Wellness2013

PRESENTS

health care medicine | beauty green living | weight loss nutrition | exercise | and more

SATURDAY JUNE 8 10AM - 4PM at

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Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

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ntents j u n e 2013

We treat all foot conditions including: Ingrown Toenails Ankle Sprains Corns & Callus Removal Bunions • Fungus Hammertoes Diabetic Foot Care Dr. Maria Markiewicz, DPM Dr. Leon T. Watkins, DPW, FACFAS Heel Pain • Injuries Arch Problems Dr. D. Elaine Fulmer, DPM

2520 HARVARD AVE., SUITE 2B METAIRIE, LA 70001 • 504-454-3004 www.gulfsouthfootandankle.com

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

Weekend Appointments & House Calls Available

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at Gambit’s 15th annual Wellness Expo

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Who’s where at the Wellness Expo

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People, products, services and information to help keep you well.

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Demonstrations and presentations at the expo

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Ralph Brennan’s Louisiana citrus poached redfish

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Make what you eat count.

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Peppers that pack a healthful punch.

What’s What

Map

exhibitors

Center stage

the juiCe

superfoods

hot, hot, hot

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

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Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

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Gambit’s 15th annual Wellness Expo at Lakeside Shopping Center offers a one-stop shop for healthy living. | By Missy Wilkinson

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Touro Infirmary is a nonprofit, faith-based community hospital. Founded by Judah Touro in 1852 to provide medical care for German and Irish immigrants, slaves and sailors, the hospital has treated more than 1 million patients and delivered tens of thousands of babies. Touro Infirmary and its partners continue to provide affordable, advanced inpatient and outpatient health care services for patients ranging from infants to senior citizens. There are comprehensive men’s and women’s health services, urgent care, cancer treatments and more. Specialty areas at the 280-bed hospital include the Family Birthing Center, Rehabilitation Center, Diabetes Center, Cancer Center, Wound Care Center and Touro at Home.

Crescent City Physicians, a Touro subsidiary, offers comprehensive medical care at locations throughout Orleans Parish. Its 48 physicians and 167 staff members provide primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, cardiac and vascular care, urology and other medical services.

Touro’s mission is to provide the highest quality, most compassionate health care in the country by exhibiting

values that have yielded accolades and recognition recently from organizations including the American Heart Association and the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

At the expo, Touro Infirmary offers free blood pressure screenings, brief physician consultations and free tote bags. Touro Diabetes Center provides glucose screenings and information about diabetes support services. Staff from the Find A Doctor Service, Rehabiliation Center, Comprehensive Wound Healing Center, Family Birthing Center, Cancer Care, Women’s Imaging Center and Touro at Home will be available to provide more information about their services and programs.

The Family Birthing Center at Touro has delivered more babies than any other single facility in the greater New Orleans area, with more than 3,000 births in 2012. Offering free pregnancy classes, lactation guidance, early parenting advice and more, The Family Birthing Center walks parents through every step of the birthing process. Doctors respect each woman’s delivery choice, whether it is an epidural delivery,

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

rom the nephrons to the neurotransmitters, from the bicuspids to the biceps, the human body is a wondrous set of systems — most of which will need medical care at some point in everyone’s life. The health field is a complex system in itself, and navigating it can be difficult.

To that end, about four dozen exhibitors will assemble at Gambit’s 15th Annual Wellness Expo at Lakeside Shopping Center (3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, www.lakesideshopping.com) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 8, answering questions, sharing information, and offering free screenings and giveaways. It’s a one-stop shop for your health needs.

Whether it’s a new supplement or an osteopenia screening, you may find health resources you’d been looking for and some you didn’t even know you needed.

The exhibitors provide services for people at every point in life, from birth (Touro Family Birthing Center) to death (Canon Hospice). You can see Magnolia Physical Therapy to recover from a sports injury, or get back in the game by training at Elmwood Fitness Center for the Huey P. Long Bridge Run. Get a miniphysical when you donate blood to The Blood Center; get screened for osteoporosis and high glucose levels, relax with a mini massage, enter to win raffles and sample alkaline water, beauty products, diet foods, supplements and more.

If that’s not enough incentive to get proactive about your health, pick up a “Wellness Passport,” have it stamped at six booths and enter it in a drawing for prizes at Center Stage, which include artwork, tickets for the Audubon Zoo/Aquarium of the Americas/ Insectarium and Zephyrs games, gift certificates to restaurants and bars, jewelry and other items.

Presentations at Center Stage include Zumba, Bokwa and martial arts demonstrations, as well as juicer demonstrations and juice sampling and instructions on how to train for a 5-kilometer race. (See p. 15 for a complete schedule.)

The expo is sponsored in part by Touro Infirmary, Canon Hospice, Diagnostic Imaging Services, Elmwood Fitness Center, Evamor Alkaline Water, Huey P. Long Run and Tulane Medical Center. (See a full directory of exhibitors on p. 12.)

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Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

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water birth, drug-free pain management alternatives or a birth assisted by a midwife.

The comfortable birthing facilities include private, family-oriented labor, delivery and postpartum rooms, two nurseries (but a baby also can stay in its mother’s room, if the mother prefers), a newly renovated neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a perinatology clinic for mothers and babies with special needs.

Accredited in multiple subspecialties by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, The Touro Rehabilitation Center offers a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services to improve quality of life for patients who have suffered brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, amputation, congenital deformities, burns, arthritis, neurological disorders and other diagnoses. Specially trained therapists, nurses and physicians provide rehabilitation services including physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy, as well as specialized treatment for traumatically injured patients and those with physical, cognitive and psychological impairments.

Every patient is different, and the physicians at the Touro Diabetes Center recognize this, identifying diabetic patients’ needs and helping them compile the skills and educational resources necessary to properly manage the disease in their day-to-day life and to navigate life changes following a diabetes diagnosis. Offering services and support to both individuals and groups, the Diabetes Center’s educational sessions include an overview of Type 1 and 2 and gestational diabetes, meal planning, weight control, blood glucose monitoring, medication management, exercise benefits and precautions, stress management,

diabetes complications and other topics. Educators are certified through the National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators.

There are also monthly support groups, and a licensed, registered dietitian is available to help with weight control and meal planning.

The recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, Touro Cancer Center’s comprehensive, multidisciplinary program provides care for cancer patients at every step, from diagnosis to survivorship and beyond. The program addresses the whole person by including supportive care (mental, emotional and spiritual support for patients and their families), which allows patients to consult with a cancer navigator nurse, a dietitian, a chaplain and others.

The Touro Imaging Center offers flexible, sameday scheduling, cutting-edge technology and fast results — a convenience that makes the process less stressful — and the Women’s Imaging Center offers all-digital MRIs, bilateral breast MRIs, breast ultrasounds and other advanced methods for cancer detection, to diagnose the disease at its earliest and most treatable state.

Touro’s Find A Doctor physician referral service connects patients with hundreds of internists, OB/GYNs, cardiologists and other specialists in the greater New Orleans area.

Proper home health care can help patients avoid hospitalization. Touro At Home’s team of health care professionals provides intermittent in-home care to patients, under their physicians’ guidance.

Services include skilled nursing, home care aids, physical, occupational and speech therapy, nutritional counseling and medical social services. Specialized programs include infusion therapy, wound care, congestive heart failure treatment, orthopaedic recovery and diabetes management. The program is licensed by the state of Louisiana and was one of 17 home health agencies in the state to receive the 2010 Louisiana Home Health Capstone Quality Award.

Some wounds don’t heal on their own.

Physicians, nurses and clinic support staff at Touro’s Wound Care Center use the latest technology to address chronic wounds including diabetes-related foot or ankle ulcers, post-radiation tissue injury, crush injuries, gangrene and more.

Specialized treatment plans may include bouts of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which involve the patient lying in a pressurized chamber filled with 100 percent oxygen, laboratory studies, X-rays, consultations

for surgical debridement (removal of dead tissue to promote healing), antibiotic therapy, specialty dressings, crutches, wheelchairs and more. To decide on the proper treatment and create a specialized plan for each patient, the wound care team performs a physical exam and takes a patient’s history.

Sourced from a protected aquifer and bottled in Covington, Evamor Artesian Bottled Water has a naturally high (alkaline) pH of 8.8. Diets high in sugar, fat and processed foods cause acid imbalance, and Evamor’s website suggests regular consumption of the alkaline water can help people “keep things in check” without resorting to antacids.

This was verified by a 2012 study by Dr. Jamie Koufman and Dr. Nikki Johnston published in Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, titled “Potential Benefits of pH 8.8 Alkaline Drinking Water as an Adjunct in the Treatment of Reflux Disease,” which found that alkaline water has a therapeutic effect on patients with acid reflux.

Evamor Artesian Bottled Water counts Dr. Mehmet Oz, heart surgeon and Emmywinning host of The Dr. Oz Show, among its supporters. It has partnered with his HealthCorps program, which aims to help teens make healthier food decisions.

Stop by the booth at the expo to pick up a 20-ounce sample.

The Great Huey P. Long Bridge Run, an inaugural 5k race, celebrates the $1.2 billion renovation and widening of the 77-year-old bridge. It’s part of the Louisiana Bridge run series, which also includes the United Way of St. Charles Bridge Run and Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent Connection. The run/walk starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 16. Register at the expo and receive free tickets for raffle

items, which include Newton shoes and a gift certificate to Varsity Sports.

MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and X-rays are sometimes vital to your health, but can be costly. Diagnostic Imaging Services, an independent outpatient medical imaging provider, offers these services, as well as screening and diagnostic mammograms, bone density studies, breast MRI and biopsy, nuclear medicine and other interventional and specialty exams, at prices that are significantly lower than those charged by hospitals, especially for patients with insurance that does not cover their exams or has a high deductible.

At the expo, Diagnostic Imaging Services will offer free heel ultrasound screenings, which checks for preliminary indications of bone weakening, osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Participants also can schedule appointments or get more information about the company.

Part of the Ochsner Health System, Elmwood Fitness Center’s 175,000-square-foot location encompasses a range of fitness offerings, including group exercise classes, yoga, Pilates, racquetball, aquatics, a cafe, senior fitness and gymnastics. Nutritionists, personal trainers and massage therapists offer expert service to members, and there are also weight loss programs and a physiology lab to help track progress and maximize workouts. Kids enjoy special offerings like summer camps, pool-, gymnastic- and obstacle course-themed birthday parties, and there are free two-hour child care sessions for children who are added to the membership plan. Elmwood Fitness will offer information and two-week trial passes at the expo.

Canon Hospice holistically addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients, allowing them to enjoy as much quality of life as possible in their remaining days. In addition to specialized supportive and palliative care for patients, Canon Hospice offers support for their loved ones and can provide services in patient homes, nursing homes or its inpatient unit.

Its 150-mile-radius service area includes the greater New Orleans area, Baton Rouge and Gulfport, Miss.

Patients usually enter hospice in the last six months of life — and typically live longer than those who are not in the care of a hospice, according to a study published by the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management in March 2007, which found hospice patients lived an average of 29 days longer.

Canon Hospice also operates a nonprofit agency, Akula Foundation, which is dedicated to providing hospice services to people who can’t afford them, educating health professionals, granting special requests to patients and providing support groups and other workshops.

Canon Hospice professionals will provide hospice information at the expo.

At Tulane Medical Center, an academic

found at competitive prices at familyowned NOLA Discount Pharmacy.

Vitamin, Bruise Relief, lotion and body wash samples, as well as other giveaways and a $100 raffle, are at its booth.

NOLA Nutrition and Weight Loss Solutions, LLC offers Ideal Protein diet food and weekly consultations to clients.

Visit the expo booth to sample free protein bars and snacks and learn more about how the diet works.

Since 1994, Peoples Health has provided high-quality, affordable health care services to Medicare beneficiaries in southeast Louisiana.

Organo Gold’s roster of coffee and tea products includes organic red and green tea and coffee brewed from Arabica beans, as well as a line of neutraceuticals and personal care products. Participants can sign up at the booth for door prizes.

Offering both inpatient and outpatient appointments, Children’s Hospital is a 247-bed, nonprofit pediatric healthcare facility with more than 400 physicians. It is the only hospital specifically for children in the Gulf South. Stop by its booth for information about the hospital’s services.

American Laser Skincare offers cosmetic laser services ranging from photofacials and hair removal to body contouring and fillers. The center has more than 100 locations nationwide.

Insphere Insurance Solutions offers life, health, Medicare and long-term care insurance for individuals and small businesses. Stop by the booth for more information.

Amerigroup Real Solutions in Healthcare offers health insurance to Medicaid Bayou Health Program customers and serves more than 2.7 million members in 13 states. Its booth offers beat-the-heat and healthy eating tips.

Founded in 1960, The Blood Center is a nonprofit community service organization that provides blood, blood components and plasma derivatives to patients in southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi. It will conduct a blood drive at the expo, and donors receive a T-shirt, mini physical and cholesterol check.

Doctors Imaging offers outpatient imaging services including X-rays, CT and PET scans, MRIs and ultrasounds at prices often less than those charged by hospitals. Visit the booth for more information.

Everybody Weight Loss Studio offers Ideal Protein, a weight-loss program that helps people lose fat and preserve muscle mass by following a diet of sugar- and fat-free prepackaged meals, shakes and snacks. Food samples will be available at the booth.

Gulf South Foot & Ankle provides podiatric services for conditions including bunions, hammer toes, fungus and diabetic issues. Podiatric screenings and foot health information are available at the booth.

Magnolia Physical Therapy provides physical therapy, massages and personal training to optimize your body’s performance or return it to peak physical condition following an injury. Stop by the booth for physical therapy screenings and chair massages from noon to 3 p.m.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications, household items, vitamins, diabetes supplies, cosmetics and food can be

Raul Llanos MD Medical Spa offers a comprehensive approach to total wellness and anti-aging, which includes cosmetic (including fillers, Botox and teeth whitening), psychological (hypnosis, electromagnetic therapy, neurointegration therapy) and hormonal approaches.

Rodan + Fields is a clinical skin care line that includes regimens for aging, sensitive, acne-prone and dull skin, as well as facial tools like a microexfoliator. There will be mini facials and microdermabrasion testing at its booth.

Stand-Up Open MRI Centers of Louisiana offers open MRIs, which feature a front- and top-open design and allow patients to watch movies during the procedure. Pick up brochures and free mousepads and fingernail files at the booth.

Superior Healthcare offers medical and chiropractic care, diagnostic evaluations, spinal therapy and rehabilitation to patients who are experiencing neck and back pain, headaches, compressed discs, arthritis and other problems. Stop by its booth for spinal screenings and more information.

United Healthcare Community Plan offers health care insurance to Medicaid recipients who may not otherwise be able to afford coverage.

At the expo, United Healthcare will offer disease management and healthy eating brochures and free hand sanitizer, lip balm, jar openers and other giveaways.

Upper Cervical Family Chiropractic provides specific chiropractic care to relieve health problems like back and neck pain, sports, auto and work injuries and headaches. At is booth, it will offer a free stress test, postural and nervous center analyses, information and special offers for new patients.

Well, a new spa by Earthsavers Salon & Spa, supports its clients’ overall health with services including acupuncture, lymphatic massage, Reiki, vitamins and supplements and an organic juice bar.

Pick up brochures, sample supplements and free health bars and get a health consultation at the expo.

Other exhibitors at the expo include Naturalizer Shoes, a contemporary line of comfortable women’s footwear; Lakeside Pets, which offers pets including puppies, kittens, fish and hamsters, pet supplies and small dog grooming; Paris Parker Salon, a salon offering facials, nail care, makeup, waxing, hair extensions and deep conditioning treatments; Sunglass Hut, which offers on-trend designer shades featuring total UV protection; and Williams-Sonoma, a purveyor of kitchenware, tabletop accessories, cutlery and tools.

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

medical, teaching and research facility, more than 500 credentialed physicians provide health care services ranging from primary care to complex and specialized treatments.

Tulane Medical Center was founded in 1834 by physicians eager to address regional diseases including malaria and yellow fever, and at the time it was one of only 14 medical schools in the nation. Today, the Tulane Medical Center downtown has 235 beds, and the Tulane-Lakeside Hospital in Metairie has 119 beds, and both uphold Tulane’s mission of providing “the best quality care, education and research through the combined resources of Tulane University Hospital and Clinic and the Tulane School of Medicine,” according to the mission statement on the center’s website.

At the expo, Tulane Medical Center will offer blood pressure screenings, stroke prevention information, car seat safety checks, mammogram appointment scheduling and question-and-answer sessions with doctors about women’s and pediatric health issues.

The National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library, maintains print and electronic health information for consumers, accessible through Medline Plus (www. medlineplus.gov), ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed.gov and other collections. Its booth offers health-related brochures and free pens, note pads and bookmarks.

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Metairie Westbank

Mandeville Slidell

Every three seconds…

Someone needs blood.

It could be you.

Wellness 2008

BOOTH MAP

LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER June 8, 2013

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FREE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE INFO www.nlm.nih.org | 1 (888) FIND-NLM

www.thebloodcenter.org (800) 86-BLOOD

8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894

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Complete Medical Spa Services

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Complete Wellness

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Integrative Medicine

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877. 2 5 2 . 7 977 w w w. a mer i ca n l a s er. co m

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1 American Laser Skincare

17 Louisiana Relay Service

32 Family Birthing Center at Touro

2 Touro Cancer Care Center & Women’s Imaging

18 Williams-Sonoma

33 Touro at Home

3 Touro Rehabilitation Center

19 Touro Infirmary

33A GAP

4 Peoples Health

20 Touro Diabetes Center

5 Amerigroup Real Solutions in Healthcare

21 The Blood Center

6 Naturalizer Shoes

22 Touro’s Doctor Service

7 Tulane Medical Center

23 Lakeside Pets

8 Tulane-Lakeside Hospital

24 NOLA Nutrition and Weight Loss Solutions

9 Elmwood Fitness Center

25 NOLA Discount Pharmacy

10 Sunglass Hut

26 Magnolia Physical Therapy

11 Gulf South Foot and Ankle

27 Upper Cervical Family Chiropractic

43 Raul Llanos MD Medical Spa

12 United Healthcare Community Plan

29 National Library of Medicine

44 Insphere Insurance Solutions

14 Diagnostic Imaging Services

30 Stand-Up Open MRI Centers of Louisiana

45 Everybody Weight Loss Studio

15 Rodan + Fields

31 Comprehensive Wound Healing Center at Touro

46 Doctors Imaging

34 Well 35 Superior Healthcare 36 Canon Hospice 37 Paris Parker 38 Organo Gold 39 Evamor Products 40 Huey P. Long Run 42 Children’s Hospital

1- 800 - 600 - 4441

GAMBIT”S WELLNESS EXPO > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > JUNE 4 > 2013

GAMBIT’S WELLNESS EXPO > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > JUNE 4 > 2013

3749 N. Causeway Blvd. Suite C 504-834-1050 raulllanosmdmedicalspa.com

www.amerigroup.com 11

Exhibitors A compendium of businesses offering information, demonstrations and free samples at the 15th annual Gambit Wellness Expo™

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

Compiled by KandaCe power Graves

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expo. Donors receive a T-shirt, mini physical and cholesterol check.

Canon Hospice 1221 S. Clearview Pkwy., Jefferson, (504) 818-2723; www.canonhospice.com Canon Hospice provides specialized care and help in relieving and preventing suffering for patients who are terminally ill. Services are provided in patients’ homes, in nursing homes and in Canon’s inpatient unit. The business serves people from Baton Rouge to Gulfport, Miss.

More information is available at the booth.

Children’s Hospital 200 Henry Clay Ave., (504) 899-9511; www.chnola.org A comprehensive pediatric health care facility, Children’s Hospital in Uptown New Orleans provides care for children from birth to 21 years old whose medical conditions range from asthma to kidney disease to epilepsy. The staff at the Children’s Hospital booth can answer questions about the facility and its services.

American Laser Skincare 3223 8th St., Metairie, Suite 201, (504) 8870727; www.americanlaser.com One of the largest providers of laser-based skin-care services in the country, American Laser Skincare offers a range of laser hair removal, cellulite reduction and skin-rejuvenation treatments. Skin-care professionals customize treatment programs to achieve the desired results while fitting into a patient’s lifestyle.

Amerigroup Real Solutions in Healthcare 3850 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 600, Metairie, (504) 834-1271; www.amerigroup.com

The managed care organization offers health plans including Medicaid, LaCHIP and the Bayou Health Plan and seeks to help Louisiana families find the services they need to stay healthy. The booth will offer “Ameritips” for beating the heat and healthy eating.

The Blood Center 2609 Canal Blvd., (504) 524-1322 or (800) 862-5663; www.thebloodcenter.org The nonprofit community service organization is dedicated to providing blood and blood components to patients throughout the southern parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Blood Center will conduct a blood drive outside Lakeside Shopping Center during the

Comprehensive Wound Healing Center at Touro 1401 Foucher St., (504) 897-7732; www.touro.com/woundcare A team of specially trained physicians, nurses and clinical support staff can address chronic wound care needs using the latest technology and techniques. The team performs a complete history and physical exam, and then develops a treatment plan that will fill a patient’s needs. Staff members will be at the booth to answer questions.

Diagnostic Imaging Services 925 Avenue G, Marrero, (504) 459-3200; 3437 Prytania St., (504) 883-5353; 4241 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 200, Metairie,

(504) 888-7921; www.disnola.com For 40 years, Diagnostic Imaging Services has provided area residents with outpatient diagnostic imaging including ultrasound, bone density studies, mammograms, MRI, CT and PET scans and more. The company offers free ultrasound heel screenings to check for bone weakening, osteoporosis and osteopenia. You can even schedule an appointment from the booth.

Doctors Imaging 4204 Teuton St., Metairie, (504) 883-8111; www.doctorsimaging.com Outpatient imaging services are available, including X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds and CT and PET scans. The company’s representatives can discuss how to save money by using this nonhospital-affiliated diagnosing center.

Elmwood Fitness Center 1200 S. Clearview Pkwy., Suite 1200; Harahan, (504) 733-1600; www.elmwoodfitness.com This family-oriented fitness center covers a lot of lifestyle bases with workouts that include group exercise, aquatics, senior fitness programs, racquetball, personal training, Pilates, yoga, weight-loss programs, nutrition counseling, kinesiology, gymnastics, summer camps, a pro shop, childcare services and a variety of supplements and vitamins. Get a two-week trial pass to the fitness center when you stop by the booth.

Evamor Products LLC 72072 Hwy. 1077, Covington, (504) 7991024 or (985) 246-2080; www.evamor.com Evamor artesian water is naturally alkaline, with a pH ranging from 8.6 to 9.1 (the exact number is stated on the label) and comes from a protected artesian aquifer. Consuming alkaline

water regularly can help relieve acid and alleviate reflux disease, heartburn and indigestion, improve overall health, complexion and more.

Free samples will be available at the booth.

Everybody Weight Loss Studio 4401 N. I-10 Service Road, Suite 103, Metairie, (504) 287-8558 The medically developed Ideal Protein Weight Loss Protocol is the basis on which professionals at Everybody Weight Loss Studio help their customers lose fat while maintaining muscle.

Stop by the booth for dried food products and chips samples.

Louisiana Relay Service 9107 Bluebonnet Centre Blvd., Baton Rouge, (225) 291-4500; www.hamiltonrelay.com The company provides traditional communication relay services for the state of Louisiana to help citizens with communication disabilities including deafness and problems that impair speech. Products available include text telephone (TTY), voice carry over (VCO), hearing carry over (HCO), speech-to-speech (STS), visually assisted speech-to-speech (VASTS) and more. Ask representatives at the expo booth about any of their products and services.

Magnolia Physical Therapy Family Birthing Center at Touro 1401 Foucher St., (504) 897-8260, www. touro.com/fbc Touro delivered more than 3,000 babies in 2012 — the third-largest number of deliveries for a single facility in the state. The Family Birthing Center offers private labor, delivery and postpartum rooms and specialized care. The center recently expanded its neonatal intensive care unit and perinatology services for high-risk pregnancies and offers prenatal classes, lactation services and more. Enter the raffle at the booth for a chance to win a $50 gift card for the Touro Lactation Boutique.

GAP Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 835-3807; www.gap.com The national clothier offers casual attire for men, women, children and babies, including jeans, T-shirts, tops, skirts, dresses, loungewear, sportswear, maternity clothes and more.

2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 264, (504) 943-8026; 5606 Jefferson Hwy., (504) 7330254; www.magnoliatherapyla.com The practice offers physical therapy, a wide range of massages, home exercise program instruction, personal training, yoga and more.

At the expo, Magnolia will conduct free physical therapy screenings, and from noon to 3 p.m. visitors can get a free chair massage.

National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md., (888) 346-3656; www.nlm.nih.gov Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Library of Medicine offers free access to reliable health information through MedlinePlus (www.medlineplus.gov), NIHSeniorHealth (www.nihseniorhealth.gov), ClinicalTrials.gov and Genetics Home Reference (www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov). Visit the booth for health-related brochures and free pens, notepads and bookmarks.

Naturalizer Shoes Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 849-0650; www.naturalizer.com The shoe store offers comfortable footwear for women in contemporary styles and a range of widths and sizes. Pick up a coupon at the expo booth and receive 10 percent off a purchase in the store. The booth also will offer catalogs of Naturalizer shoes and will display Bzees fitness shoes.

Huey P. Long Run

NOLA Discount Pharmacy

(504) 609-9767; www.hueyprun.com The inaugural 5-kilometer race/walk on Father’s Day over the Huey P. Long Bridge celebrates the recent widening of the historic structure, the first bridge in Louisiana built across the Mississippi River. The race will start in Bridge City on the West Bank (shuttles will be provided) and will finish along Jefferson Highway, where volunteers will hand out free hats to those who complete the course.

4305-B Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, (504) 888-9411; www.nolapharmacy.com The pharmacy offers prescription medication, over-the-counter health care products, household items, greeting cards, groceries, makeup, diabetes supplies, nutritional supplements and hard-to-find items. Enter the raffle at NOLA Discount Pharmacy’s booth for a chance to win $100. The store also will offer samples of vitamins, a bruise relief product, lotion and body wash.

Insphere Insurance Solutions 3445 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 730, Metairie, (504) 319-5925 or (504) 828-5093; www. insphereis.com/ddavid This company helps people find insurance, including health, Medicare, long-term care and more. Insphere works with providers including United Healthcare, Humana, ING and others.

Brochures about the various insurance carriers will be available at the company’s booth.

Lakeside Pets Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 837-7281; www.lakeside-pets.com The store offers pets including dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, parakeets and hermit crabs as well as the supplies needed to feed, clean and entertain them. The shop also offers grooming for small dogs. Get a free tote bag with a purchase from the store. There also will be free samples of Iams products.

Paris Parker Citywide, www.parisparker.com The Paris Parker location at Lakeside Shopping Center (504-846-5256) offers facials, nail care, haircutting and haircoloring services, makeup application, waxing, VOMOR hair extensions, deep-conditioning therapies for hair and scalp and a range of Aveda products.

Get free facial and hair extension consultations at the expo booth.

Peoples Health NOLA Nutrition and Weight Loss Solutions 1539 Metairie Road, Suite B, Metairie, (504) 451-6307; www.nolanutritionweightloss.com The staff here consults with its weight loss clients regularly to provide advice, measure them and weigh them. NOLA Nutrition sells food products for the medically developed Ideal Protein Weight Loss Protocol. Find out more about the diet at the booth, and pick up samples of protein bars and snacks.

Organo Gold (504) 810-5980; www.kellykuchler.organogold.com There’s healthy coffee here and neutraceuticals including grape seed oil and others based on the ganoderma, a genus of polypore mushrooms used extensively in Asian medicines.

Boxes of coffee will be awarded as door prizes at Organo Gold’s booth.

3838 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 2200, Metairie, (504) 849-4500; www.peopleshealth.com Peoples Health has provided its southeast Louisiana customers with Medicare benefits and services since 1994.

microexfoliation tool. At the expo, the company will give away samples and conduct microdermabrasion testing.

Stand-Up Open MRI Centers of Louisiana 4349 Loveland St., Metairie, (504) 934-4000; www.standupmrila.com The Metairie center’s open MRI allows patients to receive a whole-body scan in a nonclaustrophobic setting. The MRI provides a range of diagnostic applications, including weight-bearing, flexion and spine extension MRI studies.

The unit can accommodate patients weighing up to 500 pounds. The booth will have brochures about the services available, as well as free mouse pads and fingernail files.

Sunglass Hut Raul Llanos MD Medical Spa 3749 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite C, Metairie, (504) 834-1050; www.raulllanosmdmedicalspa.com The full-service medical spa offers integrative medicine, wellness therapies, hormonereplacement therapy, neurointegration therapy and electromagnetic therapy.

Rodan + Fields 2908 Clifford Drive, Metairie, (504) 8121908; www.afrancis.myrandf.com Skin-care available here includes dermatological-grade face products and a patent-pending

Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 835-1607; www.sunglasshut.com The store has a range of fashion-forward sunglasses that offer protection from ultraviolet rays. There are polarized and nonpolarized lenses. Brand options include Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Coach, Gucci and Ralph Lauren.

The shop will demonstrate how polarized lenses work, and there will be drawing for a pair of Ralph Lauren Polo sunglasses worth $150.

Ask the attendant at the expo booth for the “bonus promo word” and repeat it in the store to receive $20 off a purchase. page 14

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

2520 Harvard Ave., Suite 2B, Metairie, (504) 454-3004; www.gulfsouthfootandankle.com The full-service podiatry clinic treats all foot and ankle problems, including diabetic conditions, fungal nails, heel pain, ingrown toenails and more. Get a free podiatric screening at the booth.

Gulf South Foot and Ankle

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Superior Healthcare 3501 Severn Ave., Suite 8, Metairie, (504) 662-1097; www.superiorhealthcarellc.com The business offers medical, chiropractic and spinal procedures to treat patients for neck, back and headache pain and help with weight loss, arthritis, rehabilitation and more. Superior also provides diagnostic testing for allergies, nerve problems, range of motion issues, muscle strength and more. It will conduct free spinal screenings for expo visitors.

Touro at Home 1401 Foucher St., (504) 897-8576; www.touro.com/homehealth Touro at Home provides intermittent care to patients in their homes under the direction of the patients’ physicians. A multi-disciplinary team of health care professionals provides services for people recovering from illness or living with chronic diseases or conditions.

Specialized programs are available.

Touro Cancer Care Center & Women’s Imaging 1401 Foucher St., (504) 897-8678; www.touro.com/cancer Touro’s Cancer Program offers award-winning, comprehensive cancer care including diagnosis, treatment and survivor support programs. The staff manning the booth at the expo can discuss cancer prevention, screening and risk factors, as well as free support services for patients and their families.

Touro Diabetes Center

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

3600 Prytania St., Suite 18, (504) 8978813; www.touro.com

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The Touro Diabetes Center has a wideranging program of educational services and support for individuals and groups with diabetes. The center provides diabetic patients with tools to manage their disease, including small group classes and monthly support groups. Touro is offering free glucose screening at its booth, as well as information about its services.

Touro Infirmary 1401 Foucher St., (504) 897-7011; www.touro.com Touro Infirmary is New Orleans’ only community-based, not-for-profit, faith-based hospital. For more than 160 years, Touro has provided advanced, affordable health care for the community. Touro and its affiliates provide expert health services to patients from newborns to seniors, ranging from comprehensive women’s health to urgent care and more. Get a free blood pressure screening and a brief physician consultation at Touro’s booth — and pick up a complimentary tote.

Touro Rehabilitation Center 1401 Foucher St., (504) 897-8565; www.touro.com/rehab The Touro Rehabilitation Center offers a range of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services and has a specially trained staff of therapists, nurses and physicians. Services available include specialized programs for patients with brain and spinal cord injuries; and physical, occupational and speech therapy for people with disabilities, injuries or chronic medical conditions. Staff members will be at the expo booth to answer questions.

Touro’s Find a Doctor Service 1401 Foucher St., (504) 897-7777; www.touro.com/findadoc This service makes it easy for patients to connect with hundreds of doctors and specialists in and around New Orleans. The staff can help find an internist, obstetriciangynecologist, cardiologist or other physician. Staff from Touro and Crescent City Physicians will be at the booth to provide information and referrals.

Tulane Medical Center & Tulane-Lakeside Hospital Tulane Medical Center, 1415 Tulane Ave., (504) 988-5800, www.tulanehealthcare. com; Tulane-Lakeside Hospital, 4700 S. I-10 Service Road W., Metairie, (504) 780-8282, www.tulanehealthcare.com/tulanelakeside The academic medical facility has more than 500 credentialed physicians to provide cutting-edge health care services ranging from primary care to specialized treatment. TulaneLakeside Hospital has about 450 full-time employees and has operated since 1964. At Tulane’s booth, staff members will offer blood pressure screening and information about mammograms, heart health assessment tools, stroke prevention and pediatric issues.

United Healthcare Community Plan 3838 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 3225, Metairie, (504) 849-3566; www.uhc.com United Healthcare Community Plan provides insurance to Medicaid recipients. Plan members also have access to NurseLine, where patients can get advice and information from health professionals; the Healthy First Steps program for mothers and babies; and personal care managers for chronic or longterm illnesses including asthma and diabetes.

At the expo booth pick up a brochure about managing chronic diseases, a healthy eating guide and free items such as hand sanitizer, lip balm, a stress ball and jar opener.

Upper Cervical Family Chiropractic 128 W. Harrison Ave., (504) 488-1800; www.ucfamilychiropractic.com Natural, hands-on health care here focuses on total body wellness. The practice relieves

stress by balancing hormones and detoxifying the body and tailors chiropractic care for patients’ conditions. At its booth, Upper Cervical Family Chiropractic will offer free stress tests, postural and nervous system analyses and discounts on initial visits.

Well Lakeside Shopping Center Annex, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 138, Metairie, (504) 593-6955 or (504) 482-8551; www.wellcompany.com The new store, which opened this month, offers health consultations, acupuncture, cranial massage, lymphatic massage, Reiki, reflexology, aromatherapy massage, an organic blending bar, juicing, a line of vitamins and nutritional supplements and natural bath, body, home and lifestyle products. Stop by Well’s booth for consultations and information, as well as samples of nutritional supplements and health bars.

Williams-Sonoma Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 828-3769; www.williams-sonoma.com The store offers cooking utensils, kitchen appliances and accessories, gourmet foods, tabletop accoutrements, cookbooks and specialty items. Williams-Sonoma staff members will stage a juicing demonstration at Center Stage and will conduct a Vitamix demonstration and give away healthy food samples at its booth.

Center Stage A schedule of demonstrations and presentations at Gambit’s 2013 Wellness Expo™

11 am Dueling juiCerS

Williams-Sonoma representatives demonstrate two different juicing strategies using two different machines. The audience gets to taste samples (while supplies last) and decide which method they prefer.

11:30 am Zum-Zum

Watch dancers demonstrate the popular Latin-inspired cardio tfi ness program Zumba, which incorporates easy-to-follow salsa, merengue and cha-cha moves with interval and resistance training to tone and sculpt the body and burn fat while having fun.

1 Pm rubber banD glam

Hesh Bolno of Touro Wellness Center presents an interactive demonstration of resistance band strength training.

1:30 Pm The arTS of CombaT

Elmwood Fitness Center’s Les Mills conducts a class in Body Combat, a series of aerobic exercises that build cardiovascular tfi ness and stamina while conditioning the muscles and toning the whole body.

2 Pm arTS of CombaT ii

noon Bokwa is a new approach to group exercise that is gaining popularity worldwide. Participants move together to popular music, drawing letters and numbers with their feet — the Bokwa is L, 3, J and K — and performing dozens of other moves that together make up the cardio workout. Best of all, they burn up to 1,200 calories in one workout.

2:30 Pm They’ll Zumba for you

Elmwood Fitness Center demonstrates Zumba, a dance tfi ness program that uses principles of tfi ness intervals training and resistance training to maximize the calories and fat burned while sculpting the body — all by following easy dance steps to a fusion of Latin and international music.

12:30 Pm lifTing anD SiTTing

Magnolia Physical Therapy will demonstrate proper techniques for lifting objects and will discuss ergonomics in the workplace and the benefits of physical therapy.

3 Pm huey P. long run

Learn how to train for the inaugural 5-kilometer Father’s Day race that celebrates the widening of the Huey P. Long Bridge.

HOME OF THE

MINUTE WORKOUT

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

leT’S Do The bokwa

Elmwood Fitness Center’s Les Mills demonstrates Body Combat, an energetic program inspired by a variety of martial arts disciplines.

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e at to li ve

Poached Redfish with Citrus Salsa This protein-rich poached redfish dish from Brennan Restaurant Group showcases local flavors.

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

By Missy Wilkinson

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weet Ponchatoula strawberries, Ruston peaches, New Roads pecans and a bounty of fresh Gulf seafood are just a few reasons why south Louisiana is a delicious place to be a locavore. This month, as part of the third annual Eat Local Challenge, Touro Infirmary and Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group have teamed up to offer cooking demonstrations focusing on light, local fare.

“We got involved … to promote a healthier lifestyle in the community and give everyone the chance to experience something different,” says Liz Cabrera, a dietitian at Touro Infirmary.

At noon on Wednesday, June 19, Touro Infirmary hosts a demonstration by chef Chip Flanagan of Ralph’s on the Park. Flanagan will prepare a poached redfish with fresh peach salsa — and people participating in the Eat Local Challenge will be glad to know its healthy ingredients are all sourced in Louisiana.

“It only has about 500 calories per serving and approximately 39 grams of lean protein, coming from the fish,” Cabrera says. “It also incorporates fresh fruit, so you can sneak some extra fruit into your meal. Dietary guidelines are three to six cups of fruits and vegetables a day, which can be challenging, but incorporating it into the recipe adds flavor, fiber and vitamins.”

Flanagan says he chose a citrus salsa in lieu of a heavier sauce to reduce fat. The cooking method also lowers the dish’s total calories. “Poaching was the best alternative (to grilling, sauteing or broiling) because you do it in a fat-free environment,” Flanagan says. “You just submerge the fish in a bouillon enhanced with fresh vegetables and herbs and cook it at a gentle heat, never boiling. The fish has time to pick up the flavors.”

Flanagan says rich, heavy sauces often mask the flavor of a dish. “Our job as chefs is not to sacrifice flavor,” he says. “You’re actually tasting the food when you do lighter

dishes, and I think that’s great,” he says.

The flavors of the food are especially pronounced when ingredients are sourced locally, from farmers markets or by catching the fish yourself, Cabrera says. “The flavor is better with fresh foods that come from the farm to the table,” she says. “And the farmers market exposes people to (seasonal) fruits and vegetables they may never have thought of trying.”

Flanagan agrees. “People are trying different things (as a result of) making relationships with farmers and fisherman,” he says. “(At the farmers markets,) I’ve seen artichokes from Mississippi, fava beans, English peas in the springtime. … They hear us, and they’re starting to give us more variety. And you’re helping out your local economy on the financial side.”

what &

louiSiana CitRuS PoaChed RedfiSh with fReSh PeaCh SalSa Servings: 1 6 oz. RedfiSh fillet 4 oz. Jazzmen bRown RiCe blend 3 oz. PeaCh SalSa 1 PinCh miCRo gReenS foR gaRniSh 1/4 teaSPoon CReole SeaSoning 2 CuPS CitRuS CouRtbouillion

Season the redfish with the Creole seasoning and poach fish in barely simmering courtbouillion for 8 minutes or until done. Mold the rice in the center of the plate. Top with poached fish and peach salsa.

Garnish with micro greens.

PeaCh and CitRuS SalSa 1/2 PeaCh, Peeled and diCed 1/2 meyeR lemon SuPRemeS, Segmented 4 leaveS CilantRo, Chiffonaded PinCh Salt

PinCh PePPeR 1/2 teaSPoon oRange bloSSom vinegaR

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve.

CitRuS CouRtbouillion 1 gallon wateR 1/2 CuP meyeR lemonS, Peeled 1/2 leek, RinSed and SliCed 4 CloveS gaRliC, SmaShed 1/2 bunCh CilantRo StemS 2 CuPS white wine

Place all ingredients in a pot and simmer for 20 minutes, then drain and place liquid back on the stove until ready to serve.

Jazzmen bRown RiCe blend 1 CuP Jazzmen bRown RiCe 1 Shallot, minCed

how

2 CloveS gaRliC, minCed 1 teaSPoon extRa viRgin olive oil 1 3/4 CuP wateR 1 teaSPoon gingeR, gRated 1/2 CuP mixed PePPeRS, RoaSted, Peeled, deSeeded and diCed Small 1 teaSPoon oRegano, ChoPPed 1/4 CuP meyeR lemon JuiCe

Sweat shallots and garlic with the extra virgin olive oil until they are translucent. Grate ginger into the water.

Add water to the shallots, add salt and bring to a boil.

Stir in rice blend, remove from heat, cover tightly and let steam for 20 minutes. Add rest of the ingredients and stir to combine.

Per serving: calories 521, protein 39g, carbohydrates 53g, total fat 14g, saturated fat 2g, fiber 5g, sodium 559 mg.

EATto lose weight Six super foods that rev up your metabolism

BY AMY PATUREL

C

peanuts daily for 19 weeks, their resting metabolic rate increased by 11 percent — without added exercise.

Peanuts are calorie-dense, so don’t go overboard. Keep a stash around for a quick snack (aim for 1 ounce or about two tablespoons daily), return to your childhood days with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or make pad thai with ground peanuts for a delicious fat-burning dinner.

4 SESAME SEEDS — Research conducted on animals shows that plant chemicals in sesame seeds called lignans enhance fat burning by increasing liver enzymes that break down fat.

“Many studies have found that essential fatty acids and protein increase metabolic rate, and sesame seeds are loaded with both,” says Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, a registered dietician and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. They’re also a rich source of minerals and fiber, she says.

To roast sesame seeds, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spread the seeds evenly on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes until they’re golden brown and fragrant. Sprinkle the roasted seeds on salads, in soups, stir-fried vegetables, chicken and fish. Spread tahini (sesame paste) on celery or bread, and opt for sesame seed buns and bagels over plain ones.

5 YELLOW BELL PEPPERS — About one-third of Americans are deficient in vitamin C, and one yellow bell pepper supplies 341 milligrams — nearly three-and-a-half times the amount in a large orange.

“The body needs vitamin C to produce a molecule called carnitine, which shuttles fat into the muscles where it can be used for energy, boosting metabolism,” Johnston says. Her point was borne out in a study in the Journal of Nutrition, which showed that people with higher levels of vitamin C in their blood had lower body mass index (figured on weight and height) and less body fat.

Raw strips of bell pepper make a satisfying snack with a little hummus, and they add crunch to fish tacos.

Or hollow out a pepper and fill it with tuna salad made with low-fat Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.

6 SMOOTHIES —Sipping one can stoke your fat-burning fires — as long as it contains whey protein powder. New research suggests that this substance triggers satiety hormones, including an

important one called cholecystokinin that sends your brain a “Hey, I’m full” signal. Plus, whey, a protein found in milk, contains the muscle-building amino acid leucine.

“When you’re losing weight, eating whey protein can help reduce the loss of lean muscle mass, which keeps your metabolism revved,” Gerbstadt says.

Mix whey protein powder into smoothies, yogurt and pudding. Add it to the dry ingredients when you’re baking muffins or cookies or stir it into oatmeal before cooking.

— Amy Paturel is a health writer in California and a blogger for SELF.com.

She holds masters degrees in nutrition and public health from Tufts University in Boston.

WATER MAKES YOU SHRINK Want to lose an extra 6.6 pounds a year? Down two glasses of water before a meal.

People who did this in a study at Virginia Tech consumed an average of 75 fewer calories at breakfast than those who didn’t.

“The water acted as a caloriefree appetizer,” says Brenda M. Davy, a dietician and author of the study. “It filled participants’ stomachs, so they reported less hunger just prior to eating.”

Other research suggests that water boosts metabolism because your body has to work to bring the ingested liquid to your core temperature. In one study, people who drank eight to 12 glasses of water a day had higher metabolic rates than those who just consumed four.

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Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

hocolate helps boost your metabolism, but it’s not the only food that aids in melting away inches.

The latest research shows the sweet treat isn’t the only food that can curb your cravings without padding your curves.

While calories are the key to dieting success or failure, certain ingredients can assist in speeding up your slim-down.

“Foods stimulate the body to produce hormones,” says Jonny Bowden, author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth.

“Some of those hormones coax your metabolism into fat-burning mode, and others make it sluggish and more apt to store fat.”

Here are six super foods to stoke your fat-burning engine.

1 DARK CHOCOLATE — A particularly sweet study found that daily consumption of about 1 ounce of dark chocolate reduced the stress hormone cortisol. (Stress has been linked to a sluggish metabolism.) Researchers suspect that compounds in chocolate, such as caffeine and theobromine (an alkaloid from the cacao plant), may be responsible. Another study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that adults who eat chocolate regularly are thinner than those who do not, even though the thinner people consumed more calories and exercised the same amount.

Look for chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa — the darker the better. Pair a square of dark chocolate with a cup of cappuccino for a mid-morning pick-me-up, or stir some dark chocolate chunks into homemade trail mix.

2 EGGS — According to Bowden, eggs are the best protein source on the planet. They contain all nine essential amino acids, which your body needs to build muscle tissue, and if you eat two for breakfast before your workout, building muscle will be a snap. Start your day with scrambled eggs instead of whole-grain waffles or cereal, or get creative and cook an egg in an avocado for a dose of healthy fats. Slice the avocado in half, remove the pit and carve out some space in the center. Crack an egg inside the hole, and bake in a 425-degree oven for a few minutes.

3 PEANUTS — These nuts are filling and naturally curb your hunger.

“Peanuts induce a strong thermic response, which means the process of digesting them actually burns calories,” says dietician Carol Johnston, professor and associate director at the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion at Arizona State University. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that when people consumed 500 calories of

1539 B Metairie Road

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Hot sHots Capsaicin, a chemical found in peppers, can ease pain, relieve allergies, promote heart health and more. | by beth levine

Y

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

ou know that burning sensation you get when you bite into chili, cayenne, habanero or jalapeno peppers? That’s capsaicin, the active component that irritates any tissue with which it comes into contact.

(The amount of inflammation, which can vary from mild to blistering, depends on the capsaicin concentration in the particular chili pepper.) Recent studies have found this chemical may have some great health benefits. Talk with your doctor before using any capsaicin preparations.

They can interfere with ACE inhibitors (medications used for high blood pressure and congestive heart failure), other anti-hypertension drugs, sedatives and theophylline.

The chemical can reduce pain from postherpetic neuralgia (lingering pain following a breakout of shingles), sore muscles, backaches, arthritis pain, sprains and strains. Native Americans rubbed hot peppers on their gums to relieve mouth pain, according to Dr. Christopher Noto, who is completing a fellowship in pain medicine at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine and has conducted a study on high-concentration doses of capsaicin on postherpetic pain.

Capsaicin is a main ingredient in low-dose, over-thecounter topical pain relief patches, and higher doses are

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available with a prescription. When put on the skin, capsaicin binds to nerve receptors involved in the generation of pain, Noto says. “When it is first applied, you get a burning sensation because the receptors are involved in causing pain,” he says. “However, after several applications these neurons go into a desensitized state. If you have repeated applications of low-dose or a single application of a high dose, the nerve endings stop responding to further stimulation.”

Over-the-counter transdermal patches such as Salonpas, Zostrix or Zostrich generally have a 0.057 percent capsaicin solution. To get an effect, it has to be applied several times over a period of days, and results are varied.

Noto and his research team tried an 8 percent prescriptive patch for 60 minutes to battle post-shingles pain and found that 40 percent of patients experienced significant relief for up to three months. Unless a person is allergic to peppers, in which case they should not use capsaicin, there are no side effects other than a possible rash or redness at the patch application site and no drug contraindications; you can use the patch at the same time you take oral medications such as Lyrica.

Capsaicin contains antioxidants, which protect

the body against cell damage. Antioxidants fight free radicals, which may contribute to cancer, vision loss, atherosclerosis and other chronic conditions.

A study by the University of California-Los Angeles Center for Human Nutrition has found that capsaicin may help people lose weight. After eating peppers, people in the study were found to expend much more energy than a control group that didn’t ingest capsaicin.

A capsaicin-based, zinc-free nasal spray, such as Sinol-M, has proved effective in helping with runny, itchy, stuffy noses caused by allergies.

Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted an animal study that suggested capsaicin can help keep your heart in good working order. Capsaicin lowers “bad” cholesterol without affecting “good” cholesterol levels, and it may break down deposits already clogging arteries. It also blocks the activity of a gene that causes arteries to constrict, limiting blood flow to the heart and other organs.

— Beth Levine is a veteran writer whose work has appeared in Woman’s Day, More, Good Housekeeping and more. She won the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon’s 2012 Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence Award.

Gambit’s WELLNEss EXPO > bestofneworleans.com > JUNE 4 > 2013

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