| IN THIS ISSUE |
|
|
 A PERSONAL NOTE FROM BETTINA |
|
Hello !
Fall is here and it's a great
 time to enjoy the outdoors. I enjoy the amazing Indian Summer we experience in San Francisco. I love the radiant warm days and the feel of moisture returning to the city after the dry months of summer.
The lovely weather, combined with a little housecleaning, motivates me to take up old activities; things I have not in years. While roaming through my storage, I found the bike I brought from Europe, way back when. My mind raced with old memories of long bike rides through the country in Germany and cruising through France and Ireland.
I was an enthusiastic cyclist and brought both my bike and enthusiasm with me to the U.S. And quickly learned that biking, common in Europe for centuries, was not a practical mode of transportation in this country. Now, though, ti  mes have changed, and even here in our hilly city, biking is becoming a more common way to get around town. The City has transformed its streets and now has safe bike lanes, increased awareness, visibility and rights to bikers in the city. So, when I found my bike again, I thought, "Why not bike to work and see how I like it?" To tell you the truth: I don't like it. I LOVE IT! I enjoy every moment of my ride to work along the Bay. It revitalizes me, bringing back memories and some of the energy of my youth, when I used to discover the world on my bike. Of course, there are challenges to tackle anytime you start (or restart) a new activity. I cope with it by analyzing very carefully and balancing exercise, nutrition and getting some extra support via my Orenda supplements.
Besides riding to work, I've begun training my Viszla friend, Tara, to run with me while I bike. Soon you will find my amazing canine friend in my office, joining me to welcome you, and help you to motivated and get well. But first, just like any hard working individual, she needs to be fully trained in order to be successful in her job.
This month I asked Dr. Lu to give us her take on healthy aging and focusing on whole self health.
If you want to know more, come to our October event and Dr. Lu will give you the inside scoop about healthy aging.
Bettina
Are you already looking forward to next month's Healthy Thoughts? In October: "My back hurts" - 5 simple tips to combat your back pain
|
|
COUCH POTATOES ARISE: HEALTHY AGING |
||
|
FOCUS ON HEALTH
-by Dr. Shanhong Lu, MD, PhD
"It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years!"
-Abe Lincoln
After 13 years of practice in internal medicine-working with people with complex medical illnesses and age-related symptoms - I have come to realize that a highly integrative approach combining evidence-based, effective lifestyle intervention, cellular detoxification, natural hormone balance and restoration, and careful, selective use of pharmaceutical drugs provides the most cost-effective delivery of a health promotion / disease prevention system.
It is not complicated or expensive. It does, however, take great courage to open your mind, to widen your horizon, and to take responsibility for the choices you make in your life. It is not a comfortable journey and it does not work by simply taking magic pills. But when you do your best and see your body restored, balanced, and revitalized, you will be smiling and glad that you have listened, done your diligence, and made the changes.
The epidemic of weight gain and obesity in the United States-especially in younger and younger people-has generated predictions that members of this generation (those now age 35 and younger) might be the first in history to die younger than their parents!
I am very excited about integrating both Eastern wisdom and Western medical science and technology. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that cancer has surpassed heart disease as a leading cause of death for those 85 years of age and under the US. According to National Cancer Institute, greater than 80% of all cancer deaths are related to the use of tobacco products, to what we eat and drink, to exposure to sunlight and ionizing radiation, and to exposure to cancer-causing chemicals found in the environment and the work place. This demonstrates a huge potential for making lifestyle-related changes: we can decrease the risks and burden of diseases and if we build a strong immune system, we will most likely to do better even when we have the diseases.
More and older Americans are living short and dying long. According to AARP, people between ages 40-60 nowadays have more chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, hypertension and obesity than their parents at the same ages. As a physician, I definitely see the urgent need for more comprehensive, proactive, preventive, and non-invasive approaches to the disease process. We human beings are more unalike than we are alike. Therefore, an individualized assessment of your genes and family history, your lifestyle, your antioxidant levels, your intracellular vitamin levels, your individual hormone levels and possible environmental toxic chemical burden will guide a physician to be more effective in a lifestyle-intervention program. By virtue of having heard it before, we all know what to do already: eat at least 10 servings of vegetables and fruits a day, avoid poor dietary choices, get regular physical exercise, avoid stress, love and respect yourself, etc.
If you are successful in all these areas, chances are you're healthy already! If, like most of us, there is a disparity between what you know you should be doing and what you manage to fulfill on a daily basis, it's a good time to look at your choices. Studying the connections between our genes, our hormones, environmental pollutants, and chronic daily stress gives us certain tools we can use to make simple lifestyle changes.
By adopting a regimen of vigorous and daily cellular detoxification, restoring natural hormone balance, and committing to a simple weight management program, we will be able to lower our risks of age-related diseases and be on our way to a healthy life filled with vitality, passion, and purpose.
To your health! Shanhong Lu, MD, PhD
My story starts in Beijing, China where I grew up with two traditions of medicine. From the Eastern tradition, my grandmother was a midwife who practiced Chinese medicine and believed strongly in nature's ability to heal. On the other hand, my mother, an excellent cardiologist and clinical professor, is firmly rooted in the science and rescuing power of Western medicine. I have seen the beauty and power in both traditions, and I have made it my craft to integrate the wisdom of the East with the science of the West. I completed six years of medical school, five years of graduate school, three years of postdoctoral fellowship, and three years of residency in internal medicine. During my 14 years of study and research, I absorbed information from some of the best health programs in the world, including the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of California San Francisco. I later studied the science of antiaging and regenerative medicine. I am double board certified by the American Boards of Internal Medicine, and AntiAging and Regenerative Medicine.
In 1998 I opened a private internal medicine practice in the small community of Mt. Shasta, nestled in the mountains of northern California. I love living in Mt. Shasta, where people come to know you by your action and your heart.
I have seen many complex cases in my professional years of practice. I asked myself, "Why are so many people on so many pills, yet so few of them experience good quality of life?" That's when I began implementing natural products in my practice and dedicating any spare time I had to ensuring that I am offering the highest quality products on the market.
Orenda came to me through a patient. I was so impressed by the physical and emotional changes I observed in her, I soaked in the science and quickly recognized that Orenda's products have the three qualities I believe are the most important: natural, simple to use, and highly effective. They address what I believe are the two greatest hazards to our modern human life: stress and environmental toxins. Orenda has been nothing short of a miracle for me and my patients.
Right now, it is an extremely challenging world for health care professionals of all disciplines. Both patients and providers are facing a health care crisis of global scale. The current health care system seldom cares about the quality of life. Physicians are often forced to see more and more patients at the expense of providing good quality of care. I know it is very hard to provide care for a whole person in just a few minutes.
The information above is based on my long working experience with patients. These are only general tips. If you have any health issues or specific problems, consult your physician and/or your physical therapist.
Join me on Facebook to get a FREE report and learn more about how to stay healthy every day!
Stay tuned for our October issue - Ow! My Back!
|
| Upcoming Event: Awaken, Cleanse and Feed! |
| You're invited! |
Orenda International has created a product line designed to bring your body to its natural healthy best. Try them and feel like a whole new you!
Awaken your own natural vitality
Cleanse the toxins from your system
Feed your body powerful superfoods
  
Join us to learn more about the power of the Orenda products, a special opportunity, and how these products can positively affect your life. You won't believe what you've been missing.
Product and Opportunity Meeting
Monday, September 10, 2012, 7 to 8PM
Rising Sun Physical Therapy
500 Sutter Street, Suite 514
San Francisco, CA 94102
Call Bettina Neumann for reservation
415-672-9064 / rspt@risingsunpt.com
|
|
Rehab Pilates at Rising Sun Physical Therapy |
|
Rehab Pilates Class: by Bettina Neumann, PT, CST, LLCC 
Wednesdays at 12:10PM
at Rising Sun Physical Therapy
Starting: September 12, 2012
Period: 4 weeks
Fee: $120Small group sessions. These classes help promote core stability, flexibility, endurance, postural and body awareness. Pilates also help to correct muscle imbalances by teaching practitioners to pay close attention to their breathing, concentration, muscle control and centering. Classes encourage precise movement and routine building.  As always, if you have any questions, you can email me at rspt@risingsunpt.com. |
|
HEALTHY COOKING WITH LINDA CARUCCI |
|
Red Pepper Bisque by Linda Carucci |
This has been the workhorse recipe I use in my Cooking Basics classes to teach the concept of seasoning to taste. It's a fairly simple recipe for beginner cooks to replicate at home.
A bisque (pronounced bisk) is a smooth, puréed soup, often made with seafood, and usually enriched with cream. When made with lobster or shrimp, a bisque is sometimes thickened or enriched by adding a tablespoon or so of raw white rice when the stock is added. The rice disintegrates as the soup cooks, releasing its starch and thickening the soup in the process. Given the texture of peppers or mushrooms, it's not necessary to add rice to a bisque made with either of these vegetables but a little cream goes a long way to enhance the "mouth-feel" of a bell pepper or mushroom bisque.
To enhance the satisfying sensation of umami, this vegetable bisque is prepared with chicken stock. But, if you prefer a vegetarian soup, simply substitute commercial or homemade vegetable broth for the chicken stock. The amount of salt you'll need when seasoning to taste depends on the saltiness of your stock. Secrets
Serves 4 to 6
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped (if you don't plan to strain the soup, peel before chopping)
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 medium red bell peppers (about 1 3/4 pounds), stemmed, seeded, & chopped into 1-inch pieces
About 4 cups chicken stock, homemade or low-sodium, if canned
1/4 cup heavy cream
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
About 2/3 cup crème fraîche or sour cream, stirred to a smooth consistency, for garnish
Place a heavy 4-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. When oil is hot enough to sizzle a piece of carrot, add the carrots, onions, and celery. Sauté until carrots turn bright orange and onions become translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne pepper and add the bell peppers. When the peppers start to soften, after about 5 minutes, add enough stock to just cover the vegetables and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until carrots and peppers are soft, about 30 minutes.
In a stand blender, purée soup in batches until very smooth: Blend just 2 cups at a time and hold down the blender lid as you slowly increase and decrease the speed. Alternatively, purée with an immersion blender. If desired, strain puréed soup through a medium-mesh strainer into a clean pot. As you strain the soup, extract as much pulp as possible from the solids by pressing on them with the bottom of a ladle.
Stir in heavy cream and season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper, as well as additional cayenne pepper, if desired. If necessary, reheat soup over low heat, stirring constantly. Ladle soup into warm bowls and drizzle with crème fraîche or garnish with a dollop of sour cream.
Variation: Substitute unseasoned Roasted Peppers--red, yellow or green--for the raw bell peppers. If you plan to strain the soup, you needn't peel the peppers after roasting them. Originally published in Cooking School Secrets for Real World Cooks by Linda Carucci. All rights reserved.
Also published online at cuesa.org.
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS |
|
Lymphedema Education, Exercise and Prevention
for people with lymphedema, cancer patients, cancer survivors, caregivers, friends and family |
|
Lymphedema Education and Exercise Group
3rd Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 7pm
Each meeting includes an educational presentation, time for questions and practical techniques for preventing, understanding and managing lymphedema.
This program is available to anyone who has lymphedema, is at risk for it, or who simply wants to learn more about it.
Cost: Free
To register, call: (415) 600-3073
Location: Bryan Hemming Cancer Care Center
California Pacific Medical Center
2351 Clay St, #137 - Deikel Family Conference Room
San Francisco, CA 94115
Parking is available in the parking structure at the corner of Clay St. & Webster St.
Testimonial:
After a double mastectomy I learned there were simple measures that could be taken to prevent developing the problem of lymphedema. As an RN I tried to educate myself about lymphedema since I had taken care of patients that had been debilitated by this problem. After a double mastectomy and a problem with ongoing seromas after surgery I was particularly concerned I might develop this complication myself. One of the things i liked most about Bettina's class the solid, practical information she provided in a short class without my having to do even more research in addition to what I was doing about cancer, surgery and recovery. Not only did I feel less overwhelmed but she gave information in the class that I hadn't read about in my research. I've taken the information I got in her class and developed a plan for myself that supports my recovery after surgery and gives me confidence I am doing the most I can to prevent developing this problem.
- Deborah Vance
|
|
EXERCISE-MADE-EASY ®
|
|
EXERCISE-MADE-EASY®
This is a 90-day program, step-by-step instruction with a workbook and audio exercise instruction,for people with lymphedema,and people during and after cancer treatment.
List Price: $ 160
S & H: $ 12
Call to order: 415-282-4083
or email: rspt@risingsunpt.com
|
| ABOUT BETTINA AND THE STAFF OF RISING SUN PHYSICAL THERAPY |
|
Our vision is to inspire and empower you to start healthy habits, to become personally responsible, to regain your health and renew your energy after injury, surgery or debilitating illness, and to help you maintain your health after your recovery.
What makes Rising Sun Physical Therapy different is that we are compassionate therapists. We've
worked to create an exceptional healing environment combined with medically sound approaches. Our techniques acknowledge and utilize the strong body-mindconnection we all have. We combine evidence-based, innovative, nontraditional, hands-on therapies with a
proactive approach.
Whether you are just starting your healing and rehabilitation, or wanting to stay healthy, we'd love to help! Our goal is to help you stay active and healthy for the rest of your life.
|
|
RISING SUN REFERRAL PROGRAM |
|
For Existing Patients |
|
Refer a friend or family member to Rising Sun Physical Therapy and earn savings toward your next visit.Simply Forward this Newsletter to a friend and family member.
Who will benefit from treatment at Rising Sun Physical Therapy?
If your friend mentions your name after they become a patient, you will receive a $20 discount at the time of your next visit, AND if they mention the "Rising Sun Referral Program" they too willreceive a $20 discount at their first visit*.
|
| WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWLETTER OR WEBSITE? |
| You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: |
|
Bettina Neumann, PT, CST, LLCC, is a licensed Physical Therapist in California and Germany, as well as a certified CranioSacral Therapist and Lymphedema Specialist. She is the founder and owner of Rising Sun Physical Therapy, Inc.
She published an easy to use 90-day exercise program for cancer patients, cancer survivors, and patients with lymphedema, "Exercise-Made-Easy". Get your FREE newsletter: Healthy Thoughts today: www.risingsunpt.com
|