HEALTH
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Health
FITNESS CLASS
Island Rock
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Just because Long Island is flat doesn’t mean that you can’t go rock climbing! At Island Rock in Plainview, you can have an adventure and get in shape at the same time. According to General Manager Mark Leventhal, not only is rock climbing an aerobic workout, it also increases strength and flexibility. “In terms of health benefits, it’s a full body workout that you get while doing something extremely fun,” Leventhal says. “It’s going to work almost every single muscle in your body.” Island Rock offers everything from private instruction to safety and technique classes. Leventhal recommends the quickstart package for beginners, which includes a lesson, a day pass to climb once the class is over and harness and shoe rental for $43. (60 Skyline Dr., Plainview. 516-822-7625. IslandRock.net)
New Test to Diagnose Alzheimer’s
HEALTHY SNACK CHICKPEA BLONDIES
This tasty delight from health food blog Chocolate Covered Katie (ChocolateCoveredKatie.com) takes ingredients not usually found in a dessert and turns them into delicious treats that won’t expand your waistline. They’re easy to make and the lack of flour allows the Blondie to be delightfully gooey. Did we mention that one is less than 70 calories and 2 grams of fat? Ingredients: 1 ½ cups of chickpeas (1 can, drained and rinsed); 3 tbs. almond butter; ¾ tsp. baking powder; 1-2 tsps. vanilla extract; 1/8 tsp. baking soda; ¾ cup brown sugar; 1 tb. unsweetened applesauce; ¼ cup ground flax; and 2 ¼ tsps. cinnamon. Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients until the mixture is very smooth and scoop into a greased 8x8 pan. Bake for 35-40 mins. The Blondies should look a little undercooked when you take them out, they’ll firm up as they cool.
Dry Brushing is one of the healthiest ways to start your day.
With a long-handled natural bristle brush, starting at your feet, begin brushing your skin upwards, always towards your heart, moving up your body and arms (don’t dry brush your face!). Not only will you get rid of dead skin cells, dry brushing also stimulates your circulation and lymph flow to decrease bloating.
Fitness fashion RUN: SWIFTLY TECH LONG SLEEVE BY LULULEMON ATHLETICA This light shirt is perfect for cool weather runs! The convenient thumbholes keep sleeves down and hands warm while the seamless silverescent fabric has anti-odor, moisture-wicking properties to keep you feeling fresh after your workout. “We designed this run top to be our constant companion whenever we lace up our sneakers,” says Amanda Casgar of Lululemon Athleta. “We made the body seamless to keep us comfortable when we get super sweaty on long runs and designed it to be lightweight so it’s easy to carry when we need to strip down.” ($68, Lululemon.com)
Spatlight
Until recently, the only way to conclusively diagnose Alzheimer’s disease was by an autopsy. A new test has been approved to help in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. The test uses Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) in combination with a new drug called Florbetapir in order to identify a certain type of plaque (amyloid) in the brain. The presence of many amyloid plaques is an indication of Alzheimer’s disease, along with dementia. How does the test work? It is used only for patients who are showing signs of cognitive decline (the inability to remember or understand things) and are being evaluated for Alzheimer’s disease. Florbetapir is a radioactive agent which is administered intravenously. It attaches to amyloid plaques in the brain and makes them appear visible during a PET scan. If the scan shows few amyloid plaques, then Alzheimer’s is less likely to be the cause of the patient’s cognitive problems. However, if the scan shows many plaques, then it can indicate Alzheimer’s disease. If a patient does have Alzheimer’s, the earlier it is diagnosed the sooner treatment can begin. Since treatment has been shown to slow the progression of the disease, an early diagnosis may result in an improved quality of life.
Mayan-themed spa at Spa Adriana
Culturally themed spas are the new trend of 2013 and Spa Adriana’s Mayan-themed treatments are as authentic as it gets. “We decided on the Mayan spa experience because of the culture of the Mayans, the history of herbal and organic supplements and the use of plants in product,” owner John Vater says. For the past 26 years Vater has visited the Yucatan, where he meets with shamans, healers, herbalists and archeologists. Those same archeologists came to Huntington to work on the decor of the spa. “Even the stucco here was done in the traditional Mayan way and tints that were used were not paints or synthetically produced dyes but the same type of plant dyes used to paint murals in the Mayan culture,” Vater adds. Treatments like the MayaSpa Journey and the MayaSpa Signature Experience use the same holistic and balancing treatments that the shamans and healers in the Yucatan do. for balance and grounding. (266 Main St., Huntington, SpaAdriana.com)
40 MILIEU Exclusively for Long Island Women
milieuli.com
March 2013