Flourish 07.23.2021

THE PRESS

Your Guide to Health, Beauty & Fitness

THE PRESS

Your Guide to Health, Beauty & Fitness

Photo by Jenna Hards

July 23, 2021

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JULY 23, 2021

Get niche and natural nail care at Jen’s Jewelz K A I T LY N G L E E S O N

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espite the common trend of Left Photo: Jen’s Jewelz can do both manicures and pedicures, and uses natural, vegan materials that look just like regular nail materials. Right Photo: Jen Hirahoka has been licensed for 27 years and has the experience to give clients the designs that they want.

nail care, gels and acrylics, knowledge of how medical

conditions play into the types of nail designs is not widely spread. For Jen Hirahoka, owner of Jen’s Jewelz, her business is all about maintaining a high level of safety and consideration for the status of her clients.

In 2020, many businesses were challenged with heavy lockdown restrictions and needed to adapt to the new way of living. The same thing could be said for Hirahoka, who at that time was working at a brick-and-mortar salon. It was through the pandemic that she would discover her new business: mobile nail care.

“It’s really about the convenience of being in your own home,” Hirahoka said, emphasizing the fact that taking care of one’s nails should be hindered by the ability or lack thereof to go to a salon.

Even more than just convenience, Jen’s Jewelz utilizes a special type of nail care that makes it more unique than your average nail care company.

Photo courtesy of Jen Hirahoka.

“ I don’t work with teenagers or prom girls,” Hirahoka said. “My service is for people who need a gentle touch.” Rather than offering her service to everyone, Jen’s Jewelz works with those who are medically unable to use regular nail care.

According to Hirahoka, she mainly works with “Bioscultpure: a natural, vegan based, breathable gel.”

This gel is a better option for those who have pre-existing medical conditions that prevent them from being able to utilize regular acrylic or gel sets. This specialization in natural nail care allows Jen’s Jewelz to be

an option for cancer patients, diabetics, or elderly individuals that might not have the medical ability to use normal nail services.

“The nail is breathing underneath,” Hirahoka said when she explained the benefits of her biosculpture sets, “which is different from acrylics which suffocate them.”

Aside from medical benefits of biosculpture and natural nail care, the idea of comfortability, safety, and overall health were brought up by the owner.

Hirahoka said that some of the most important aspects are “safety and cleanliness.” Not only was it important to offer a

clean and professional service, but also “making the client feel confident and secure,” she said.

Working through this mobile natural nail care business is not as simple as it might sound, however. Not only is Hirahoka managing her own business and working meticulously to understand and treat each client according to their needs, but she is also studying for a Criminal Justice degree from Los Medanos College as well as taking care of two teenagers. If anyone is interested in using the services of Jen’s Jewelz, contact Hirahoka at jhirahoka@gmail.com.

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Brentwood pediatric dentist emphasizes importance of early oral care for kids JENNA HARDS

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r. Jennifer Sun is on a mission to inspire children in the Bay Area to learn about

and take care of their oral hygiene.

“I was always really nervous at the dentist, and it’s something that I kind of outgrew as I got older and then I started getting interested in dentistry as a profession,”Sun said “In dental school, I kind of realized that my favorite patients to see were the kids. They are just super fun. I’ve worked with kids before, kind of teaching them about, actually having more conservations about science and stuff. And that’s how I got interested in pediatric dentistry.”

Sun hopes to show her patients that taking care of their smile can be a positive experience by communicating with her ON THE COVER: Dr. Jennifer Sun of Alameda Pediatric Dentistry stressed the importance of parents taking their children to the dentist early so that kids can become comfortable with the procedures and people.

Photo by Jenna Hards

From left, Danielle Whyte, Nadira Sidi-Salah, Dr. Jennifer Sun, Norma Poblete and Johanna Oropeza are on hand at Alameda Pediatric Dentistry to take care of all oral hygiene matters for your children. patients and making sure they are comfortable during regular cleanings and procedures.

She is also looking forward to seeing the clinic blossom and caring for this community.

“Every day is different, and you just have to create a customized plan for each patient based off of not only what they need, orally and their oral health, but also just the

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type of person they are and what they’re going to respond to best when you’re talking them through a procedure that is not fun for anyone to go through,” Sun said.

The clinic in Brentwood is an extension of Alameda Pediatric Dentistry and has recently celebrated 50 years of amazing service. The office prides itself on its friendly

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decor filled with murals of animals and an equally as welcoming staff.

“My goal is just to be a great clinician and provide this nice, welcoming, fun environment for kids and keep everyone happy, healthy, instill in them the importance of keeping great oral care into adulthood and the so many benefits to having a healthy smile,” Sun said.

Sun stressed the importance of parents taking their children to the dentist early so that kids can become comfortable with the procedures and people. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child’s first visit should be at their first year or at the eruption of their first tooth. These early precautions can help children avoid being a part of the 28% of 2 to 5-year- olds with cavities already.

“Kids, they’re going through their formative years, they want to just be able to not have to worry about their smile.

There’s so many other things to worry about. Having a beautiful smile is just so important,” Sun said.

To make appointments with Dr. Sun or her staff, please visit their website at alamedapediatricdentist.com or call their Brentwood office at 925- 516-4107.

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Mastering healthy living with Megan Masters K A I T LY N G L E E S O N

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itness is fun until you’re on mile 5, it’s 90 degrees outside, your shirt is slowly becoming one with your back and you’re out of water.

A sentiment that many people hold is that they know fitness is necessary, but not particularly enjoyable.

Understanding this, Oakley resident Megan Masters set out to change people’s attitudes towards fitness and healthy living via protein bars and personal training. The Sweet Green Queen Protein Bar was created by Masters with the intention to make healthy living easier and tastier.

“Always wanted to be healthier,” Masters said in relation to her inspiration for her protein and fitness business.

“I’ve always enjoyed protein bars.”

With a history in fitness, training, modeling and business, Masters developed an understanding for nutrition and sales that significantly aided in her quest to help people enjoy healthy living. She knew that staying healthy required a firm sense of commitment as well as extensive knowledge on nutrition.

“There’s so many different nutrients that go along with making a good physique and taking care of the body,” Masters said, bringing light to the fact that a person’s diet and vitamin intake was one of the most important and also most difficult aspects of healthy living.

When it came to creating the bars and managing the business, Masters hit the ground running.

Through her job at Digger’s Diner, to which she attributed much of the support she had received, Masters was able to develop and launch her protein business.

Photo courtesy of Megan Masters.

Now, Sweet Green Queen Protein Bar is consistently growing in popularity.

“It’s going at a nice steady rate,” Masters said. “It’s always increasing each week.”

The protein bar can currently be found in places such as Health Hut on Chestnut Street in Brentwood. Individuals can also order protein bars through the website, at www. mastersbolt.com, where they can order a single box of 12

for $30 or get a 20% discount for a monthly subscription for deliveries.

“I just want to help women be healthier and have a healthier lifestyle,” said Masters.

When asked what message she wanted people in the community to know, she expressed, “find things within health that you enjoy. Find ways of eating that nourish your body and make you feel good. You should enjoy healthy living.”

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Exercising safely after recovering from COVID-19

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he number of people who

Start with light-intensity exercises, such as walking or yoga, and then gradually introduce more challenging activities, such as brisk walking, swimming or light resistance training.

Each phase should be maintained for at least seven days.People should be mindful of getting out of breath or feeling too fatigued by exercise. If this occurs, move back a phase until exercise feels comfortable.Pay attention to body cues while doing normal daily activities, as these can help determine whether you need to rest.

The University of Colorado Boulder Health and Wellness Services says exercise should not continue if you experience chest pain, difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, abnormal heartbeat, or lightheadedness. Individuals are urged to consult their doctors if these symptoms appear.

Within a few weeks of infection, many people with mild cases of COVID-19 can typically be back to their normal fitness routines, says Anthony S. Lubinsky, clinical associate professor at New York University Grossman School of Medicine.

But slow and steady is the key to getting there. COVID-19 has affected millions of people.

With time and guidance, most people who contracted COVID-19 can return to their pre-illness levels of physical activity.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

have been infected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

is difficult to determine, as millions of people may have had the virus but been asymptomatic.

Even though COVID-19 is widespread and highly contagious, the silver lining is that a very high percentage of people recover from the disease.

WebMD says that recovery rates fluctuate between 97 and 99.75 percent. But COVID-19 can affect various parts of the body and produce long-lasting side effects.

Health experts recommend a slow, phased approach to resuming exercise after recovering from COVID-19. It’s also worth noting that it may take some time to regain pre-illness fitness levels, so individuals are urged to go easy on themselves if they cannot meet certain milestones.

David Salman, a clinical fellow in primary care at the Imperial College London, was the lead author of a report published in the British Medical Journal that aimed to answer questions about returning to exercise.

One of his recommendations is to wait seven days after major symptoms have stopped before beginning to slowly build up physical activity.

Photo courtesy Metro Creative

Health experts recommend a slow, phased approach to resuming exercise after recovering from COVID-19.

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Be wary of skin damage this summer

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Skin damage may be the furthest thing from many people’s minds when they’re planning to spend summer afternoons outdoors. However, the American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that no one is immune from the damage that can be caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun. That includes people with naturally darker skin. According to the ACS, people with light skin are much more likely to suffer from skin damage caused by the sun’s UV rays, and such individuals also are at greater risk for skin cancer. But darker-skinned individuals of all ethnic backgrounds also can suffer from UV-related skin damage.

Fair skin is not the only factor that can make people more vulnerable to skinrelated sun damage or even skin cancer.

The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research report that non-melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most commonly occurring cancer in the world, while melanoma is 19th on that list. Such statistics underscore the importance of recognizing those factors that could increase your risk for sun-related skin damage, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes is one of the risk factors for skin cancer.

The ACS urges all people to be careful in the sun, and people who have any of these risk factors should be especially careful. ♦ A past skin cancer diagnosis ♦ A family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma ♦ The presence of many moles, irregular moles or large moles on your skin ♦ You have freckles and burn before tanning ♦ You have blue or green eyes, or blond, red or light brown hair ♦ You live or vacation at high altitudes, as UV rays are stronger the higher up you are ♦ You live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates ♦ You work indoors all week and then get intense sun exposure on weekends ♦ You spend a lot of time outdoors ♦ You have been diagnosed with certain autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus) ♦ You have certain inherited conditions that increase your risk of skin cancer, such as xeroderma pigmentosum or nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, also known as Gorlin syndrome ♦ You have a medical condition that weakens your immune system, such as infection with HIV ♦ You have had an organ transplant ♦ You take medicines that lower or suppress your immune system ♦ You take medicines that make your skin more sensitive to sunlight Summer is a great time to get outdoors. But it’s imperative that all people, regardless of their skin tones, take steps to protect themselves from sun-related skin damage.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

JULY 23, 2021

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4 common reasons people lose their hair new, healthy hair to replace old hair.

But there may be cause for concern when more than 100 hairs per day are caught in the bristles of a brush or at the bottom of the shower drain.

If a person is suddenly seeing more scalp or if hair feels less thick than it once did, he or she may be losing more hair than is normal, according to Dr. Francesca Fusco. Getting to the root of the problem may take some time, but people can learn about common causes of hair loss to determine what might be the issue.

Stress

The National Institutes of Health reports that long-term or chronic stress puts people at risk for a number of health problems, including hair loss.

A Harvard University study led by Dr. Ya-Chieh Hsu found increased corticosterone levels secreted by adrenal glands that occurred from mild to moderate

Genetics

Both men and women are susceptible to hair loss due to genetics. The American Academy of Dermatology says hair loss is more likely to affect men along the hairline. In women, hair loss is usually concentrated at the crown of the head, especially noticeable at the hair part. There is no way to prevent this type of hair loss, but there are topical treatments that may slow down hair loss and make hair appear fuller longer.

According to the AAD, overconsumption of supplements that contain vitamin A or certain medications may trigger hair loss.

People who are not getting enough protein also may experience unwanted hair loss, as might those who have low iron levels.

Hair loss can be unsettling. Though it’s often natural, certain instances of hair loss should be brought to the attention of a physician.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

Hormones

Hair loss can result from hormonal changes that occur when going on or off hormonal birth control methods or changing products. In addition, pregnancy causes surges in estrogen that cause hair to grow rapidly without falling out. However, after pregnancy, hair patterns return to normal growth cycles and mild to intense hair shedding for a few Photo courtesy Metro Creative months may occur.

Getting to the root of the problem may take some time, but people can learn about common causes of hair loss.

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