Health & Wellness

 

By John Selick IV

 

There is a lot of truth to the old adage “it takes a village to raise a child.”

 

My wife and I welcomed a daughter to our already full house of children, a fourth child to a blended family of preteen siblings. We may have been running out of room in our home, but we had plenty of room in our hearts to welcome this little girl into our lives. She is surrounded by a loving family of parents, sisters and a brother, and her grandparents. The grandparents are important members of this village.

 

You’ve probably heard how hard the chef career is: they’re rarely home, they work long weekends, they miss holidays. It’s all true. It’s a tough career where I’ve had to make family sacrifices. To make it more complicated, my wife is in this business, too.

 

We couldn’t be successful in our careers if it wasn’t for our parents, who are able to help with the children. The kids are lucky to have grandma and grandpa be there for them while we are at work. They genuinely care about how the kids are doing in school and what they want to eat. The grandparents spoil them with foods they love, but of course we have some preferences we want for them, as well.

 

A Gentle Clash

 

I’m into fresh ingredients when I cook at work and at home. I also prefer organic for some ingredients. She won’t say it, but I could see the look in my mother-in-law’s eyes when I loaded the fridge with homemade baby food – she thought I was nuts. She raised her own children with store-bought baby food and they turned out just fine. Who does this guy think he is with his sweet potato-spinach-apple concoction?

...

 

As we age, it becomes even more important to pay attention to our dental health. After all, all of our nutrition comes from what we take in through our mouth, whether we are drinking or eating – even swallowing vitamins. As AARP Magazine recently noted, without Medicare and limited benefits for dentistry, getting dental work done while being relatively healthy and before retirement can be a lifesaver, both physically and financially.

 

Early Care Matters

Having practiced dentistry for nearly 40, following three years serving as a captain and dental resident in the United States Air Force, I have followed and cared for many patients and their families. Some of these patients were seen by my late father, Dr. Sam Marsh, and continued in the practice when he retired and when I took over following my military service.

Thankfully, many of these people and their families have remained with us and are dedicated to taking care of their teeth, having them examined, cleaned, and radiographed (x-rayed) on a regular basis, along with routine checks for oral cancer. They not only have beautiful smiles with a full complement of teeth, but also remark that compared to many of their friends and peers, they have had little to no pain with their teeth and can chew quite well – not avoiding any foods because of issues with dentures or partial dentures.  

This consistent care also has saved them money; most have had very few major or expensive procedures. Though dentistry does have a number of options to replace missing teeth, such as implants and bridges, the techniques and materials take time and are costly.  

There also is an emotional component. Many times, I have sat across from a new patient whose chief complaint is that they won’t smile for pictures or when they meet someone because they are ashamed of their smile.

...

We know it's coming. No, not more snow - we're talking about allergy season. If you're dreading the sniffles, watery eyes and other signs that come with spring blooms, the Cleveland Clinic has a few suggestions to temper your symptoms before they start. ...

Any situation you run into where there’s a problem, you can still get your point across without being mean. Find the funny in things, emphasize the ridiculousness. Find the funny in everyday life. ...

Cleveland Clinic Research Shows ‘Estimated Age’ from Exercise Stress Test is Better Indicator than Actual Age of How Long You Live. Hmm, maybe you're not as old as you feel. ...

Possibly the only reason, medical-wise, that makes the 1800s appealing is that doctors prescribed chocolate to lovelorn patients to help mend their broken hearts and to help them recover from a bad relationship. Many of us have been self-prescribing chocolate for that same reason. ...

How can you tell if a loved one or senior neighbor is the victim of elder abuse? There are plenty of signs but only if you know what to look for. Keep alert, try being a little bit nosy and then take action to help. Your watchfulness can make a big difference in someone's life. ...

Hold on now; allergy season is over, right? At least until spring. Keep the Kleenex handy. For some folks, allergy season takes hold during the winter months when household allergens trigger all sorts of symptoms. Read on for tips on how to beat the indoor allergy season - that way, you'll be all set for the spring allergy season! ...