ventura blvd health
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
OURVENTURABLVD.COM
DISPLAY UNTIL OCTOBER 2016
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JOANNA HAYES
Competitive
Edge
1
HHydrogen
3
LiLithium
11
NaSodium
19
KPotassium
37
RbRubidium
55
CsCesium
87
FrFrancium
4
BeBeryllium
12
MgMagnesium
20
CaCalcium
38
SrStrontium
56
BaBarium
88
RaRadium
21
ScScandium
39
YYttrium
71
LuLutetium
103
LrLawrencium
22
TiTitanium
40
ZrZirconium
72
HfHafnium
104
RfRutherfordium
23
VVanadium
41
NbNiobium
73
TaTantalum
105
DbDubnium
24
CrChromium
42
MoMolybdenum
74
WTungsten
106
SgSeaborgium
25
MnManganese
43
TcTechnetium
75
ReRhenium
107
BhBohrium
26
FeIron
44
RuRuthenium
76
OsOsmium
108
HsHassium
27
CoCobalt
45
RhRhodium
77
IrIridium
109
MtMeitnerium
28
NiNickel
46
PdPalladium
78
PtPlatinum
110
DsDarmstadtium
29
CuCopper
47
AgSilver
79
AuGold
111
RgRoentgenium
30
ZnZinc
48
CdCadmium
80
HgMercury
112
CnCopernicium
31
GaGallium
49
InIndium
81
TiThallium
113
UutUnuntrium
32
GeGermanium
50
SnTin
82
PbLead
114
FiFlerovium
33
AsArsenic
51
SbAntimony
83
BiBismuth
115
UupUnunpentium
34
SeSelenium
52
TeTellurium
84
PoPolonium
11
LvLivermorium
35
BrBromine
53
IIodine
85
AtAstatine
117
UusUnunseptium
36
KrKrypton
54
XeXenon
86
RnRadon
118
UuoUnunoctium
9
FFluorine
17
CIChlorine
10
NeNeon
18
ArArgon
7
NNitrogen
15
PPhosphorus
8
OOxygen
16
SSulfur
5
BBoron
13
AiAluminum
6
CCarbon
14
SiSilicon
2
HeHelium
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4 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
I’ve always been a pretty healthy person—but in
recent years, I’ve tried to up my game. Exercise is daily
but moderate; if it hurts, I don’t do it. I take my cue
from my grandmother who lived to be 96. She never
suffered injury, walked a brisk mile well into her 90s and
throughout her life looked a good 20 years younger than
her age. The “upping my game” alludes more to what I eat.
Like Dr. Mark Hyman’s new book, Eat Fat, Get Thin, sug-
gests (profiled on page 26), I believe in eating “good” fat,
and I stick to mostly fresh vegetables, grains and grilled
or broiled fish or meat. Still—there are some things I really
enjoy that I won’t give up: an occasional bowl of pasta and
great cheese. It is about culling the latest philosophies and
methodologies and choosing the ones that work for me.
And that is what this first issue of Ventura Blvd Health is
about: offering tips, strategies and insight for how you can
live the healthiest life possible. In this magazine, you’ll meet
some of the most toned, energetic people in the Valley.
Take CSUN’s power couple, Jason and Tairia Flowers, for
example (“Flower Power,” page 30). Both former competi-
tive athletes, they still live and breathe fitness. In “Competi-
tive Edge” (page 12), discover an LA Galaxy player, a couple
of Olympic medalists and a muscular but super-feminine
bikini competitor—all of whom are at the top of their game.
They spill the beans on everything from workouts to diets.
Maybe one of them or a professional from the Profiles
section (page 38) will inspire you to step it up this year.
Maybe it is a fresh approach to a physical challenge or a
progressive workout that is life-changing. Tons of possibili-
ties—all in this issue.
—Linda Grasso, Editor
EDITORIAL DIRECTORDarren Elms
EDITORLinda Grasso
ART DIRECTORMichelle Villas
GRAPHIC DESIGNERChristine Georgiades
COPY EDITORSPeggy Jo AbrahamLaura Watts
CONTRIBUTORSNicole Gregory, Mary Herne, Kara Mickelson, Anne M. Russell, Susan Spillman
PHOTOGRAPHERSMatthew Cooke, Iker Gutierrez, Shane O’Donnell, Lauren Pressey, Lu Tapp
GROUP PUBLISHER Jared Sayers
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Mia L. Pierre-Jacques, [email protected]
ADVERTISINGDerek Poole, [email protected]
Robin Sanders, [email protected]
Dale Tiffany, [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF DIGITALCharles Simmons
MARKETING MANAGER Rachel Gotko
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERDanielle Price
OPERATIONS MANAGERAllison Jeackjuntra
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CONSULTANTKarina Aguiar
No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Moon Tide Media, LLC. Any and all submissions to this or any Moon Tide Media, LLC publication become the property of Moon Tide Media, LLC and may be used in any media. We reserve the right to edit.
TO OUR READERS Ventura Blvd Health magazine welcomes your feedback and reaction to our magazine and stories. Please send your letters to: Reader Response Department, VB Health Magazine, PO Box 3760, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Please include your name and address and email address in case we need to contact you. Letters may be published. We reserve the right to edit.
200 Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110, El Segundo, CA 90245Tel 310-376-7800 • Fax 310-376-0200MoonTideMedia.com OurVenturaBlvd.com
CHARLES C. KOONESManaging Partner
TODD KLAWINManaging Partner
SOME OF THE FINEST NEUROSURGICAL CARE IS RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD.
World renown neurosurgeon Dr. Sun H. Lee, MD, PhD
THINK ABOUT IT.
From Seoul, Korea to the fi nest medical schools in the U.S., the distinguished journey of Dr. Sun Lee has lead him to Providence Saint Joseph and the Hycy & Howard Hill Neuroscience Institute. With over 4000 complex brain and spine surgeries, Dr. Lee’s experience gives our patients confi dence in optimal surgical outcomes. And he is one more reason Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center is ranked by Healthgrades as one of the top 5% of hospitals in America.
501 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91505 1-888-HEALING | providence.org/saintjoseph
6 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
inside8 Dermatologist Jeffrey Ashley
on Protecting Skin
10 Botanical Oils
12 Competitive Edge: Accomplished Athletes
18 Yoga Poses for the Office
19 Fighting MS on a Bike
20 8 Must-Eat Foods
22 State-of-the-Art Cancer Fighters
26 Progressive Reads
27 The Pool Workout
28 Fashion and the Fitbit
30 CSUN Coaches Jason and Tairia Flowers
35 Blue Lagoon Spa
66 Salad Bar in a Jar
HEALTH CARE RESOURCE GUIDE38 The Top Health Care
Professionals & Wellness Leaders in the Valley
12
30
35COVER PHOTOGRAPHED BY
SHANE O’DONNELL
Facial Analysis... The Art & Science of Natural Beauty
Doctor, I just feel like my face is starting to look tired and I want to do something about it, but I am afraid to look like
those women with big lips and cheeks, you know, like the ones on the “Housewives” TV shows. I came to see you because you treated my friend who looks great, you can’t tell that she has had anything done, she looks natural!”
Natural facial rejuvenation demands natural artistic vision creating proportions, light, shadows, and highlights that are pleasing. When we look at others or ourselves, our brains are wired to analyze the proportions of a face in milliseconds, the blink of an eye! If those proportions are off we immediately conclude that the face “looks funny and unnatural.”
Over 500 years ago Leonardo da Vinci defined the proper proportions of the face. There is a “Divine Ratio” that defines beauty.
Da Vinci found that a simple mathematic ratio of 1 to 1.618 was found both in nature, exquisite architecture, and in beautiful faces. Did you know that, as your face ages the distance between the inner corners of your eyes never changes? By using that distance, the rest of the features of the face can be restored to beautiful youthful natural proportions. For instance, the width of your lower lip should be equal to the distance between your eyes. Your lower lip height should be 1.618 times larger than your upper lip height.
More than lines or wrinkles, “sagging” is the “4 letter” word of the dreaded consequences of aging. From age 25 on, our facial bones lose volume resulting in less support of the overlying skin and soft tissues. Fortunately today we have the tools on our “painter’s palate” to restore our patient’s natural divine facial ratios.
At your initial consultation, we ask you to bring a photo of yourself when you were 25-30 years old. We analyze your face with artistic vision and then give you a “blueprint” for rejuvenation. Fillers, neurotoxins, non-invasive devices, skin care products, and surgery are the tools that we use to rejuvenate faces of all ages for both men and women.
“Doctor, what is the cost of your treatment?” Our patients come to our practice for a great natural result. You do not pay for “a syringe of filler, or units of Botox”, but rather for the extensive training, skill, expertise, care, and artistic vision and natural results provided by Dr. Persky and Dr. Sunder. We are grateful as facial plastic surgeons for the privilege of helping our patients achieve their aesthetic goals. We look forward to meeting you at the time of your complimentary facial analysis.
“
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci
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CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY FACIAL ANALYSIS
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8 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
SPF recommendations are always changing. Is 15 okay? Or is SPF 50 better?A major problem is that the
average person only applies
about one-third of the “stan-
dard amount” of sunscreen. As
a result they only achieve one-
third of the SPF on the product
label. Some people apply as
little as one-10th of the stan-
dard dose! Using a product
In addition to treating patients as a staff dermatologist at Providence Saint Joseph Medical
Center in Burbank, Dr. Jeff Ashley is focused on boosting awareness about the health hazards of
sun exposure. The dermatologist is president of Sun Safety for Kids, a nonprofit organization that
aims to promote sun protection for children. Here he offers advice on the best ways to block the
sun, apply sunscreen and evaluate products.
Skin DeepDermatologist and skin cancer prevention advocate Jeffrey Ashley, MD, on the most innovative ways to protect our skin
ILLUSTRATED BY CHRISTINE GEORGIADES
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 9
with a high SPF will compen-
sate somewhat for underdos-
ing, but it’s still critical to apply
sunscreen evenly. There is no
significant risk of using too high
of an SPF, but you can easily
get burned by only putting on a
thin film of SPF 15.
How much in advance of going outdoors should sunscreen be applied? And do the “waterproof” ones really stay on?Sunscreen is effective
immediately after application.
Products are not “water-
proof” but only water-resis-
tant up to the time labeled on
the bottle. Water-resistance is
based on sitting in water. With
activity, such as swimming,
some sunscreen will come
off. Frequent reapplication is
advisable. Also, rash guard-
style swim shirts are more
effective than sunscreen.
Do you recommend getting a sunscreen with zinc? It is a bummer to be all chalky. Zinc, as it is used in today’s
sunscreens, is almost always
micronized so it doesn’t
appear white. Consumer
Reports magazine, in their
2015 review of sunscreens,
found that none of the
tested zinc sunscreens were
as effective as those with
organic (chemical) UV filters.
Zinc sunscreens are useful for
anyone who becomes allergic
to one of the chemical filters,
but some people are con-
cerned about the zinc being
present as nanoparticles.
What is the best product to soothe a bad burn?A cold compress, a bath in
colloidal oatmeal and aloe
vera are remedies that some
people find helpful. Aspirin,
taken according to direc-
tions, may reduce discomfort
somewhat. A severe burn
should be evaluated by a phy-
sician or urgent care center.
A little sun is good–right? We need vitamin D. Vitamin D is extremely
important! There is too little
in the average American diet
to meet the body’s needs.
The UV rays that induce the
skin to manufacture vitamin D
are the exact same rays that
cause skin cancer. I strongly
advise against any intentional
sun exposure (because it’s
a carcinogen) when we can
safely take an oral vitamin
supplement instead.
I understand most melanomas result from bad sunburns in childhood.Sunburns during childhood
are definitely associated with
an increased risk of develop-
ing melanoma later in life.
Children must be made aware
of the damaging effect of the
sun’s invisible UV rays and
taught how to protect their
skin. Parents and school per-
sonnel must lead by example.
Where are most melano-mas located on the body?
The vast majority of melano-
mas are caused by sun dam-
age, but some are random.
They can pop up anywhere
on the skin surface. Everyone
should conduct a thorough
skin self-exam on the first
day of each month, being
sure to include the back and
backs of the legs. If a new,
enlarging or otherwise suspi-
cious mole is found, consult
a dermatologist as soon as
possible. When melanoma
is caught early it’s nearly
always curable. A major
problem is that the average
man does not check his back
and because melanoma
usually has no symptoms it
can become life-threatening
before it’s discovered.
Should we pay extra for sunscreens that are paraben- and chemical-free? No.
What else can we Valley dwellers do to protect our skin over a lifetime of sun exposure?Everyone should become
familiar with and follow the
UV Index. Like a weather
report, it’s a forecast of how
intense the UV radiation will
be on a given day. Download
the UV Index app to your
smartphone. The higher
the number, the faster your
skin will sustain damage.
And give more thought to
what you wear. Clothing is
almost always better than
sunscreen that comes in a
bottle. Wear a big hat and
cover up. n
Blockers & The Beach
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 60This was Consumer Reports’ highest-
rated sunscreen for 2015. $36 for a
5-ounce bottle; available at Target
and CVS.
Rash guardCover your upper body with this SPF
50 Lycra shirt. From $29.99; available
at Val Surf in Studio City.
SunbibFounded by two Valley women,
Tamara Wynn and Kelly Weiss, these
sunbibs and sunsleeves are UPF 50.
From $19.95; available on amazon.
com and sunbib.com.
10 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
Striking OilDitch the pricey cosmetics and embrace the natural antiaging
and skin-enhancing properties of botanical oils.
EVENING PRIMROSE Omega-6 fatty acid promotes skin
elasticity. Helps with eczema, psoria-
sis and dermatitis. Lessens redness
and firms up skin.
ROSE HIP Vitamins C and A stimu-
late collagen produc-
tion and help reduce
fine lines. Improves
skin tone, texture and
pigmentation. Effective
moisturizer.
CALENDULA Derived from the marigold flower.
Great anti-inflammatory. Helps
heal acne, soothe rashes and
eczema. Terrific skin softener.
Makeup artists have been using plant- and
flower-based face oils for years, but they really
got popular when former model and stylist
Linda Rodin developed Rodin Olio Lusso and
turned it into a multimillion dollar business. Copycat
products, touting health and beauty benefits, flooded the
market. Rodin’s oil, priced at $170 for 1 fluid ounce, isn’t for
everyone. Here we offer the skinny on some of the ingredi-
ents in Rodin’s product. Get the oil that meets your skin’s
needs or buy a bunch and create a custom formula.
NEROLIDerived from the flowers of the
bitter orange tree. The vitamin
C regenerates and makes
skin glow, improves elasticity,
reduces the appearance of
stretch marks and scars, and
helps fight acne.
JASMINEWorks as an antiseptic. Helps
fade scars and treat eczema,
dermatitis and dry skin.
Intoxicating fragrance (used in
Chanel No. 5).
SUNFLOWERExtracted from the seeds and flower of the
sunflower plant. Excellent moisturizer that is
high in vitamins E, A, C and D. The vitamins,
fatty acids and antioxidants help regenerate
skin. Great eye cream.
ARNICA MONTANA From an herb belonging to the
sunflower family. Helps soothe and
renew skin and reduces inflammation
as well as under-eye puffiness.
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12 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
COMPETITIVE EDGE
STAYING FIT IS A LIFELONG PASSION FOR MANY ACCOMPLISHED ATHLETES. FROM AN OLYMPIC MEDALIST TO A SOCCER STAR, MEET FOUR WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE THRILL OF VICTORY AND REMAIN AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE O’DONNELL
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 13
RAFA GARCIA27, RESEDAEDGETwo-time MLS Cup winner for the LA
Galaxy, making 21 appearances for
the club.
CURRENT GIGProfessional soccer player for the
LA Galaxy.
FITNESS PHILOSOPHYThere is no shortcut to success. You
get what you put in. Simple as that.
EXERCISE ROUTINESoccer practice for an hour followed
by strength and conditioning for an
hour. Foam rolling and an ice bath at
the end of the day.
DIETI try to have three balanced meals
daily with about 3,000 total calories
daily. I try to stay away from red meat
and focus more on fish.
SECRET WEAPONThe secret to success? Always be the
hardest worker in the room. And a little
2Pac [Tupac Shakur] doesn’t hurt.
EDGE
14 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
RON SKARIN64, VAN NUYSEDGECompeted in the 1972 and 1976
Olympic Games and 1975 Pan Ameri-
can Games (gold medal winner as
team cyclist). Broke more than 20
national cycling records and won 10
national championships.
CURRENT GIGRon, a retired building inspector, is
a speaker for the Ready, Set, Gold!
program that encourages students
to excel on physical fitness tests, eat
healthy and stay active. He is also
an ambassador for LA 24, which
aims to bring the Olympics back to
Los Angeles.
FITNESS PHILOSOPHYI used to push myself to exhaustion,
but now I go just to 85%. I still like to
feel the burn—but no pain.
EXERCISE ROUTINEI try to do cardio at least every other
day. I’ll do a 10-minute, warm-up
spin, and then I pump iron. Like most
cyclists, I have less definition in the
upper body and need to focus there.
DIETI eat as balanced a diet as I can. I limit
desserts and try to focus on veggies
rather than protein. For protein, I love fish.
SECRET WEAPONI never give up. I pace myself to finish
what I start.
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 15
JOANNA HAYES39, VALLEY VILLAGEEDGEGold medalist, 100 meter hurdles,
2004 Olympic Games.
CURRENT GIGAssistant coach, women’s sprints and
hurdles, UCLA.
FITNESS PHILOSOPHYI am all or nothing. Go hard or go
home. I have to be smarter now
because I am older, and I don’t want to
get hurt. But I like pushing myself.
EXERCISE ROUTINEWith two little girls and working, I’m
pretty busy. So right now mostly my
exercise is “on the job.” I do a lot of
walking at the UCLA track. But that is
going to change soon. I plan to carve
out some training time for myself
because I’d like to compete in the Mas-
ters [competition for track].
DIETI try to focus on leafy green vegetables.
If I’m craving a starch or carbs, I’ll do
a yam instead of potatoes. I have a
sweet tooth, but I’ve really backed off
sugar. My one rule breaker is coffee
with cream and vanilla powder. I love it.
SECRET WEAPONStairs and hills. They are great for a
full-body workout.
16 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
TONI GRAFTON34, VAN NUYSEDGEBikini fitness competitor. Among the top
five finalists in the National Physique
Committee/IFBB Competition, in which
women must have between 13% and
15% body fat and are judged on lean
muscle proportion and stage presence.
CURRENT GIGTrainer at Novo Body in Encino and at
Total Woman in Studio City.
FITNESS PHILOSOPHYNo matter how I am feeling on any
given day, I always give 100%.
EXERCISE ROUTINEI work out six to seven days a week. I set
goals and try to lift as heavy as I can. It’s
legs on some days and upper body on
others. I’m always sore afterwards.
DIETSo much dairy is toxic, so I try to
limit that. I drink almond milk. I eat a
lot—1,600 calories a day. Typically I’ll
have oatmeal in the morning, almonds
for a snack and salad for lunch. Din-
ner is always protein and veggies and
sometimes white rice.
SECRET WEAPONSuper King in Van Nuys. Their produce
section is huge and open (instead of
cramped with tiny aisles), and you can get
everything quickly and easily. I get tons of
produce there for building my salads.
The Destination For Valley Foodies.
SIGN UP & EAT WELLOURVENTURABLVD.COM
Straight to the source to reveal Val ley
food trends!
18 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
1. SPINAL TWISTRejuvenates the spine and is good for the diges-
tive system.
HOW-TO: With one leg crossed over the other,
tuck knee into side of armpit. Lift spine up out
of hips and rotate.
2. PUPPY DOGA full-body stretch that engages the shoulders,
spine and hamstrings.
HOW-TO: This is essentially a half-downward
dog. Place hands firmly on chair and bend over
with legs straight and back flat. Pull navel up.
3. SUPPORTED WARRIOR POSEStretches the entire body, realigns the hips and
gives you energy.
HOW-TO: With one leg up on chair, lunge
forward to stretch the back hip flexor. Spread
fingers for an energy rush.
4. TRIANGLE POSEGreat for lower back relief, hamstring stretch
and releasing tension on the spine.
HOW-TO: Spread legs with feet flat on ground
and pointed straight ahead. With arms stacked
straight, rotate until fingertips of one hand
touch the ground. Pull up thigh muscles and
rotate front thigh outward. n
For more with Claire, go to risinglotusyoga.com or
check out her podcasts at clairehartleyyoga.com.
Desk Warriors Is working at a computer all day causing you pain? Let Claire Hartley, owner of Rising Lotus Yoga, show you how to go from a stiff neck to full flexibility. Namaste.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY LU TAPP
Anyone whose job involves a computer knows the feeling. You are typing away and
suddenly a paralyzing pain or a sharp pinch hits you in the neck or back. Whether
at the office or at home, this is the time to step back from your desk and nurture
your body with restorative yoga. Here are four poses that will bring you relief. Hold
each of them for five slow, deep breaths before switching sides and repeating.
1 3
2 4
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 19
Steph Schuman uses her bicycle to fight multiple sclerosis
(MS) in two different but effective ways. Diagnosed with MS
21 years ago, Steph relies on fitness from her road cycling to
help control the disease’s troubling symptoms. And she’s a
top fundraiser with the cycling team that raised more money than any
other at last year’s Bike MS: Coastal Challenge event.
Her 56-rider, Team NOW, brought in an astonishing $108,000 in
donations for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Team NOW, which
stands for “No Opportunity Wasted,” is led by Amazing Race host Phil
Keoghan and his wife, Louise. The two-day event covered 150 miles from
Santa Monica to Santa Barbara last fall. Even more impressive is Steph’s
own personal lifetime fundraising total—a whopping $30,000.
The 46-year-old started participating in the Bike MS charity rides in
2008. She began with a team sponsored by her employer, Chatsworth-
based Pharmavite. Three years ago, she moved to Phil’s Team NOW.
Today Steph is the MS NOW team’s captain.
The Valley native was just 24 when she was diagnosed with the most
common form of MS, known as “relapsing-remitting” for its habit of com-
ing and going, causing periodic symptoms ranging from numbness and
tingling to problems with vision, coordination and cognition. In its other
forms the disease progresses steadily, but Steph says her type of MS is
“the ‘easiest’ one, for what that’s worth.”
Initially it took two months to get her diagnosis. “I had some weird
symptoms with my vision and weakness in my legs. They thought I had
vertigo,” she explains. When a neurologist finally told her she had an
autoimmune disease of the central nervous system with a cause that is
unknown and for which there is no cure, she was “devastated.”
Since then, however, Steph has learned a lot about the disease and fig-
ured out how to manage it. “I’m pretty good about taking care of myself,”
she says. “I find exercise and keeping active helps. But if I’m tired, I know I
need to rest. I know now when to stop; it’s taken me a long time to learn.”
Because of the knowledge she’s gained with time, Steph is now an
informal mentor to others who are just starting their battle with MS.
“People ask me questions for newly diagnosed friends and family mem-
bers,” she says. “Since I have been living with MS for 21 years now and stay
relatively healthy, they look to me for guidance.” n
Let’s Roll!Steph Schuman channels her love of cycling into a fundraising tool for the fight against multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease she has battled for two decades.
WRITTEN BY ANNE M. RUSSELL
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE O’DONNELL
20 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
GREATEssential and optimal intake for
the healthiest body possible
WRITTEN BY KARA MICKELSON
You’ve heard it before: “You are what you eat.”
I confess. I like a reminder or two. Who wouldn’t want life to
be simplified into small, pithy statements or declarations dot-
ting your computer screen or refrigerator door?
However, the power of simplified messages is not the part reminding
you to do something but the action that brings results. When it comes to
your health and body, countless books, articles and TV shows are devoted
to getting you pointed in the right direction. Why not actually put a simple
plan in place to keep on track?
One key: avoiding processed, high-caloric, nutrient-depleted food.
Instead make a vow to consume high-quality fresh fruits, legumes and veg-
etables. The human body needs fuel just like an automobile. The quality of
what goes in will make a difference on what comes out, with the goal being
high performance and proper mental, as well as physical, functioning.
So with that premise in mind, here are eight smart food choices to kick-
start your best self.
8THE
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VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 21
HYDRATING FOODS Experts say to drink eight glasses of water a day. Water, as well as foods
with high water content, hydrates the body and flushes out toxins.
Natural whole foods, such as peaches, grapefruit, strawberries
and melon, have the highest water content and are terrific as mid-
day snacks. Radishes, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, broccoli, celery
and cucumber provide a nice crunch while also delivering water and
nutrients to your cells.
HIGH-QUALITY PROTEINS Your body uses the amino acids in protein to build muscle.
Organic chicken and turkey, non-fatty white fish such as cod or
occasionally trout, or wild salmon are all good choices. Eggs are
considered the perfect protein because they have all nine essential
amino acids. The grain quinoa is also a complete protein. Plant-
based protein found in legumes is easy for the body to process and
digest and provides the needed amino acids when combined with
a balanced diet.
HEALTHY CARBOHYDRATES Add complex carbohydrates to your diet that come from whole,
unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Skip white bread, pas-
tries and sodas in exchange for whole grains, vegetables, fruits and
beans that deliver minerals, fiber, vitamins and important phytonu-
trients. Add pureed vegetables and beans to sauces as a thickening
and flavoring agent.
Consider baking or grilling fruits for a sweet treat. Private chef and
certified nutritionist Ariane Resnick states, “Thick slices of roasted
sweet potato can be used to house everything from burgers to a light
sandwich, and they hold up as you eat them.”
NUTRIENT-DENSE SUPERFOODSThe term “superfoods” generally refers to foods that are nutrient-
dense, with lots of micronutrients, vitamins, minerals, phytochemi-
cals and antioxidant capacities.
Think low calorie. Superfoods can be everyday foods or exotic
items newer to the market. Kale is top on the list, but try wrapping
your sandwich ingredients in Swiss chard next time. Include potent
herbs and greens such as mustard, watercress and basil in salads
and sauces.
FIBER-RICH FOODS Soluble and insoluble fiber help with weight loss by creating a full
sensation and pushing waste and toxins through the digestive sys-
tem. Artichokes, split peas and beans are good sources of fiber that
can be blended for a sauce base, dip or sandwich spread. Liquid-
absorbing chia seeds (toss some in your next smoothie) provide a
healthy dose of fiber and create a thick, pudding-like texture.
GOOD FATS These foods offer
healthy, essential fatty
acids along with other nutri-
ents to help sustain energy
and help metabolize fat. Nuts,
seeds and avocados, whole
or blended, make great spreads
and are terrific in salads. The creamy
texture of avocados can also be used as a
base for chilled summer soups or salad dressings.
Use light coconut- or seed-based “milks” (without additives)
for your coffee or in sauces or soups.
STRATEGIC FOOD SWAPS While cutting out processed sugar and oil is the healthiest way to
go, most people struggle to find delicious, satisfying alternatives.
Wildcrafted goldenberries are like nature’s SweeTARTS without
processed sugar. They offer a concentrated boost of antioxidants
and anti-inflammatory bioflavonoids.
Try adding sea salt to seeded, dried dates or drizzle date or agave
syrup over roasted fruit for dessert. Use pureed fruit like bananas
and peaches to add moisture to baked goods instead of vegetable
or canola oil. Get creative and experiment; you may be surprised
what you find.
ENZYME-RICH RAW Foods that are organic, unprocessed, living plant foods—veg-
etables, nuts, seeds, legumes and seaweeds that have not been
heated or cooked above 104º—are considered raw. They retain their
natural enzymes and have high nutrient values. Raw food enzymes
aid digestion. Proponents claim that nails get stronger, skin gets
smoother, the mind works better and sleep improves.
Start slowly introducing more raw foods into your diet. Give green
vegetable drinks a try. We love spinach, bananas, dates and peanut
butter with a little almond milk. Soak some raw oat groats overnight
for a version of oatmeal. Make your own nut or seed “milks” without
added oils, artificial flavorings and sugars. Practice sprouting your
own seeds and focus on quality ingredients versus quantity. n
22 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
INSTEAD OF LIVING IN FEAR OR DENIAL ABOUT CANCER, TRY ADOPTING THE LATEST PROACTIVE CANCER–FIGHTING STRATEGIES THAT CAN REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING THE DISEASE.WRITTEN BY NICOLE GREGORY ILLUSTRATED BY CHRISTINE GEORGIADES
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 23
Valley Glen resident Bruce Walker, 62,
regrets not getting tested for prostate
cancer more regularly, since his father had
the disease, as well as his grandfather. When
his own prostate cancer was detected in 2015,
Bruce had been skipping regular screenings (a
blood test called prostate specific antigen, or
PSA). He underwent five weeks of radiation,
and today Bruce is in remission. But he says, “I
wish I’d been tested more frequently.”
Roger Dolan, 59, of Encino, also opted not to
have a screening. For him it was a colonoscopy.
“I didn’t want to think about cancer,” he says.
When he began having symptoms in 2014, he
finally saw a doctor and learned that he had
colon cancer, which had spread to his liver.
Looking back on the stress and bad eating
habits in his life, as well as his lack of aware-
ness about the importance of screening, Roger
thinks he might have had a better prognosis if
he’d done things differently.
Regular screenings are just one of the many
preventative actions we can take to detect
cancer early enough to be treated effectively.
Here are some current guidelines and resources
that cancer experts recommend.
KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY “Talk to elders and get death certificates in
order to construct a medical family tree,”
says Ora Karp Gordon, MD, of Providence St.
Joseph Hospital in Burbank, who specializes
in genetics and breast cancer. “This is impor-
tant in managing your own optimal wellness
and prevention.”
Which cancers have been linked to genes?
“Breast, ovarian, colon, uterine and pancreatic
cancers are the big players,” says Dr. Gordon.
Her advice is to look for the following fac-
tors: “Age of onset breast cancer being under
50, having family members who have bilateral
cancers—in both breasts or both kidneys—and
family members who’ve had more than one
kind of cancer.”
If you think cancer might run in your family,
talk to your doctor about genetic testing, a
technology that is able to identify an ever-grow-
ing number of cancer-related genes.
Genetic testing and counseling are offered
locally at the Disney Cancer Family Center at
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, as well
as the City of Hope Division of Clinical Cancer
Genetics. This can be a lifesaver. If you know
that you carry the gene for a certain kind of
cancer, you and your doctor can look at your
overall risk and take steps to prevent it, includ-
ing surgery.
Angelina Jolie brought worldwide attention to
this when she underwent a double mastectomy
after learning that she carries the BRCA1 gene,
which means she has a genetic predisposition to
getting breast cancer or ovarian cancer—or both.
But surgery is just one option. Dr. Gordon says
taking birth control pills has some protective
defense against ovarian cancer. And a recent
study reported in JAMA Oncology found that
long-term aspirin use is associated with a
modest but significantly reduced risk for overall
cancer, especially gastrointestinal tract tumors.
Talk to your physician before taking either of
these steps.
BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATEBecoming your own health advocate, especially
if you have increased risk of getting cancer, can
go a long way in terms of prevention.
Sally Burns, 66, has lived in North Hollywood
for 15 years but grew up spending summers
at the beach in Nantucket before sunscreen
was used. Of Irish descent—with blond hair
and blue eyes—she got plenty of sunburns as a
girl. As an adult, she has had two skin cancers
removed—one was basal cell carcinoma, the
other squamous. And two of her sisters have
also had skin cancers.
“I’m a fanatic—I use sunblock religiously, I
wear a hat and cover myself up whether I’m
in the sun or sitting in the shade,” says Sally. “I
also wear sunglasses because my mother had
melanoma in the retina of one eye.” She visits
her dermatologist three to four times a year for
a full-body check. “I have to be my own advo-
cate,” she says.
Risk factors for skin cancer include having
light skin and blue eyes and having repeated
sunburns in younger years, according to the
Centers for Disease Control—which is exactly
why Burns gets herself checked regularly.
Lung cancer can also develop from past
behavior, namely smoking. The risk of getting
lung cancer for former smokers remains long
after they’ve given up cigarettes.
“Lung cancer is by far the most common
cancer killer among men and women, for all
major ethnicities,” says Dan Raz, MD, co-director
of the City of Hope Lung Cancer and Thoracic
Oncology Center. “Of people who get lung can-
cer, most are former smokers.”
Again, a regular screening is critical. “There’s
not a lot of awareness about lung cancer
screening,” says Dr. Raz. “But it is potentially life-
saving.” When smokers or former smokers get
yearly low-dose CT scans, lung cancer can be
caught in its early stages and treated.
LEARN ABOUT SCREENING SCHEDULESKnow how often you should be screened for
various cancers, based on your age, health
Becoming your own health advocate, especially if you have increased risk of getting cancer, can go a long way in terms of prevention.
24 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
history and family patterns. The American Cancer
Society provides a list of recommended sched-
ules for screening many forms of cancer on its
website, cancer.org.
Most women know the screening guidelines for
mammograms and pap smears, and adults 50
and older know they need a colonoscopy every 5
or 10 years. But schedules can change based on
new research. They also increase in frequency for
people who have a high risk of getting cancer.
“If a woman is at high risk for breast cancer, or
clinical models that predict your lifetime risk as
being more than 20%, then an MRI is medically
indicated,” says Dr. Gordon. And if this is the case,
insurance will pay for the MRI screening, which
can detect smaller lesions than mammogra-
phy can, she says, adding that women who are
identified as high-risk should get an MRI and a
mammogram every year.
Why wouldn’t all women want to get an MRI?
“MRI is expensive and has a higher risk of false
positives,” explains Dr. Gordon. “This triggers
unnecessary biopsies. It also takes about 45 min-
utes and involves inserting an IV, and going into
the closed MRI device, which makes some people
claustrophobic.”
For some cancers there is no screening
schedule. Bladder cancer, for instance, does not
have a genetic component but is more related
to environmental factors, such as exposure to
carcinogens, or lifestyle habits like smoking, says
Dr. Gordon. Unless a person is at very high risk for
this disease, there is no medical recommenda-
tion for bladder cancer screening.
Lung cancer is another matter. Screening for
lung cancer is not a common or well-known
practice, yet it’s critical to surviving that disease.
“If you are over 55 and have smoked at least
30 pack years, you should be screened every
year,” Dr. Raz says. He explains that a “pack year”
means having smoked a pack of cigarettes a day
for one year. “If you meet those criteria, insurance
will pay for lung cancer screening,” he says.
Stage I lung cancers can be cured, says Dr.
Raz, which is why screening is so important. To
find the nearest lung cancer screening facility,
check out the Lung Cancer Alliance website,
lungcanceralliance.org.
Furthermore, the low-dose CT scans in lung
screenings are fast and painless. “If you compare
lung screening to other cancer screening tests
such as mammogram, colonoscopy or digital
rectal exam for prostate cancer, all of which
involve some discomfort, lung cancer screening is
easy, and the magnitude with which it saves lives
is high,” says Dr. Raz.
LIVE WELLAfter chemo, radiation and surgery, Roger
Dolan’s cancer is now in remission, and he has
taken steps to reduce the stress in his life. He
changed his living situation, let go of demanding
work projects and cleared up personal debt. He
hikes regularly and eats a healthy diet.
“I can see how the stress was a big factor in
my life, and I think it contributed to my eating
patterns,” he says. “I was eating a lot of fast food
and wouldn’t take time to prepare meals. I would
eat in the car. I ate a lot of red meat, greasy fried
foods, and every night I was pounding down
cakes, pies or sweet foods.” Today he’s elimi-
nated meat, dairy and fast food from his diet
and eats more fruit and vegetables. And Roger
goes for regular CT and PET scans.
According to the National Cancer Institute,
exercising regularly lowers the risk of getting
many cancers, particularly colon and breast
cancers. This means moderate-intensity physical
activity for at least 30 minutes, five or more days
a week, or vigorous-intensity physical activity for
20 minutes on three or more days of the week.
Maintaining a healthy weight can also reduce
the risk of many cancers, as well as eating a diet
that includes vegetables, fruit, low-fat dairy, fish
and whole grains, according to the American
Cancer Society.
EDUCATE YOURSELFStaying informed about the latest cancer
research will help you take the appropriate steps
in cancer prevention. But make sure you get
information from reputable sources—your own
physician, and websites such as the National
Cancer Institute (cancer.gov) or the American
Cancer Society (cancer.org) and websites of
medical centers that specialize in cancer like
Memorial Sloan Kettering (mskcc.org).
These important steps can give you peace of
mind and the assurance that you’re doing all you
can to live a long and healthy life. n
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 25
According to the National Cancer Institute, exercising regularly lowers the risk of getting many cancers, particularly colon and breast cancers.
26 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
Game ChangersCompelling books that offer advice for living a healthier, longer, more productive life
IS YOUR JOB MAKING YOU FAT? BY KEN LLOYD, PHD, & STACEY LAURA LLOYD
Encino-based Ken Lloyd, a management con-
sultant and his daughter, Stacey, a health writer,
team up on what they describe as a weight loss
book with a new approach. Instead of just look-
ing at what you eat, the duo suggests analyzing
your job. The pair indentify key workplace fac-
tors that contribute to weight gain and provide
weight loss tools, tips and strategies (walking
meetings, stand-up desk and exercising during
the commute).
THE NEW HEALTH RULESBY FRANK LIPMAN, MD & DANIELLE CLARO
New York City-based integrative physician
Frank Lipman is known for giving patients
prescriptions that don’t necessarily come
from a bottle. Instead he encourages analyzing
food and sleep habits. In this book he offers a
handbag-sized manifesto for living a healthy life.
Filled with rules (and pretty photos), it offers
suggestions on everything from why you should
“break up with bread” to the most important
yoga pose.
MIND OVER MEDICINEBY LISSA RANKIN, MD
When Lissa Rankin got sick, like most of us, she
turned to Western medicine. But it didn’t help.
Through research, the physician discovered
that health care was missing something crucial:
a recognition of the body’s innate ability to
repair itself and an appreciation for how we can
control these self-healing mechanisms with
the power of the mind. In her best-selling book,
Rankin shows that feelings like pessimism and
anxiety damage the body, while intimate rela-
tionships and gratitude can trigger self-healing.
THE ADRENAL RESET DIETBY ALAN CHRISTIANSON
Stressed out? Try a new diet aimed at bal-
ancing your adrenal glands, which regulate
adrenaline and cortisol levels—aka “the stress
hormones.” When the glands are taxed, we
experience depleted energy and dark under-eye
circles. Diet, sleep and menstrual cycles can
also be thrown off. To feel more Zen, Alan Chris-
tianson espouses eating a “clean” whole food
diet, balancing the intake of carbs and proteins
and reducing sugar and insulin.
THE HAPPY VEGANBY RUSSELL SIMMONS
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons claims going
vegan changed his life, and he details how and
why in The Happy Vegan. Simmons recom-
mends avoiding barbecued beef due to the
carcinogens, growth hormones and antibiotics
given to farm animals. The musician and avid
yogi denies that he is an “angry” vegan. He says
he simply wants to change people and “save
the planet.” Simmons believes by going vegan
you can save money, look healthier and have
more energy.
EAT FAT, GET THINBY MARK HYMAN, MD
Eat more fat? Yep—so says the director of the
Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medi-
cine. Dr. Mark Hyman upped his fat intake, and
the regimen enabled him to lose weight and
have more energy. The physician recommended
more fat for his patients, and they too expe-
rienced positive results. Hyman argues that
Americans have been misled about the benefits
of fat because of a disconnect between nutri-
tional science and food policy.
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 27
For Southern California residents,
there really is no good reason not to
make swimming part of your regular
exercise routine.
Sure, jumping into a backyard pool is refresh-
ing and relaxing, but for fitness and health, con-
sider a swim workout with intervals of speed or
varying strokes. Another option— join a swim
program such as Southern California Aquatics
(SCAQ), which offers workouts at public pools,
for people of all ages and levels.
The benefits of swimming are many. Accord-
ing to the Cooper Fitness Center in Dallas, you
get the maximum calorie burn per minute
because all parts of the body are working
against the resistance of water.
With a focused swim workout, rather than
lap swimming at a leisurely pace, you can set
goals and stay motivated to meet them.
“You know what you did last week, or the
week before, and you want to do better,”
explains Clay Evans, 63, an Olympic silver
medalist and head coach at SCAQ. “It can
move you to get in the water and work a little
harder, and do better. Plus you’ll get feedback
on technique.” SCAQ coaches create timed
workouts for swimmers as well as offer tips
for improvement.
If you’d prefer to create a workout on your
own, consider the 10-20-30 training. Originally
designed for runners by a Danish physiology
professor, the program is adaptable to swim-
ming, as recently reported in The New York
Times. After warming up, you swim at a slow
speed for 30 seconds, a moderate speed for
20 seconds and then an all-out, high-intensity
speed for 10 seconds.
Obviously any workout is easiest when done
in a 50-meter pool, but according to Evans, it
can be done in smaller pools too if you don’t
mind doing a lot of turns.
Think you don’t have time to fit water work-
outs into your week? “For the average white-
collar person who works at a desk all day, and
has the hassles of family, the time it takes to
work out in the pool three times a week for one
hour will pay off. You’ll sleep more soundly, you’ll
have less stress, you’ll get up faster in the morn-
ing, and you’ll be more energetic throughout the
day,” Evans says.
As for the big picture—“You’ll live longer and
be healthy,” he adds. n
To find out more about SCAQ swim workouts,
check out swim.net.
Pooling ResourcesThese year-round, heated, Olympic-size
pools (50 meters x 25 yards) offer private
lessons, group workouts and lap swim-
ming hours. Call for schedule and fees
in advance.
Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Pool14201 Huston Street
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
818-783-6721; laparks.org
San Fernando Regional Pool208 Park Avenue
San Fernando, CA 91340
818-256-2033; 818-497-7161 for Masters
Swim Club information
parks.lacounty.gov
LA Valley College Aquatics Center5717 Ethel Avenue
Valley Glen, CA 91401
Year-round, heated outdoor pool
818-778-5644; lavalley.augusoft.net
Stroke of GeniusGet fit in record time with a vigorous pool workout.
WRITTEN BY NICOLE GREGORY
28 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
ADIDAS MICOACH SPORTS BRA $55SHOP.NUMETREX.COM
Wearables that improve your fitness game
Transmitter and compatible electronics sold separately
PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY
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BOTH FITNESS TRACKER CON-CEALING ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE AT FUNKTIONALWEARABLES.COMCOMPATIBLE WITH FITBIT, GARMIN, JAWBONE, MISFIT, AVIA, PEBBLE
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 29
POLOTECH™ SHIRT ALSO AVAILABLE IN BLUE $295 RALPHLAUREN.COM
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VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 31
From the get–go Jason and Tairia Flowers had a lot in
common. Both were born with a competitive streak,
and both were standout athletes at UCLA. He played
basketball; she played softball.
Now as head coach of California State University, Northridge’s
women’s basketball and softball teams, respectively, their offices are
a stone’s throw from one another in Matador Hall. And the similari-
ties continue. Both have been awarded the coveted title of Big West
Conference Coach of the Year, and both have coached their teams
into NCAA competitions—a big deal for CSUN.
Now in their 30s, they still like to push themselves physically. Take,
for example, Jason’s daily CSUN staff workout. “There’s about eight
of us in our group,” he says, breezing into Tairia’s office, fresh off the
day’s regime of high-intensity repetitions with kettlebells and on the
rowing machine. “We’ve had others join us at times,” he adds, “but
they haven’t continued.”
JASON FLOWERS HAS TURNED THE CSUN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM INTO BIG WEST CHAMPIONS (TWICE!),
WHILE HIS WIFE, TAIRIA, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNER, HAS SPEARHEADED A BIG WEST WIN FOR
MATADOR WOMEN’S SOFTBALL. MEET THE SUPER-FIT PAIR (AND THEIR TWO TYKES) WHO SEEM TO HAVE IT ALL.
WRITTEN BY SUSAN SPILLMAN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY LU TAPP
power_______
32 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
Tairia bursts into laughter. Seated at her desk, which is covered with
framed photos of the couple’s two kids, she’s quick to explain. “He’s tak-
ing shots at me.”
“‘We do talk a lot of trash about people who start but don’t continue,”
Jason admits. “That’s just part of the entertainment.”
“I didn’t always like the workouts that they did, so I basically made
excuses to get out of it,” she concedes. “He likes to remind me that I was
once in it.”
This playful rapport, along with a mutual can-do attitude, are the
keys to the Flowers’ success in balancing marriage, competitive careers,
constant travel and raising children. Tairia is also quick to point out that
helpful grandparents make life easier. The family includes son Jayce, 5,
and daughter Trystin, 2. Jason also has an 18-year-old daughter, Jasmine,
from a previous relationship, who attends college in northern California.
“I think it helps that we both understand what the other is going
through,” says Tairia, a member of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Softball
Team that won gold in Athens in 2004 and silver in 2008 in Beijing.
She also credits Jason’s sense of humor and directness. “He’s blunt and
tells the truth all the time—whether it’s about coaching or our relation-
ship, which works well for me,” shares Tairia.
“She is sweet and has a really good heart,” he says. “I’m a little more
fiery and stubborn. We balance each other out.”
Tairia and Jason both grew up as only children—he in the Bellflower
neighborhood of LA, she in Tucson. The couple met at UCLA in 1999. “We
had a history class together,” chuckles Jason. “I got a higher grade.”
They married in 2003 and spent their early years together moving
around Southern California. Each did stints as an assistant coach at Long
Beach State and the University of California at Riverside, though not at
the same time. Then within a month of one another in 2010, both landed
top spots at CSUN. That was the same year Jayce was born.
“Jason was hired first, and I was sort of leaning into the idea of being a
stay-at-home mom when the softball position opened,” says Tairia.
Both share positive, work-hard attitudes that have paid off big. Under
Jason the women’s basketball team won the Big West Tournament
Championship in 2014 and 2015. They also won the Big West Regular Sea-
son Title in 2014 for the first time in program history. Under Tairia the 2015
women’s softball team scored its first outright Big West Championship.
As for coaching styles, “He’s more direct with his players than I am,”
says Tairia. “I try not to hurt their feelings. He wants them to be better
right away, so he doesn’t take three sentences to get his point across like
me. He can do it in two words.”
CSUN games are a three-generation family affair, with the Flowers kids
getting almost as much exercise as the players. Win or lose, after games
Jayce and Trystin can be found on the basketball floor shooting or on the
softball field practicing their swings and getting chased around the bases
by Tairia’s players.
Support comes from the grandparents when Jason’s mom drives in
from Orange County to cheer the Matador basketball team at home
games and help with Jayce and Trystin. Tairia’s parents fly in from Tucson
to watch the kids wherever her team is on the road.
These days, Porter Ranch is “totally home,” says Jason. Fortunately
none of the family suffered symptoms or had to relocate as a result of the
recent Aliso Canyon gas leak.
During the week Tairia is up at 5 a.m. “I get a little workout in. I have a
spin bike or do burpees in the living room. Nothing too crazy,” she says.
Next she makes breakfast and packs lunches. Jason is up by 6 a.m.
and out the door a half-hour later, grabbing yogurt and fruit or skipping
breakfast altogether. “I’m bad with breakfast,” he admits. “Some days I go
to the convenience store on campus for an apple fritter.”
“She’s way more disciplined when it comes to diet stuff,” says Jason,
who’s also partial to The Habit Burger Grill and Chick-fil-A or Rocky Road
ice cream before bed. “I’ll work out hard, but I’m not going to work out
and diet.”
“I try and do better,” says Tairia. “Lately I’ve been on this beets kick, so I
have beets with just about every meal.”
“You won’t catch me eating beets,” declares Jason.
“If I make smoothies I’ll put some kale and beets in his,” Tairia
confesses.
Not one to be fooled—Jason insists, “I do taste the beets.” n
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 33
PERSKY SUNDER FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY
Keeping Our CommunityIn Good Health
Whether you are maintaining health or fighting challenges, there is nothing more important than finding the services of the right doctor or medical practitioner.
From alleviating pain to erasing wrinkles, the medical professionals featured in the July issue of Ventura Blvd are some of the most accomplished in their fields and all have the
same goal ... putting you and your family squarely on the road to good health.
310.376.7800 | [email protected] | ourventurablvd.com
TOP DOCTORS & HEALTH
PRACTITIONERS
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 35
CHRISTENED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AS ONE OF THE “WONDERS OF THE WORLD: EARTH’S MOST AWESOME PLACES,” ICELAND’S BLUE LAGOON
GEOTHERMAL SPA IS AN EXPERIENCE TO DIVE INTO AND SAVOR.
WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARY HERNE
On The Rocks
36 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
Noted for its striking arctic scenery and healing geothermal
seawater, the Blue Lagoon is among Iceland’s most popular
attractions.
I decided to make a two–night stop there before embarking on a pho-
tographic workshop on the frozen Icelandic landscape. I was seduced by
the stunning photographs of icy-blue glaciers and black volcanic rock and
the promise of rejuvenating spa treatments.
The milky aqua-blue bathing water that characterizes this unique hot
spring mecca is the result of the mineral content in the geothermal sea-
water surging from 6,500 feet beneath the earth’s surface. As it travels up
through porous lava, this seawater blends with fresh groundwater, picking
up bioactive components along the way. The unique resulting cocktail,
rich in silica, algae and other minerals, has helped earn the Blue Lagoon its
special place among spas and primary place as a popular medical treat-
ment center for psoriasis and other skin diseases.
A HAPPY ACCIDENTThe genesis of the Blue Lagoon and the booming industry rooted in its
well-documented health benefits is a story of pure circumstance.
In 1976 a geothermal power station, Svartsengi, was built to harness
the naturally occurring geothermal activity produced by this volcanically
active island and transform it into a renewable energy source that lights
and heats thousands of Icelandic homes. When the plant was built, the
salty warm wastewater was directed into an adjacent lava field with the
expectation that it would seep back into the earth. Surprisingly the usu-
ally porous lava rocks filled up with silica and instead, formed a lagoon.
Adventurous workers from the plant “took to the waters.” One of the
workers with psoriasis noticed a dramatic healing effect from the water …
and the rest is history.
In the ensuing years, people began to bathe in the lagoon and apply the
silica mud to their skin. Not only was it a psoriasis remedy, it also proved to
be helpful for maintaining the appearance of healthy young skin.
Algae from the Blue Lagoon has been shown to stimulate collagen,
which gives our skin strength, structure and elasticity. Silica, though, is the
most characteristic element of the Lagoon’s geothermal seawater. The
fine, clay-like mud enhances functioning of the “skin barrier,” and that
barrier is what keeps the bad stuff out and protects us against the loss of
body water. Silica is also great for exfoliation.
THE TREATMENTSFor an entry fee of about $45 one can spend all day lounging in the
lagoon’s 2.4 million gallons of water, take a break in the sauna or steam
room, or swim up to the Lagoon Bar for wine, beer or a smoothie. Servers
at another bar, the Silica Mud Swim-up Bar, scoop the fine white substance
into the hands of patrons who smooth it onto their faces and skin. The
eerie vision of ghostly bathers materializing from the misty steam, sporting
these white-silica mud masks, is amusing—to say the least!
However, to truly optimize your Blue Lagoon experience, an in-water
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 37
massage is the way to go. All of the water treatments here are done out-
doors in a private, designated treatment area.
The Blue Lagoon’s signature treatment—and its most popular—is a
two-hour submersion marathon starting with a silica-salt body scrub.
Next the massage therapist covers your body (yes, you are in a bathing
suit) with either algae or silica, and you float for 20 minutes in the com-
fortable 100º water wrapped up to your neck in plastic. The final touch is
a one-hour massage.
For my first day at the lagoon, I booked a 60-minute “Relaxing Mas-
sage.” OK … how does “relaxing” work given it was 32º outside plus wind?
This would have to be “pretty, pretty good” to justify the insane act of
exposing any skin in the frigid arctic air, even for a massage.
Oskar, my new best friend, had me lie on my back on a floating yoga-like
rubber mat and covered me with a hot, wet blanket. Only my face was
exposed to the cold air. As he massaged each limb, he occasionally dunked
me and my mat to circulate the hot water. For this I was very grateful.
The cold air on my face contrasted with the warm, relaxing soak, and
Oskar’s strong hands made this massage like no other I have ever had. Did
I mention it started to snow?
The next day I tried the “Authentic Silica Salt Glow.” This time my
therapist, a former world-class soccer champion, exfoliated my skin with
a combination of the Blue Lagoon’s minerals, silica and oil. The weather
was a balmy 34º—no wind! The hot, wet blankets did their job perfectly;
so did the silica, which left my skin fabulously soft and smooth.
BEYOND THE BLUE LAGOONI dined at the LAVA Restaurant, which sits against a stunning lava cliff and
overlooks the lagoon. The cuisine here features fresh fish from the local
village. The head chef won the 2013 Icelandic Chef of the Year and is a
member of the Icelandic National Culinary Team.
I liked the langoustine soup with garlic-marinated langoustine, white
chocolate and seaweed so much that I had it twice! And I accompanied it
with a glass of chardonnay from their extensive wine list. Divine.
Another highlight: the “Into the Blue” specialty cocktail, which includes
Bacardi Razz, Blue Curacao, blueberries, lime and 7UP.
At the moment, the only accommodation for The Blue Lagoon is the
contemporary, 35-room Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel. Originally developed as
a treatment center for psoriasis patients, it is now also available for non-
treatment guests.
Sound antiseptic? Far from it. I loved the tranquility. The hotel’s own
private bathing lagoon of geothermal seawater provides a serenity and
antidote to the crowds at the Blue Lagoon. The surrounding lava fields
make the 10-minute walk to the spa for treatments a real joy. The full
array of treatments, however, is only available at the main Blue Lagoon.
A five-star, 60-room hotel is due to be completed at the site of the
Blue Lagoon in 2017.
PRICE OF SUCCESSTwo to three thousand guests come to the Blue Lagoon every day. And in
2015, 918,000 people visited—a 20% increase from the previous year.
The Blue Lagoon appears to be a beneficiary of Iceland’s dynamic
growth in tourism. That means you might well confront annoying entry
lines and share the lagoon with selfie stick-toting 30-somethings. That is
a fact of life at the Blue Lagoon these days. So given the crowds, booking
early (months ahead) is a must—especially for summer, the height of
tourist season.
With such a turnover of bathers, I wanted to know how the Blue
Lagoon ensures the cleanliness of its water. The lagoon, with 2.4 million
gallons of water, is self-cleaning and renews itself every 40 hours. The
ecosystem is self-maintained and is an environment where foreign bacte-
ria can’t live.
There are countless spas worldwide that offer great mud wraps, sea-
salt body scrubs and healing massages. And there are other less crowded,
less expensive and more rustic hot springs in Iceland.
The Blue Lagoon differentiates itself by delivering the whole package.
It’s a well-run machine, offering great treatments with its own unique
brand of geothermal extracts that deliver results. It’s a novel experience in
an otherworldly setting. Perfect? No. Incomparable. n
Planning a Visit
GO: The Blue Lagoon is located in the lava fields of Grindavik, approxi-
mately 20 minutes from the Keflavik International Airport and 50 min-
utes from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik.
DO: Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa, bluelagoon.com
STAY: The Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel
Book email [email protected]
TRY: Blue Lagoon’s skin care products are hypoallergenic and dermato-
logical-tested. They are paraben- and GMO-free. The signature item is
silica mud. For more, go to bluelagoon.com/shop.
SERENE SOAKWriter Mary Herne embraces the healing powers of silica mud.
For most of us, there is no higher priority than our health. And staying
in top physical shape simply isn’t possible without the counsel, care
and expertise of first-rate health professionals. Here in the Valley we
are lucky. Some of the most highly regarded and skilled health care
professionals in LA are located right in our community—people who
are dedicating their lives to improving the well-being of others through
a variety of specialized practices. From family medicine to cosmetic
surgery, these professionals are helping us live the best lives we can.
On the following pages we introduce you to some of them. Your next
step toward a healthier life is right in front of you ...
THE VALLEY’S TOP HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Greg S. Khounganian, MD 40 Complete Health Dentistry Of Woodland Hills 42 Bruce F. Beard, DDS & Manny Fernandez, DDS
Heritage Oral Surgery & Implant Centers 44 Dr. R. Dean Lang, Dr. Payam Samouhi & Dr. Don Kim
Evo Advanced Foot Surgery 48 Ali Sadrieh, DPM & Jason Khadavi, DPM
C/V Ent Surgical Group 48 Michael S. Reder, MD Alen N. Cohen, MD, FACS, FARS Bob B. Armin, MD Matt D. Hershcovitch, MD
West Coast Women’s Reproductive Center 50 Tina Koopersmith, BA, MD, FACOG
Socal Hearing West Valley 52 Jonathan Leiterman, SCD
LA Orthopedics 54 Shahab Mahboubian, DO, MPH
Glaser Pain Relief Center 56 Jeffrey B. Glaser, MD
Vēna Vascular Lab and Vein Clinic 58 Vahe Melkonyan, MD, RVT, RPVI
Tolbert Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness 60 Glenna Tolbert, MD, QME
California Center of Longevity and 62 Functional Medicine Allan Kurtz, DO, Medical Director
Cosmetic Injectables Center 64 Sherly Soleiman, MD & Jessica Marti, RN, FNP-C
A RESOURCE GUIDE
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 39
Edited by Laura Watts | Photographed by Matthew Cooke, Iker Gutierrez, Shane O’Donnell & Lauren Pressey
GREG S. KHOUNGANIAN, MD
5525 Etiwanda Ave, #311 Tarzana818-343-4430GSKspine.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Minimally Invasive Spine SurgerySame-Day Surgery & Band-Aid-Sized IncisionsCervical Fusion and Disc Replacement
Cervical Decompression/DiscectomyLumbar MicrodiscectomyLumbar Fusion & Disc Replacement
HOW DO YOU WORK WITH OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO CARE FOR YOUR PATIENTS? “Treating patients with spine injuries and pain is a concerted effort among many health care professionals. I work closely with the patient’s primary physicians, pain management specialists, physical therapists, neurologists and chiropractors, among other medical professionals. Before a patient is told they need a surgical procedure for their problem, we work to help them improve. Our goal is to help our patients gain as much benefit in relieving pain and increasing activity levels with and without surgery.”
WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTY? “I have focused my practice to treat patients with non-operative treatments until their condition’s improvement has been maximized. If surgery is needed,
I do my best to apply the minimally invasive surgical approaches to produce the same result as conventional spine surgery. However, a less invasive ap-proach translates to faster healing and faster return to work and life.”
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR STYLE AND TECHNIQUE? “I have been involved in CrossFit and personal fitness for many years. This has allowed me to have a closer understanding of the patient who is athletic or desires to become more active. Often I see patients who were injured during sporting activities. I try to help them return to those activities. I find it extremely gratifying to help a patient gradually return to those activities that are important to their physical and mental well-being. Just modifying their technique and being more cautious, they can better understand their injury, what caused it and how to prevent it from happening again.”
Q&A
I utilize Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques for patients as often as possible. This helps with a quicker recovery and return to work and life. By making smaller incisions, we can achieve the same result but provide a less painful and faster recovery. Often patients are able to go home the same day and have incisions small enough to be covered by a single Band-aid.
Cervical Disc Replacement is an excellent technology available today for patients. It can treat disc herniations in the neck while still allowing mobil-ity, without fusing the vertebrae together. This helps conserve motion and prevent the vertebral levels above and below the surgery from degenerat-ing quickly, which could eventually lead to more surgery in the future. These images show a patient who had arm pain, weakness and numbness due to a large disc herniation in his neck. We removed the disc and replaced it with this mobile device. He had immediate pain relief in his arm, and his arm strength has returned to normal.
Pre-op X-ray MRI Post-op X-ray
Weight loss can help tremendously with low back pain. Losing as little as 10 pounds can take a large amount of stress off the lower back. A fitness regi-men to strengthen the core muscles, including the low back and abdominals, aids to maintain good stability for the lumbar spine. Great exercise regimens like yoga and Pilates focus a lot on core strengthening and stretching. Not only can this help alleviate back pain, but it can also prevent future injuries.
PRACTICE SPECIALTY
BEFORE & AFTER
SHARED TIP
Our goal is to help our patients gain as much benefit in relieving pain and increasing activity levels with and without surgery.”
40 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 41
COMPLETE HEALTH DENTISTRY OF WOODLAND HILLSBRUCE F. BEARD, DDS & MANNY FERNANDEZ, DDS
22600 Ventura Blvd., Suite 204 Woodland Hills 818-436-0565CHDWH.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Implants Veneers Sleep/Snore Appliances Invisalign
Crowns and Fillings Healthy Gum TherapyTMJ/Headache Treatment Complete Health Dentistry
WHAT IS A COMPLETE HEALTH DENTIST?“Your mouth is the gateway to your entire body. Viruses, bacteria and even disease can initially start in the mouth. A complete health dentist is trained at find-ing and helping prevent the spread of disease before it becomes a problem. At our office not only will you get a thorough mouth examination, but we will also check your heart rate, blood pressure, identify inflammation and scan for any early warning signs that may need to be communicated to your MD. Our patients’ overall health is our primary goal, which is why our motto is to “save lives, one smile at a time!”
TELL US ABOUT YOUR TAGLINE “HEALTHY MOUTH, HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY LIFE.”“There are many oral health conditions that havesignificant impact on your general health. For instance, gum disease is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pregnancy complications, Alzheimer’s and certain cancers. A thorough examination is mandatory to alert us to dangerous conditions such as: oral cancer, oral airway obstruction, sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, head-aches, migraines, proper bite and dental decay. These
connections between the mouth and the body em-phasize the importance of good oral health and dental stability in assuring better overall general health.”
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE?“We collaborate with the physicians of our patients viapersonal meetings, mini-seminars and reports to workclosely on our mutual patients’ needs. We must all be invested in the understanding of the inflammatory path-way and how the science of the oral systemic associa-tions impacts our patients’ lives.”
HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR PATIENTS’ COMFORT WHILE THEY ARE AT YOUR OFFICE? “We offer music—headphones, sedation, warm towels, blankets and five-star service from a highly-educated and qualified office team.”
HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? “We offer community-public lectures on implants and complete dental health. We host showings of the SayAhh documentary, support local charities, donatedentistry to the needy and help feed the homeless.”
Q&A
The goal of the doctors at Complete Health Dentistryof Woodland Hills is to change professional and publicbehaviors and address the importance of oral health asit relates to whole body health. Our mission is: “MakingPeople Healthy One Smile at a Time.” Our vision is tomake 9,000 people healthier by 2020.
At Complete Health Dentistry of Woodland Hills, our doctors are health care leaders working to change professional and public behaviors and address the importance of oral health as it relates to whole body health. They have equipped their office with advanced dental technology to save patients time and make their experience convenient and comfortable. Dr. Bruce Beard, Dr. Manny Fernandez and their long-term team members offer a complete range of dental services, as well as a free consultation for new patients.
Our belief is that by making good oral health a priority, you can be better assured of a healthy mouth and of lowered risk factors for developing other general health problems.
CAREER MILESTONE
PRACTICE SPECIALTY
SHARED TIP
42 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
Our professional goal is to save lives, one smile at a time.”
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 43
HERITAGE ORAL SURGERY & IMPLANT CENTERSDR. R. DEAN LANG, DR. PAYAM SAMOUHI & DR. DON KIM
22142 Sherman Way #201Canoga Park818-703-8200heritageoralsurgery.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Wisdom Teeth Dental Implants Bone Grafting
ExtractionsTeeth in a DayGeneral Anesthesia
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE POTENTIAL PATIENTS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?“We are not your average oral surgery practice. From the moment you walk in, you will experience the difference. Our office looks and feels more like a spa than a tradi-tional health care office. The surroundings are warm and comforting. You will be greeted by kind and knowledge-able staff who will guide you through the whole process. The doctors will treat you with respect and care for you like family.”
HOW DO YOU WORK WITH OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO CARE FOR YOUR PATIENTS?“Our office is constantly in contact with other dental and medical health care professionals to make sure each patient’s care is carefully coordinated. Whether it’s the general dentist, orthodontist, endodontist or
primary care physician involved in the treatment, they will be kept informed of all treatment plans and pro-cedures. Our doctors will personally reach out to their colleagues to discuss treatment in detail and come up with the best scenario for the patient.”
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR PRACTICE’S GROWTH?“Our referring dentists recognize that their patients will get not only the best surgical results in our office but also superior service. Furthermore many of our patients are so pleased with their experience that they refer their family members and friends to us. In addition we spon-sor multiple continuing education seminars throughout the year for our referring doctors, thus allowing them to keep up with the latest in dentistry and practice man-agement. All of our positive online reviews have also had an impact on patients.”
Q&A
Replacing lost teeth with dental implants is a significant step in restoring health and function to your dentition and your jaws. The final product is the clos-est thing to a natural tooth. It feels and functions like a natural tooth, which means that an implant-crown unit needs to be maintained just like a tooth. Brushing and flossing daily as well as regular professional cleanings are paramount when it comes to preventing “gum disease” and
bone loss around implants. If maintained properly, dental implants can last for decades.
Some patients have lost several teeth in the upper or lower arch over the years, and the remaining teeth are also in poor condition. Nowadays we refer to this situation as “terminal dentition.” Instead of trying to save the remaining teeth and “build” around them, it may be better to remove the existing teeth and start from scratch. With proper planning, it is now pos-sible for you to come into our office, spend about three hours with us and leave with your old teeth removed and a new set of teeth placed that are held in by dental implants!
We offer the latest and most advanced techniques in oral surgery and dental implant services uti-lizing state-of-the-art technology. Our scope encompasses
all aspects of dental surgery, wisdom tooth removal, dental implant placement, bone grafting, biopsy and treatment of cysts and tumors of the oral cavity and jawbones, full arch reconstruction, as well as corrective jaw surgery. We provide in-house three-dimensional imaging and general anesthe-sia. With more than 50 years of combined experience, we are able to take on challenging cases and restore full form and function—transforming our patients’ lives.
BEFORE & AFTER
SHARED TIP
PRACTICE SPECIALTY
44 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
With more than 50 years of combined experience, we are able to take on challenging cases and restore full form and function—transforming our patients’ lives.”
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 45
EVO ADVANCED FOOT SURGERYALI SADRIEH, DPM & JASON KHADAVI, DPM
12265 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 107Studio City310-691-5411evofoot.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Aesthetic Foot SurgeryBunion CorrectionHammertoe Correction
Foot & Ankle Sports Medicine
PLEASE GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF YOUR PRACTICE.“Evo is the result of the relentless pursuit of excellence. We focus on the implementation of cutting-edge tech-nologies and bring the latest innovations to our patients, regardless of the cost. We’ve always held a deep belief that ‘great medicine’ is what we’re supposed to do when we’re done with training. Providing a patient with an ex-ceptional experience while doing that … that’s what drives us every day.”
TELL US ABOUT THE STAFF AT YOUR PRACTICE.“They’re the chosen few! Outstanding people who know how to treat other people. Their motto is: ‘Love what you do. Do what you love.’”
WHAT TREND IS DEFINING YOUR SPECIALTY TODAY?“In 2007 we created a new term for the principle that we de-signed our practice around: PX. We borrowed it from software development, where the term ‘user experience’ is often refer-enced to as UX. Since we’re designers who are also doctors, we decided to create the world’s first practice that’s built around PX: the Patient Experience. Getting great care is important, but imagine great health care with an outstanding experience!”
HOW DO YOU EDUCATE YOUR CLIENTS TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEMSELVES?“We’ve always respected the Q=1/v equation: Quality is inversely proportional to volume! Every patient needs personal attention to succeed in their surgical endeavor, and the only way to succeed at this is to spend time with our patients. We designed our entire practice around this very principle.”
Q&A
It’s all about the feet … of course. We believe in the idea that you have to live it to give it, which is why we’re both constant-ly moving our bodies and staying athletic. Whether it’s hiking the Fryman Canyon or Griffith trails or running the coastline, using our wheels is what we focus on. Because if we’re going to give you better feet, we have to know what it means to have them and use them!
We love feet. That’s all we do. Back in 2003 we created a new speciality: aesthetic foot surgery. Our focus was simple—create procedures that provide our patients with functional and aesthetic correction. Both the evofoot bunion correction and hammertoe correction are solutions that correct functional deformities but have hidden incisions and internal fixation. Aesthetic foot surgery is an idea that has changed foot surgery … providing
women (and men) solutions to foot problems while respecting the finished appearance and recovery experience. Think of it as surgery for the modern patient.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday … and Thursday! No, seri-ously! We feel like every day is a milestone. We wake up to the privilege of serving our patients, providing them with better mobility and freeing them from the limitations of shoe choices and activities. That happens every day at evofoot, so every day is a milestone for us!
OFF THE CLOCK WITH THE EVODOCS!
PRACTICE SPECIALTY
CAREER MILESTONE
BUNION CORRECTIONHAMMERTOE CORRECTION
46 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
It’s all about the feet … of course.”
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 47
C/V ENT SURGICAL GROUP16500 Ventura Blvd. Suite 420Encino818-986-1200
7345 Medical Center Drive Suite 510West Hills818-888-7878
cvsurgicalgroup.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Pediatric & Adult ENT Nose & Sinus SurgeryIn-Office Balloon SinuplastySnoring & Sleep Apnea Surgery
Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Botox, Fillers & Laser Treatment of Face & Neck
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE.“C/V ENT Surgical Group is the premier ear, nose and throat practice serving the San Fernando Valley, Greater Los Angeles area and Thousand Oaks region for the last 10 years. Dr. Alen Cohen founded the group because he recognized a need within the San Fernando Valley for world-class ENT and head and neck surgical care west of the 405. The group has grown to two of-fices and four physicians with various expertise within the field. Our physicians and staff members are excellent at what they do, and they truly go above and beyond to help patients feel comfortable and answer all of their questions and concerns. We have state-of-the-art offices that have been newly renovated and are clean and comfortable.”
WHAT TREND IS CHANGING YOUR SPECIALTY TODAY?“In-office balloon sinuplasty has revolutionized the field of ENT and has allowed us to treat many more patients for recurrent nasal obstruction, congestion, sinus infections, sinus headaches and sinus pressure with a simple in-office procedure that takes 20 minutes under local anesthesia. Patients are amazed at how easily the proce-dure is performed and how they are back to normal activity the next day. They love the fact that there is no packing, no downtime and no need for pain medications. Furthermore it is most often covered by their PPO insurance or Medicare. C/V ENT Surgical Group has been designated as the only Entellus Sinus Center of Excellence in Southern California.”
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOUR PRACTICE?“Growth, growth and more growth!”
Q&A
One of the most common and minimally invasive procedures that the surgeons at C/V specialize in is management of nasal obstruction, deviated septum and chronic sinus infections. Dr. Cohen is a pioneer and has developed a sinus center of excellence called the Southern California Sinus Insti-tute, where patients’ years of chronic nasal congestion and chronic sinusitis can be treated with a simple 20-minute, in-office procedure done under local anesthesia without any nasal packing. Patients are back to work the next day.
Another focus of the surgeons at C/V is functional and aesthetic management of patients with various nasal concerns. For example, Dr. Cohen and Dr. Hershco-vitch often operate together—providing patients with the best results when they have nose/sinus concerns. Dr. Cohen will often perform all of the breathing/sinus portions of the surgery so as to provide patients with the best results function-ally, and Dr. Hershcovitch—with his facial plastic expertise—will correct all of the patients’ cosmetic concerns. As such patients not only have a very cosmetically refined nose but also one that will allow them to breathe easily without any recurrent sinus problems.
Our physicians at C/V ENT Surgical Group are renowned for their unique expertise in minimally invasive treatment options for nasal obstruction,
chronic sinusitis, nasal fractures, snoring, tumors of the head and neck, and facial rejuvenation. Our ENT physicians and facial plastic surgeons have been awarded as some of the best physicians in their specialties year after year for providing excellent and compas-sionate care to patients who visit them from all over Southern California.
RECOMMENDED
BEFORE & AFTER
PRACTICE SPECIALTY
48 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
Our physicians and staff members are excellent at what they do, and they truly go above and beyond to help patients feel comfortable and answer all of their questions and concerns.”
L to R: Michael S. Reder, MD Alen N. Cohen, MD, FACS, FARS Bob B. Armin, MD Matt D. Hershcovitch, MD
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 49
WEST COAST WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE CENTERTINA KOOPERSMITH, BA, MD, FACOG
13320 Riverside Dr. #220 Sherman Oaks 818-986-1648 womensreproduction.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Fertility Evaluation and Treatment (ovarian stimulation, inseminations and in-vitro fertilization, egg freezing, egg donation and surrogacy)
Reproductive Endocrinology Gynecology Gynecological Surgery
WHAT TREND IS CHANGING YOUR SPECIALTY?“Elective egg freezing. Recently, with the development of flash freezing, egg survival after thawing is now over 90%. It is clear that women are most fertile in their 20s, and fertility declines with age—taking an abrupt decline in the late 30s. Today many women are busy with education and/or career during their 20s and 30s. Other women have not found a partner and they are concerned that by the time ‘Mr. Dad’ shows up, their fertility will be compromised. Egg freezing offers a fantastic fertility insur-ance policy for women.”
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR STYLE/TECHNIQUE?“While I specialize in women’s reproductive medicine, I believe In taking care of the whole patient, the individual. When pa-tients walk into my office, I do not regard them as a ‘fertility pa-
tient,’ a ‘menopause patient,’ a ‘PCO patient’ a ‘fibroid patient,’ etc. I regard them as unique people with unique needs who deserve to be heard and cared for thoroughly. I view my role not just as a doctor but as a partner in my patient’s overall well-being. No matter what my patients are dealing with I always tell them, ‘Together we’ll find a way.’”
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOUR PRACTICE?“Anxiety is often at an all-time high for women who enter my office. My goal is to transform that experience. We offer 10-min-ute mini-massages and meditation sessions. We are planning to add nutritionists, psychotherapists, acupuncturists and sports trainers, as well as weekly classes and support systems such as reminder texts, motivational texts and a buddy system to help them stick to their health goals.”
Q&A
I encourage all women to really know themselves: body, mind and soul. I advise women to pay attention to their cycles, as they can often give you and your doctor insight into your health. I also recommend women watch their digestion (pay attention to which foods agree with you more) and stick to a plant-based foods diet. Find an activity you like to do and try to get out there to do it three to five times per week. I often remind
women to ensure they practice self-care, as you will have more patience with your family, be more focused at work and have a more positive outlook daily.
For many years I spent weekends attending my sons’ sporting events: soccer, basketball, baseball and pole vaulting. I was always the mom running around the park during pregame warm-ups to get in her exercise. Now that my boys have grown, I train for half-marathons and triathlons. At any given time, I’m always involved in a philanthropic effect of some kind. I often contribute to the fundraising efforts of Team-In-Training, which raises money through marathon participation for leukemia and lymphoma research. Most Sundays I can be found shopping at the Studio City Farmers Market and then cooking with the fresh, organic groceries I picked up there.
RECOMMENDED
OFF THE CLOCK WITH DR. KOOPERSMITH
My favorite daily breakfast is a smoothie. The base is usually soy or almond milk with a juice. I usu-ally throw in banana, berries and fresh wheatgrass and cucumber or kale. For healthy protein and fats, I add nut butter and flaxseed oil. A side of coffee or tea is always a
part of my morning regime. I aim for nine servings or more of fruits and vegetables per day. Eating well has so many benefits. In the case of many of my patients who suffer from infertility, there is no ques-tion that diet can impact conception. However, eating well should not be done for a short period of time for the sake of conceiving or losing fat. Feeding ourselves and our families healthy food should be regarded as an act of love. We need to care for the vessel we live in.
SHARED TIP
50 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
Anxiety is often at an all-time high for women who enter my office. My goal is to transform that experience.”
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 51
SOCAL HEARING WEST VALLEYJONATHAN LEITERMAN, SCD
5525 Etiwanda Blvd., Suite 312BTarzana818-578-5093Socalhear.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Audiological ServicesHearing AidsVestibular Rehabilitation
WAS THERE A DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER THAT GUIDED YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW? “Yes, I lived with someone in college who had hearing loss. Little did I know that would be the gateway to my career. He was a young guy and was embarrassed about his hearing loss. It opened a whole new world to me.”
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR PRACTICE’S GROWTH? “Praise from patients. My Yelp reviews have allowed patients to get a perspective about what other patients think. The patients are already sold on me prior to their appointments.”
WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTY? “As an audiologist I specialize in hearing and balance disorders. A large emphasis is on hearing solutions (hearing aids). The baby boom gen-
eration is getting larger, and more and more people are having issues hearing. I am well-versed in the best hearing technologies available.”
WHAT TREND IS DEFINING YOUR SPECIALTY TODAY? “Technology! As the technology of hearing solutions advances and can be utilized with smartphones, patients have the ability to use these tools for more than just improving their hearing. They can listen to music and take phone calls.”
HOW DO YOU EDUCATE YOUR CLIENTS TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEMSELVES? “More and more research is being done, and the research findings is that hearing loss does affect how the brain functions as we get older. I try to encourage patients to be proactive about health care instead of waiting for things to get worse.”
Q&A
I am well-versed in the best hearing technologies available.”
Hearing solutions and vestibular diagnos-tics. We specialize in finding the top hear-ing technologies to help improve people’s quality of life and helping physicians help diagnose vestibular disorders.
PRACTICE SPECIALTY
Hearing loss is correlated with a lot of different medical disorders. It’s important to ask your doctor to get an annual hearing test to make sure you’re not losing hearing.
SHARED TIP
I spend time with my wife of nine years, Shoshana, and two sons. I enjoy hot yoga, golf, playing basket-ball, coaching my son’s sports teams, and I am an avid rider of motorcycles.
OFF THE CLOCK WITH DR. LEITERMAN
52 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 53
LA ORTHOPEDICSSHAHAB MAHBOUBIAN, DO, MPH
10640 Riverside Dr.North Hollywood818-322-0126LAOrthopedics.comHeightLengthening.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Cosmetic Height LengtheningInjuries in Adults and ChildrenSports-Related Injuries
Joint Replacement SurgeryHand InjuriesNeck and Back Pain IssuesFoot and Ankle ProblemsLower Extremity Deformities
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.“I completed my training in limb lengthening and deformity correction surgery at the world-re-nowned Hospital for Special Surgery in New York in 2010. Along with general orthopedics, some of the specialized surgical techniques I perform include correction of bow-legs and knock-knees and leg-length discrepancies. Cosmetic limb lengthen-ing, however, seems to be the most talked about surgery that I perform among my patients.”
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR STYLE AND TECHNIQUE?“I have been fortunate enough to learn from some of the best surgeons in the country, and I keep my-self updated on all the latest techniques in ortho-pedic surgery. Using minimally invasive procedures, along with my drive for perfection and being very meticulous during surgeries, sets me apart from other surgeons.”
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR WORK?“There is a great satisfaction when I see my pa-tients moving at the speed of life with minimal to no pain because of the treatment or surgery that I provided for them. It’s very rewarding to do what I enjoy and have my patients benefit from it at the same time.”
WHAT’S THE FASCINATION ABOUT BEING TALLER?“Sixty percent of CEOs in the top companies in America are 6 feet and taller. People in general love tall men and express that affection by pro-moting them to positions of responsibility. People who are taller have higher salaries than most, more confidence and enjoy better relationships. It’s no wonder that we get many inquiries about the height lengthening procedure.”
Q&A
If you sustain a minor injury, make sure to rest and ice it for a couple of days to allow the swelling to go down. Once the swelling has gone down if you are still in pain, come in for an evaluation. If you decide to “work it out” or ignore it, your injury can become worse and lead to further and longer treatments, including possible surgery. I try to always treat minor problems with conservative care, such as physical therapy and proper exercises. If your symptoms do not improve, then we will discuss the possibility of undergoing surgery.
Here’s an example of a height lengthen-ing patient who gained a full 8 cm in height. He is a
23-year-old man who went from 5’3” to 5’6” in a matter of three months. He is now walking tall and with a lot more confidence. These pic-tures show his height compared to his mom before and after his surgery.
Working on the human body and helping those with musculo-skeletal injuries was always a passion of mine at a very young age. Learning about making people taller and correcting their
deformities came toward the end of my orthopedic residency, and I found it fascinating. I was determined that this specialty would truly fulfill my desire to help those in need. In the past few years I have been able to not only make people taller or walk normally, but I have raised my patients’ confidence and helped them achieve their lifelong goals.
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Using minimally invasive procedures, along with my drive for perfection and being very meticulous during surgeries, sets me apart from other surgeons.”
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GLASER PAIN RELIEF CENTERJEFFREY B. GLASER, MD
16311 Ventura Blvd., Suite 518Encino818-501-PAIN (7246)glaserpainrelief.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Non-surgical solutions for conditions causing back pain and sciatica, including herniated/bulging discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis and failed back surgery syndrome
PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE.“My practice is committed to the diagnosis and ultimately non-surgical treatment of disorders causing pain. There are so many minimally invasive treatments available for these diagnoses today that patients rarely need surgery to alleviate their pain.”
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR STYLE?“I think interventional pain management is one of the most exciting and revolutionary fields in all of medi-cine. What’s most exciting to me is educating pa-tients about their condition and providing non-med-ication, non-surgical, minimally invasive solutions to get them out of pain. It’s important for me to learn about a patient before I even see them. I personally review all patient records prior to a patient’s visit, which is why we insist on patients sending records in advance and completing their history on our portal. This review allows me to concentrate on a compre-hensive history and physical examination when I see the patient and to ultimately establish a diagnosis and comprehensive treatment plan.”
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.“I am a dual board-certified pain management physician, and I’ve been in private practice for 16 years. I am a native of the San Fernando Valley and am thrilled to be practic-ing where I grew up. I received my MD degree from Jef-ferson Medical College in Philadelphia and my specialty training at UCLA. I’m active in a number of interventional pain societies and enjoy teaching as well as learning. I’m constantly participating in continuing medical education so I can offer the latest and most advanced treatments to my patients—my patients deserve the best.”
HOW DO YOU WORK WITH OTHER DOCTORS TO CARE FOR YOUR PATIENTS?“One of the most important elements of providing out-standing care to a patient is to not work as a ‘lone ranger’ but rather engage other physicians and health care professionals involved in a patient’s treatment. I often will call a patient’s referring or primary physician to col-laborate care. This coordination of care leads to the most outstanding and comprehensive treatment of the patient and best outcomes.”
Q&A
Back pain/sciatica is one of the top reasons people end up in the ER or their doctor’s office. Back pain can be debilitating, life-changing, mood-altering and affect everything from work and family life to sex life. Most people don’t realize that the most immedi-ate and effective relief can often be obtained by visiting an interventional pain specialist. Surgery is rarely “needed,” and often patients are helped with minimally invasive, non-surgical techniques. Patients don’t have to suffer.
One of the most exciting advances in interventional pain management has been the evolution of a device called a spinal cord stimulator (SCS). SCS is a technology akin to a pacemaker for pain in patients who suffer from back pain and sciatica when other treatment options—including surgery—have failed. Dr. Glaser has implanted hundreds of SCS devices, allowing patients to live lives either free of pain or with greatly reduced levels of pain.
Interventional pain management is the state-of-the-art medical specialty dedicated to treating patients with minimally invasive and non-surgical solutions to conditions such as herniated/bulging discs, spinal stenosis, pinched nerves, arthritis of the back and other conditions of the spine that cause symptoms such as back pain and sciatica. Dr. Glaser has helped thousands of patients with back pain and sciatica without surgery.
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Dr. Glaser has helped thousands of patients with back pain and sciatica without surgery.”
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VĒNA VASCULAR LAB AND VEIN CLINICVAHE MELKONYAN, MD, RVT, RPVI
4910 Van Nuys Blvd. #206 Sherman Oaks
1332 S Glendale Ave. Glendale
818-855-2230venavascular.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Comprehensive Diagnostics & Treatment of Venous Disease Varicose Veins Venous Insufficiency Thrombosis Spider Veins Hand Veins Facial Veins Chest Veins
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE POTENTIAL PATIENTS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?“Dr. Vahe Melkonyan, the founding medical director of VēNA Vascular Lab and Vein Clinic, has extensive international surgical background. He is among a few first diplomats of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine, committing himself to the ad-vancement of the highest standard in vein care. VēNA is a state-of-the-art facility accredited by the American Board of Radiology; our practice underwent a vigorous process of evaluation to ensure the highest quality of patient care.”
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR STYLE AND TECHNIQUE?“At VēNA we’ll set you on the path toward long-term recovery. We designed our safe, effective facility with one goal in mind: to provide comprehensive diag-
nostics and treatments for all types of vein disorders without lengthy hospital stays or extensive surgeries. We consider it our specialty to improve the health of your legs and make them feel good and look great. We use a variety of advanced, outpatient, nonsurgical and surgical treatments to achieve this. Our vascular lab is staffed with certified physicians and registered vascular technologists. We are trained and experienced phlebologists (vein doctors) and vein sonographers exclusively dedicated to venous disease.”
HOW DO YOU EDUCATE YOUR CLIENTS TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEMSELVES?“We would advise patients to choose a doctor care-fully, among diplomats of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and accredited by the American Board of Radiology and/or the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission facilities only.”
Q&A
An astonishing 80 mil-lion Americans suffer from venous disease. Varicose veins are not a cosmetic issue and could lead to debilitat-ing complications like
non-healing ulcers, blood clots, chronic pain, etc. For years, many patients with venous disease were ne-glected by the medical community or presented with limited or undesirable surgical treatment options only.
VēNA offers comprehensive venous treatments such as EVLA (endovenous laser ablation), radiofrequency ablation, sclerotherapy, microphlebectomy, cos-metic spider vein removal and many more. All treatments, whether medical or cosmetic, are tailored to individual patient’s needs. The procedures performed at VēNA Vascular Lab and Vein Clinic are exclusively outpatient, minimally invasive, painless with immediate results. There is no down time, which means that the patient can return to daily activities right after the treatment. “Vein care beneath the surface” is VēNA’s slogan, which means we look beyond the surface, identify and eliminate the real, deeper cause of the superficial vein disease.
You don’t have to have bulging veins to think about venous disease. Call VēNA if you are suffering from one or more of the following symp-toms: swollen ankles,
leg pain and aches, fatigue and heaviness, itching and burning, night cramps and restless legs, dry skin and irritation, non-healing wounds and eczema.
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At VēNA we’ll set you on the path toward long-term recovery.”
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TOLBERT CENTER FOR REHABILITATION AND WELLNESSGLENNA TOLBERT, MD, QME
17609 Ventura Blvd., Suite 114 Encino818 784-7197tolbertrehab.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Primary Care and General Medicine Spinal Cord Medicine Epidurals Joint Injections
Trigger Point Injections Nerve Blocks Botox Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Injections Homeopathic Injections
Genetic Medication Testing Nutritional and Weight Loss Programs Medical Gym and Physical Therapy
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR STYLE AND TECHNIQUE? “Blending traditional medical approaches with natural healing options, we offer personalized medicine and customized programs. We use all our tools at our disposal to get patients better. These tools span from traditional treatments such as epidurals and joint injections to regenerative prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma injection therapies. After a thorough medical evaluation, DNA testing is performed to see if your cells possess vital nutrients for healing. If medications are required, DNA testing is available to determine the best medication for your body. I heal injured tissues and treat arthritis using patient’s cells in the office. I am also onsite and available to patients as they rehabilitate in our medical gym with our trainer. Se habla español.”
WHAT IS MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR WORK?“Colleagues often refer patients who have been suffering with pain for many years. People come to me desiring alternatives to medications, surgeries or other treatments. They believe they have tried everything until they visit my office. It is most rewarding to not only provide pain relief but solve the prob-lem and heal.”
HOW DO YOU ASSIST YOUR PATIENTS IN NAVIGATING THE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY?“We remind patients that our medical recommendations are based on what will get them better, not limited to what their insurance will cover. For this reason, we offer transparent, affordable cash prices. Our programs are per-fectly suited for Medicare patients. Private insurance is less predictable, so we encourage patients to avoid contracts that require pre-authorization before we can treat them.”
Q&A
I am thrilled when I enhance patients’ lives using healthy treatments. We are in the medical renovation business!”
Traditional pain treatments for acute pain include epidurals, medications, trigger point injections and steroid joint injections. We perform these treatments inside our office when patients need immediate pain relief. These procedures, although effective for acute pain relief, do not heal or solve the underlying problem.
In fact, if repeated too often, they may be harmful to the body. We also offer homeopathic pain procedures—a natural steroid alternative.
Great news! The “Generation of Regeneration” has arrived. Regenerate means to restore. I now have the ability to heal and restore patients’ damaged carti-lage, torn meniscus, tendons and ligaments non-surgically in my office. Prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma injection therapies are designed to stimulate the patient’s immune system to heal damaged structures without the significant risks associated with surgeries, medications or traditional invasive procedures. These regenerative injections are designed to heal in addition to provide pain relief.
DNA Micronutrient Testing. Healing, vitality and pain relief start with the correct foundation and balance of nutrients, minerals and hormones. Pain, accident, injury, aging, medications, stress and chronic illness can rob our bodies of necessary nutrients. Correcting micronutrient deficien-cies not only slows aging and degenerative disease progression but can help prevent injury and repair the body. Since no two people are the same, we offer this genetic-based nutritional test.
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CALIFORNIA CENTER OF LONGEVITY AND FUNCTIONAL MEDICINEALLAN KURTZ, DO, MEDICAL DIRECTOR
6325 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 501 Woodland Hills 818-346-1440californiacenteroflongevitymedicine.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention Center Intravenous Vitamin TherapyExercise Stress Testing
Carotid Ultrasound EvaluationBone Density TestingIn-House Laboratory and X-Ray
PLEASE GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF YOUR PRACTICE.“Our goal at the Center of Longevity & Functional Medicine is to restore your optimal health. Heart attacks and strokes are the leading cause of death in the US. Approximately 2,200 people in the U.S. die from heart disease every day. Every 43 seconds someone in the United States suffers a heart attack. California Center of Longevity Medicine is an integrative medical clinic that uses the most advanced diagnostic tests to detect and prevent heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. With imaging of arteries as well as extensive laboratory testing, we aim to uncover root causes of heart disease and administer the necessary treatments to halt heart at-tacks and strokes.”
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.“I specialize in creating optimal health and longevity for my patients. I have been in private practice since 1984. I am a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and The Institute for Functional Medicine.”
WHAT ARE YOUR AREAS OF SPECIALTY?“I am board-certified in internal medicine, with a fellowship in func-tional medicine. Together they complement each other to maximize the health of my patients. I am excited to open the heart attack and stroke prevention center.”
Q&A
Our goal at the Center of Longevity & Functional Medicine is to restore your optimal health.”
Prevention of heart attacks and strokes using the most up-to-date diagnostics and laboratory testing.
I recommend to my patients in order to maintain optimal health you need to: (a) exercise daily—30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weight training; (b) eat a healthy, organic diet; (c) take supplements: (d) reduce stress in your life; (e) maintain a youthful hormone balance.
Coming from the Midwest, I enjoy the California lifestyle: the sun, the sand and the surf. Enjoying local restaurants and going to the movies are some of my favorite things to do in LA.
PRACTICE SPECIALTY
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VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 63
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR PRACTICE’S GROWTH?“We continuously strive to uphold and at every opportunity improve four factors at our practice: (1) expertise in the field of cosmetic injectables; (2) honesty with our patients and their care; (3) superior customer service; (4) affordable prices without the marketing games. We really listen to patient feedback, and we use it to improve their experience with us. Continuing education is also a top priority. We stay abreast of all new techniques, products and safety protocols on the market so we can deliver the absolute best care and results with the least amount of discomfort or bruising.”
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR WORK?“Making people feel good. Patients sometimes come in while going through a stressful life event or medical issue. It’s rewarding to be able to put a smile on their faces and make them feel better.” HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY?“Instead of playing the marketing tactics where third parties make most of the profits, we have started our own VIP program where patients can receive lower pricing all year by donating to one of three charity organizations: National Breast Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation or advancement of Research for Myopathies (other reputable charities are acceptable as well).”
Q&A
COSMETIC INJECTABLES CENTERSHERLY SOLEIMAN, MD & JESSICA MARTI, RN, FNP-C
16133 Ventura Blvd., Suite 370Encino818-322-0122cosmeticinjectables.com
SERVICES OFFERED
Botox/DysportFillers (e.g., Sculptra, Voluma, Juvederm, Restylane Silk)
KybellaNovaThreadsMicroneedling
The newest additions to our portfolio of state-of-the-art prod-ucts include: Voluma for a subtle lifted appearance; Restylane silk for fine lines; NovaThreads for collagen stimulation, especial-ly around lips, lower cheeks and upper neck; Kybella for melting away the “double chin” fat; and microneedling for acne, fine lines and tightening.
RECOMMENDED
We specialize in cosmetic injectables … only in-jectables, which enables us to focus and achieve expertise in our field. In particular, we aim to help patients achieve a natural look. We want them to look the best they can possibly can at any given age, rather than looking like someone else!
Chasing one specific flaw can prevent patients from achieving the best outcome. Step back and look at the whole picture. View your face as a proportional 3-D entity that has bright hills and shadowed valleys. These light and dark areas can emphasize a droopy, tired look or be contoured to appear lifted, rejuvenated and youthful.
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We specialize in cosmetic injectables … only injectables, which enables us to focus and achieve expertise in our field.”
VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016 65
66 VENTURA BLVD HEALTH 2016
For those days when you are in a hurry, here’s a
tip from holistic nutritionist Elissa Goodman.
Create a salad in a mason jar. “Lots of nutri-
tionists are doing this for clients these days. It
makes it easy when you have a busy week. Do your chop-
ping when you have downtime. And then just empty in a
bowl, sprinkle on some dressing and toss,” advises Elissa.
In this jar, Elissa has beets, yellow peppers, tomatoes,
cucumbers, Kalamata olives and feta cheese with a
butter-lettuce blend on top.
For dressing, Elissa suggests her Detox Vinaigrette
recipe. She sends it to clients who sign up for her custom
SOUP Cleanse (which also includes salads). The dressing is
comprised of fresh herbs (cilantro, parsley, basil, dill) with
1/3 cup of olive oil, a pinch of salt, a clove of garlic and two
tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Add all
to a blender for a fresh and detoxifying green dressing. n
Jar ItA shortcut to eating healthy on the run
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE O’DONNELL
THE SHERI AND ROY P. DISNEY CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AT THE DISNEY FAMILY CANCER CENTER
Ora Karp Gordon, MD, MSMedical Director,
Integrative Medicine& Cancer Genetics and
Prevention Program
A WORLD OF ANSWERS.
One in three Americans will develop cancer in their lifetime and at least 10 percent of these cancers are hereditary. For Dr. Ora Karp Gordon, knowledge is power. As the Medical Director of Integrative Medicine and Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program at the Roy & Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, Dr. Gordon and her team know that blending the best of traditional and complementary medicine can provide a world of answers. 181 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91505
1-888-HEALING | providence.org/saintjoseph
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