an act of 

kindness and self-love 

towards the body. 

Lucille Ball once said, “Love yourself 

first, and everything else falls into 

line. You really have to love yourself 

to get anything done in this world.” 

Thus, I encourage you to enjoy 

yourself, step out of your comfort 

zone, and get to work on some lifechanging 

healthy habits! 

Namaste. 

Sylvia Morales 


HEALTHY 

FOOD 

32. 

34. 

ON THE WATCH FOR YOUR 

NATURAL VITAMINS & 

MINERALS 


CUCUMBERS

ON THE WATCH FOR YOUR NATURAL 

VITAMINS & MINERALS 

Some foods have greater health benefits and properties 

than others, providing us with tons of vitamins and minerals 

that help us to stay healthy. Below are some essential vitamins and 

minerals and the foods that contain them, so that we can begin 

including them in our daily diets. 

VITAMIN D 

The sunshine vitamin. Most people are 

deficient in vitamin D due to their use of 

sunscreen to avoid UV rays and related skin 

problems. Vitamin D, however, is crucial 

to the absorption of calcium in the body, 

maintenance of healthy bones and teeth 

and prevention of osteoporosis. Because 

we don’t get enough from natural sources, 

you may want to consider a vitamin D 

supplement. 

Sources: fatty fish, cod liver oil, egg yolks, 

beef liver and dairy products (that have 

usually been fortified). 

VITAMIN C 

Antioxidants! Vitamin C protects us against 

free radicals that damage our cells, 

helps us resist infection and is a natural 

antihistamine, which is why we use it for 

common cold prevention and relief. It also 

aids in the formation of collagen that is 

needed by our bodies for the development 

of bones and teeth and for wound healing. 

Vitamin C also helps in the absorption of iron 

from plant foods, so if you are a vegetarian 

or vegan, this tip is very handy. 

Sources: oranges, kiwi, berries (all of them!), 

broccoli, tomatoes and bell peppers. 

VITAMIN A 

Vital for vision, and bone and tissue repair. 

Its most important function is helping our 

immune system fight off infections. 

Sources: whole eggs, milk products 

(fortified), beef liver, dark greens, and orange 

and yellow vegetables 

VITAMIN B 

Turns food into energy. There are many 

vitamins in this group, which is related 

to the nervous system, heart, adrenals, 

blood pressure and energy level. They are 

found throughout our food supply, except 

for B12, which is not found in vegetation, 

so vegetarians and vegans may want to 

supplement. 

Sources: meats, green vegetables, dairy, 

poultry, eggs and liver. 

CALCIUM 

Builds strong, healthy bones. Calcium 

supplements have become more popular, 

and more controversial, with time. We 

may consume enough (or at least think 

that we do), but we often do not consume 

the vitamins and minerals that are 

needed to absorb it, i.e., vitamin D and 

magnesium. Overconsumption of calcium 

can cause bone fractures, so if you take 

calcium supplements, it is best to check 

for appropriate vitamin D and magnesium 

levels. If not, the extra calcium alone could 

cause more harm than good. 

Sources: dairy products, dark leafy greens, 

kale, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, mustard 

greens, bok choy, parsley, seaweed, 

watercress, canned fish with edible bones, 

sesame, almonds and tofu. 

MAGNESIUM 

Vital to all body systems. The role of 

magnesium is so diverse that it is difficult 

to find a body system that is not affected 

by magnesium deficiency. Found mainly 

in our bones, it supports nerve and muscle 

functions and our immune system and helps 

control blood sugar levels. Deficiency may 

cause muscle weakness, spasms, headaches, 

weakening of bones and an imbalanced 

blood sugar levels. 

Sources: green leafy vegetables, legumes, 

spinach, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, whole 

grains and cashews. 

SODIUM 

Regulates water and balances electrolytes. It 

also helps in nerve and muscle activity and 

is essential for acid-base balance. Almost 

no one is sodium deficient, as it is found in 

table salt (which we use in excess), canned 

and packaged goods, seaweed and soy 

sauce. The western diet is generally very high 

in sodium, and most of us should consider 

reducing its intake. Too much sodium may 

increase the need for potassium. Try cooking 

with more with spices and start lowering the 

amount of salt in your foods. 

POTASSIUM 

Supports the proper function of all cells, 

tissues and organs in our bodies and 

maintains the correct electrolyte and 

acid-base balance in our systems. It is 

especially important in regulating muscle 

and nerve activity. Maintaining the right 

potassium balance in the body depends on 

the amounts of sodium and magnesium in 

the blood. Keep a diet rich in this mineral to 

counterbalance some of sodium’s harmful 

effects on blood pressure. 

Sources: a wide variety of foods such as 

fresh whole unprocessed foods, vegetables, 

fruits, some meats, dairy, legumes and 

grains. 

These vitamins and minerals are just a few 

that our bodies depend on to stay healthy 

and feel great. The most important thing is to 

eat a wide variety of foods and be conscious 

to consume the vitamins and minerals 

that are harder to get, or too easily over 

consumed. 

By Carolina Martinez

HEALTHY FOOD 


CUCUMBERS 

Originating in India, the cucumbers is a fruit most 

commonly used for salads and snacks. What people may 

not know, is that the fruit may be used for skin-, health-, 

and beauty-care because of its vitamins and minerals. 

For instance, it’s vitamins both C and K, beta carotene, 

and manganese can be used to help skin and hair. 

CUCUMBERS FOR EATING 

While cucumbers are commonly 

eaten throughout the globe, 

many are not fully aware of it’s benefits. 

Cucumbers are 95% water, which 

makes them ideal for hydration and 

cooling. Cucumbers also contain fisetin 

which is a anti-inflammatory flavonoid 

that may be important to your brain’s 

health. Studies have suggested that 

increasing the consumption of plant 

foods like cucumbers decreases the risk 

of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease 

while promoting a healthy complexion, 

causing a increased energy, and overall 

lower weight. Low intake of vitamin K 

has been associated with a higher risk 

for bone fracture. Adequate vitamin K 

consumption can be achieved by eating 

a proper intake of fruits and vegetables 

(one cup of cucumber provides 11 percent 

of your daily needs) and is important 

for improving calcium absorption which 

34 / HEALTHY MIAMI 

is essential for optimal bone health. 

Cucumbers contain polyphenols called 

lignans, which can help to lower your risk 

of breast, uterine ovarian, and prostate 

cancers. Cucumbers are a good source of 

B vitamins. They are also low on calories 

but rich in fiber which makes them great 

for snacking on instead of junk food. 

Cucumbers are even great for dogs and 

cats! 

CUCUMBERS FOR SKIN-CARE 

Cucumbers can also help ease dark circles 

because of the aforementioned cooling 

properties along with the antioxidants 

and silica present in cucumber which 

can help rejuvenate the skin. It can 

also restore and even out your skin 

complexion,as well as being beneficial 

for firming and tightening skin this is 

because of potassium and manganese 

which reside in cucumbers. The juice 

can relieve the oiliness of the skin and in 

turn help rid your skin of blemishes and 

acne. The juice due to it’s large water 

content (95%) can also moisturize your 

skin and could be natural replacement to 

creamers. It also contains antioxidants 

and resolves inflammation on the skin 

smoothly and it can help lighten the 

skin and relieve it from clogged pores 

and excessive oil. Cucumbers are also 

a natural bleaching agent which makes 

them useful for reducing scars and skin 

tan removal. 

CUCUMBERS FOR HAIR 

Because cucumbers are high in silica, 

sulfur, and vitamin A they can help keep 

healthy hair growth and leave you with 

a shiny, silky texture while preventing 

hair loss and hair thinning when the 

juice is applied directly to the scalp 

and hair. A suggestion from Livestrong. 

com is to “Massage the scalp with oil 

extracted from cucumber seeds through 

the process of cold-pressing, which 

preserves the nutritious properties. Some 

hair thinning and loss can be due to 

dryness of the scalp, and the oil contains 

hydrating and restorative nutrients, such 

as tocopherols and phytosterols.” 

HOW ADD CUCUMBERS TO 

YOUR DIET 

Cucumbers can be delicious in salads, 

and sandwiches while being a great snack 

food. 

By Sarah Roach

Healthy Magazine presents our new directory, loaded with local 

restaurants and grocers who have taken the time to cater to 

those looking to form healthier dietary habits. We hope you 

enjoy Healthy Places to Eat. We sure did and look forward to 

expanding so we can continue to better connect our readers with 

healthy lifestyle options in their communities. 

www.healthyplacestoeat.com 

CARROT EXPRESS 

VEGETARIAN, JUICE BARS, 

SMOOTHIES & SANDWICHES 

1755 Alton Road 

Miami Beach, FL 33139 

305.535.1379 

BEEHIVE 

JUICE BAR 

& SMOOTHIES 

6490 Bird Road 


305.663.1300 

GREENG LIFESTYLE 

FRESH FRUIT & VEGGIE BOWLS, 

SMOOTHIES AND JUICE LAB 

@GREENGLIFESTYLE 

222 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 106 

Miami, Florida 33137 

786.300.6545 

NORMAN BROTHERS 

JUICE BAR, SMOOTHIES 

& COFFEE 

7621 SW 87th Ave. 


305.274.9363 

MIAMI SQUEEZE 

VEGETARIAN, PIZZA, SANDWICHES, 

SMOOTHIES & JUICES 

18315 W Dixie Hwy. 


305.935.9544 

EVOS 

BURGERS, WRAPS 

& SALADS 

9537 S Dixie Hwy. 

Pinecrest, FL 33156 

305.740.3433 

HERE COMES THE SUN 

VEGETARIAN, HEALTHY 

& VEGAN 

2188 NE 123rd St. 

North Miami, FL 33181 

PURA VIDA MIAMI 

RAW ORGANIC BOWLS, WRAPS AND 

PITAS, JUICES & SHOTS 

110 Wasington Ave CU2 

Miami Beach Fl, 33139 

754 422 2131 

DELIRIO FRESH CO. 

SALAD, PIZZA, JUICE BAR & 

SMOOTHIES 

2475 NW 95th Ave. Unit 8 


305.499.3304 

THE LAST CARROT 

SANDWICHES, SALADS, 

SMOOTHIES AND JUICES 

3131 Grand Avenue 

Coconut Grove, FL 33133 

305.445.0805

GIARDINO 

GOURMET SALADS 

SALAD, FAST FOOD 

2346 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 

Coral Gables, FL 33134 

305.460.6010 

VEGAN & JUICE 

JUICE BAR & SMOOTHIES, VEGAN & 

VEGETARIAN 

115 SW 107 Ave. 


305.220.3430 

SMALL TEA CO 

TEA, SALADS, WRAPS 

& MORE 

205 Aragon Ave, 


786.401.7189 

BERRIES IN THE GROVE 

AMERICAN BREAKFAST 

& BRUNCH 

2884 SW 27th Ave. 

Coconut Grove, FL 33133 

305.448.2111 

VEGANAROMA 

VEGETARIAN RAW 

& VEGAN DISHES 

3808 SW 8th St. 


305.444.3826 

SMOOTHIE SPOT 

SALAD, VEGAN, JUICE BAR 

& SMOOTHIES 

15708 SW 72nd St. 


305.387.9888 

TEN FRUITS 

JUICE BAR & SMOOTHIES, 

COFFEE & TEA 

143 NE 3rd Ave. 


305.373.7678 

NUTREAT RESTAURANT 

COFFEE & TEA, 

VEGETARIAN 

100 S Biscayne Blvd. #108, 


305.416.7577 

GREEN LIFE CAFE 

VEGAN & VEGETARIAN 

CAFE 

104 Giralda Ave. 


786.409.5592 

THE JUICERY BAR 

HOUSE SMOOTHIES , SIGNATURE 

JUICES, SPECIALTY SHOTS, ACAI BOWLS 

635 Brickell Key Dr 


305.350.2277 

17082 W Dixie Hwy 

North Miami Beach, FL 33160 

786.565.9684 

HEALTHY 

MENU 

VEGETARIAN 

VEGAN 

GLUTEN 

FREE 

NON 

GMO

SEPTEMBER 2016 MIAMI for web

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