DECEMBER 2016 MIAMI for web

#EXPRESSNEVERSUPPRESS

The Curl Experts 

BY CHADWICK & IGOR 

WHAT MAKES OUIDAD SALON UNIQUE? 

Chadwick: We know and understand curls. We have put a great deal of time and effort 

into working with all types of curls and have developed techniques that offer solutions 

to the challenges of naturally curly hair. Our salon is a haven for those who are blessed 

with naturally curly hair. After just one visit it becomes obvious that we are addressing 

the needs of curls and then bringing them to life. Because we address four curl types 

we can customize services that offer solutions to even the trickiest head of curls where 

sometimes 3 or 4 curl types live together on one head of hair. 

What will a client experience at the salon on a typical visit? Most individuals with 

curly hair are either nervous or have anxiety about visiting a salon. We want to give 

them a place where they can be heard and understood. A thorough consultation will 

be rendered and a plan created so that a beautiful head of curls is the destination. Our 

guests will recieve luxurious shampooing and conditions treatments specially formulated 

for their unique head of curls. You will receive a prescriptive at home regime and be 

taught how to properly care for and maintain your look. We want our clients to be 

empowered when it comes to her curls. 

WHAT ARE TWO WAYS A GIRL CAN CHANGE UP HER CURLS 

Chadwick: Currently one of the hottest coloring techniques we offer is Color Melting. 

This technique seamlessly blends multiple tones together on a head of curls creating 

a melting effect that is stunning. Not ready to shampoo yet? Let us teach you how to 

build out your look and keep going about your day with out having to shampoo and 

start over. We also offer styling techniques that help to elongate curls. 

Visit us at chadwickandigor.com and on Facebook 

for updates on the salon grand opening. 

Chadwick Pendley 

is a Master Artistic 

Educator of Ouidad. 

He is a recognized 

expert in the art of 

creating beautiful hair. 

His innate approach 

to hairstyling is 

solidly rooted in his precision cutting 

expertise and rich knowledge of state-ofthe 

art styling skills for all types of hair. He 

constantly pushes the boundaries of his art. 

Born in Brazil, Igor 

Araujo brings the 

passion, energy and 

zest for life of that 

cultural region to his 

work. Igor gravitated 

toward hair coloring 

from an early age. He 

is both a Ouidad Certified Stylist, highly 

knowledgeable about the sculpture of curly 

hair, and a Goldwell Technical Artist, always 

raising the bar of his color skills for the 

world’s premier maker of color products. 

3530 N. Federal HWY Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33308 • 954.613.0405

Claudia Portillo 

Editor in Chief 

PUBLISHER 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

MARKETING DIRECTOR 

COPY EDITOR 

ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR 

WEBSITE DIRECTOR 

ART AND DESIGN 

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Mauricio Portillo 

Claudia Portillo 

Arnaldo Del Valle 

Lora Incardona 

Andres Portillo 

Maria Alejandra Wehdeking 

Carolina Pedraza 

Maria Alejandra Wehdeking 

Kiko Ricote 

As write this, I'm sitting outside feeling the brisk and 

welcoming chill of the anticipated December winds rushing 

past me. I stare in amazement at the early sunset and begin to 

prepare myself for the upcoming holiday - a day of unity and 

thankfulness. 

December is both a goodbye and a sort of preparation for 

the new year, a month of joy, and cheer, and prosperity. 

Here, at Healthy Magazine, over the past 12 months, we’ve 

had the pleasure of spreading health in our community and 

partaking in many amazing collaborations with some of the 

most talented people in the field. As the end of the year is 

approaching, we want to make this next issue the best, as a 

way to celebrate our past year of education, love, and health. 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Meg Meeker, MD 

Olga Lucia Gomez, MD 

Dr. Ruben Valdes, DC 

Allie Casazza 

Rubel Shelly 

Sarah May Bates 

Maydeline Moreno 

Sylvia Morales 

Sassi Swanson 

Carolina Martinez 

Andres Portillo 

Davide Castellano 

healthy magazine is a free monthly publication. All contents are 

protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written 

consent from the publisher. The material in this magazine is intended 

to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute 

medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments. 

healthy magazine and its contributors accept no responsibility for 

inaccuracies, and the advertiser is solely responsible for ad content and 

holds publisher harmless from any error. 

/HEALTHYMAGAZINE /HEALTHYMAGAZINEONLINE 

@HEALTHYVALLEY 

/ HEALTHYMAG08 

This year was a true roller coaster of emotions for many of us. 

The frenzy of news reports and uncertainty has left all of us 

with an uneasy spirit. The advice I give to everyone is to look 

forward and take account of what is to come and what we have 

to be grateful for. I am truly excited for the new year, a fresh 

start for many of us, which I am hoping will inspire us all to take 

on a new mindset with a little more love in mind. 

It is time to move forward; that's why, this month, we have 

dedicated a multitude of articles to helping us all transition 

into 2017 smoothly. Let this next year mean something, follow 

your heart, and learn to take everything that comes your way 

in your stride. Let this next year be the beginning (or simply a 

continuation) of your journey to love, health, and happiness. 

cportillo@healthymagazine.com 

Contact@HealthyMagazine.com / 1172 South Dixie Hwy Ste. 191 Coral Gables FL 33146 United States / PH 305-395-4554 / www.HealthyMagazine.com

EDITORIAL 

CONTENT 

ISSUE 43 

8. 

11. 

14. 

HEALTHY KIDS 

IS YOUR PHONE 

RUINING YOUR KIDS? 

GIFT IDEAS 

FOR MINIMALISTS & THEIR KIDS 

PROPER SLEEP PATTERNS 

MAY BE THE KEY TO HAPPY, 

HEALTHY, THRIVING CHILDREN. 

HEALTHY BODY, MIND & SOUL 

7. 

16. 

18. 

20. 

22. 

24. 

FRESH OPTIONS FOR 2017 

SEXY FIT VEGAN - ELLA MAGERS 

STRESS EATING: 

GOOD STRESS VS BAD STRESS AND HOW WE COPE 

EAR INFECTION SYMPTOMS, CAUSES & RISK FACTORS 

CANCER: 

AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER RIDE 

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM HYPOTHYROIDISM? 

28. 

FITNESS & BEAUTY 

ULTHERAPY 

30. 

GET REAL! 

EARN WHAT MAKES A GOOD LOVER 

HEALTHY FOOD 

34. 

36. 

THE FORBIDDEN FOOD 

THAT’S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU! 

TURMERIC–CINNAMON PEARS 

WITH CASHEW CUSTARD CREAM 

Contact@HealthyMagazine.com / 1172 South Dixie Hwy Ste. 191 Coral Gables FL 33146 United States / PH 305-395-4554 / www.HealthyMagazine.com

HEALTHY SOUL 

FRESH OPTIONS 

I 

like the notion of “fresh 

starts” and “second FOR 

chances.” How about you? 

Did your fall semester in 

college or graduate school 

end on a low note? The spring 

semester that starts in a few 

days is a fresh start for you. 

Was last year a tough one at work? Did you 

lose a job? Have to move your family from 

a place everybody really liked to a new 

location they hate? One way of coping is 

to think of what you can gain rather than 

what you’ve lost. Focus on learning from the 

experience to help you move forward. Make 

some new friends. 

Is an important relationship 

in trouble? Did someone you 

love die? Are you worried 

about the bad-attitude 

friends your son or daughter 

has made? Maybe you 

need to look at these things 

through fresh eyes and with 

hope. 

A sense of brokenness is often the 

mandatory first step to renewal and healing. 

So it isn't a bad thing to lament our losses. 

But it is a bad thing to spend the rest of your 

life looking over your shoulder to the past 

instead of lifting your eyes to the future. It 

can be fatal to the human spirit. 

As you might expect in light of all this, I 

see the turning of the calendar to a new 

year as a big deal. Isn’t the idea of a clean 

slate appealing to you too? Doesn't the 

chance to start over sound great? But I'm 

not necessarily suggesting that you make a 

long list of New Year's Resolutions. In fact, I 

would advise against it. 

2017 

Long lists are intimidating and frustrating. 

Most resolutions are too vague – reduce 

stress, save more money, be more helpful 

at home. And the notion of pledging to do 

something for 365 days is tough on people 

who are honest about just how often failure 

visits them. Perhaps there is a better way. 

Remember the advice Jesus gave about 

just taking care of today and not biting 

off tomorrow's troubles? "Each day has 

challenges enough of its own!" he said. 

Think about it, and you will realize that your 

own experience confirms it. 

In the context of that statement, Jesus gave 

this counsel: "Strive above all else for the 

reign of God in your life, and the things that 

have been worrying you will resolve!" God's 

reign requires conscious surrender. Not of 

the entire year but of today's trouble, this 

stress, or a particular loss. Not of the other 

person but of my attitude toward her. Not 

of yesterday's failure so much as today's 

opportunity. 

New Year 2017 is God's mercy to you. With 

his presence a reality and in one-day-at-atime 

surrender to him, creative new things 

will come out of the waste-and-void chaos 

of the past. And life will be fresh every 

morning. 

By Rubel Shelly 

HEALTHY MIAMI / 7

HEALTHY KIDS 

Have you ever 

eaten a meal 

with a spouse 

or friend and had them 

pull their phone out 

to text, or worse yet, 

answer a call while you 

are talking? How does 

that make you feel? 

Ignored, a bit stupid 

and maybe even sad. 

Now intensify those feelings 

threefold and you will 

understand how your child 

feels when you pull out your 

cell phone in front of him. He 

feels ignored, unimportant and 

unworthy of your attention. 

If this happens routinely, he 

learns to even feel unloved. 

IS YOUR PHONE 


Dr. Jenny Radesky from 

Boston Medical Center recently 

released a study on the effects 

cell phone use by parents 

or caregivers had on their 

children. Not surprisingly, 

the study revealed that when 

parents used their phones 

in front of their children, the 

children exhibited behaviors 

where they tried to get their 

parent’s attention. 

The study also found that 

parents often showed 

annoyance at children when 

the parents were interrupted 

from their phones. And the 

little interaction that parents 

or caregivers had with their 

children were more negative or 

harsh. 

As a pediatrician who believes 

that children need to form 

strong attachments to parents 

during their first five years of 

life in order to have a strong 

sense of security throughout 

their lives, this study breaks 

my heart. 

I have seen far too many children suffer from 

lack of healthy attention from their parents. I 

know what kids do once they’re teens or young 

adult after a childhood of feeling ignored and 

unwanted, and it isn’t pretty. 

Several years ago I was examining a five-yearold 

boy to get him ready for kindergarten. 

During the exam, his mother’s phone rang and 

she answered. The young boy looked me in 

the eye and said, “We call her phone the family 

killer.” From the mouth of babes come our 

most important life lessons. 

Parents and grandparents, raising great kids 

isn’t rocket science. You don’t need to scour 

WebMD to figure out how to raise a great kid. 

Keep it simple and focus on doing one thing 

well: Pay attention to your kids. 

Parents, focus on doing one 

thing well: Pay attention 

to your kids. 

Look them in the eyes and swing them in the 

air. Get on your knees and tell them you love 

and adore them. Turn the television off and go 

for a walk or a bike ride. 

And if you are a working mom, spend more 

time with your child during the week than 

away from him. I know you want your career, 

but your child must come first. If you need to 

work more, then make sure that your husband 

picks up the slack and spends enough time 

with your children. 

If you are a single mother or father, make sure 

that you make every moment you have with 

your children count. Do the best that you can 

to give your child a strong support system 

of other adults who will pay attention to her 

while you are away. 

One of the most painful experiences a person 

can have is the feeling of abandonment. 

One of the most painful experiences a person 

can have is the feeling of abandonment. And 

when a child lives a life where no one really 

wants to pay attention to him, that’s exactly 

how he feels. So my friends, on behalf of each 

and every one of your beautiful children, put 

your damn phones down! 

By Meg Meeker, MD 

8 / HEALTHY MIAMI

HEALTHY 

KIDS 

8. 

11. 

14. 

IS YOUR PHONE 


GIFT IDEAS 

FOR MINIMALISTS & THEIR KIDS 

PROPER SLEEP PATTERNS MAY 

BE THE KEY TO HAPPY, HEALTHY, 

THRIVING CHILDREN.

HEALTHY KIDS 

GIFT IDEAS 

FOR MINIMALISTS 

& THEIR KIDS 

Friends, the holiday season is upon us, and I am over-the-moon excited about it. 

Pumpkins, then turkeys, then the finale of peppermint, presents, and snow… 

giddy doesn’t even begin to describe my face right now. Well actually, creepy 

might do the job since there's no one else in the room and my smile is freakishly 

huge... 

One of the most common questions I get asked as an intentional home coach involves 

this time of year. It means getting and giving more stuff, and minimalism is all about 

being intentional with what you bring into your home, right? So how can we even begin 

to be intentional in this season? It doesn’t have to be stressful or overly complicated, 

promise. 

I want to give you some solid gift ideas for minimalists and their kids, so you can 

awkwardly tag your relatives in this post on Facebook and forward the email to them 

because, well that’s what family does around the holidays - get 

awkward. So what have you got to lose right? Let’s do this. 

GIFT IDEAS 

FOR THE 

MINIMALIST 

MAMA 

AN ART GALLERY WALL 

This is really a gift for both the parents 

and the kids, but it’s a good one! Since 

minimalist kids tend to draw and paint so 

much, we mamas have a tough time taking 

pictures of the photos and getting rid of the 

original, even though we know it’s what we 

have to do because there’s just so. much. 

art. Receiving a set of matching frames that 

would fit a typical piece of paper so we can 

start a collage wall for the very best of our 

kids’ art would be amazing! Plus, kids beam 

with pride when their art is displayed. Play 

it safe with a set of simple black or white 

frames. 

FINE EVERYDAY ITEMS 

Getting something like a fine soap imported 

from France or a delicious, fancy pack 

of macaroons is such a treat! Totally not 

something the average mom is going to 

spend money on buying for herself. Get fancy 

and be her favorite. 

BOOKS 

I don’t think one can easily have too many 

books, and if you stalk her Goodreads 

account or sneak into her Amazon wish 

list, you may get a peek at what she 

would want to dive into by the fire this 

winter. The great thing about receiving 

a book is that there’s no guilt in letting it 

go after you read it, so this can spare an 

awkward visit when Aunt Sally drops by 

and doesn’t see the 20x30 neon green 

picture frame she gave you hanging on 

any of your walls. Another great way to 

go is Audiobooks. No physical clutter, and 

mama can listen while she drives home 

from school drop-off and start her day 

right. 

COFFEE OR TEA 

It’s delicious, it’s comforting in cold 

weather, and it’s disposable. Fine coffees 

and teas are a great gift! Plus, you can 

splurge on a mom you know who would 

never buy herself the good stuff at 

Teavana or Starbucks. Give her a break 

from the usual Costco-brand grounds and 

make her day. 

MUGS 

Speaking of warm beverages, mugs make 

perfect gifts. Even if the minimalist you 

know has plenty of them already, getting 

a new one is always exciting and she 

can make the choice to let go of one or 

two of her old mugs in favor of the super 

cute new one you got her. I'd buy from 

Starbucks or Target to make sure she likes 

it 

FRAMED PHOTOS OR WALL ART 

The thing about minimalists is that our 

homes are very important to us, and 

we care about how we feel when we’re 

there. If you’re confident you know your 

minimalist's style or where she often 

shops for home decor, pick up a piece of 

art or a pack of frames and take initiative 

in printing out some of her Instagram 

photos for her. I get my tiny little 

Instagram-sized frames at Walmart for 

about $1 each and they match my decor 

perfectly. Chatbooks is another incredible 

option for gifts. They take your Instagram 

photos and turn them into beautiful, 

high-quality books that make great coffee 

table inhabitants and discussion starters. 

Anyone would love to have one of those in 

their home. 

AN EXPERIENCE 

This is the ultimate gift for a minimalist 

because it’s the whole point of why we 

live the way we do. We want to live life, 

not be stuck at home cleaning up after 

it. Experiences > things. Splurge for your 

minimalist and her family to take a trip to 

Disneyland, or get them season passes to a 

local family fun zone. Snag a deal on plane 

tickets for she and her husband to finally 

visit New York City and offer to watch the 

kids. Take her to do something she’s always 

wanted to do or get her tickets to see her 

favorite play. Give her a gift certificate to 

her favorite restaurant. Get creative and 

thoughtful here, because that’s what the 

giving of this season is about. 


HEALTHY KIDS 

Allie Casazza is The Purposeful 

Housewife. She is all about helping 

you purge the clutter that's 

clogging your joy, rediscover the 

purpose in your days, and live with 

intention. 

As Annie Dillard said, "How we 

spend our days is of course how 

we spend our lives." Allie will 

inspire you to spend yours the 

way you want to. That means 

intentionally setting up a home 

and a life that fosters purposeful 

living for what matters. The 

Purposeful Housewife is a place to 

find clarity in your role as a mom. 

Learn more about Allie 

@thepurposefulhousewife. 

GIFT IDEAS FOR THE 

MINIMALIST DUDE 

A MINIMALIST WALLET 

This is the cool new thing, and it’s 

taking over the man world. Take 

a look at the best of minimalist 

wallets by clicking here. 

Bluetooth headphones 

This is something super useful 

for the man who listens to music 

or podcasts while he works (like 

my hubby) and gets rid of the 

stupid cord that always comes 

with listening on-the-go. Bonus: 

it also eliminates the need for 

a bluetooth headset for talking 

on the phone. Getting rid of two 

things for one? Minimalist win. 

BEARD GOODS 

For the hipster or generally badass 

minimalist, beard goods are a 

total slam dunk. Get him some 

fine beard balm or a classy new 

trimmer and he’ll love you just a 

little bit extra. I get my husband 

beard balm here, and he loves it. 

A BAG 

A fine leather dude bag is a great 

idea! This is another gift he can 

ditch his others for and just have 

one awesome bag for carrying his 

stuff around during the day or a 

weekend work trip. 

A KEY-BAR 

I got one of these for my hubby 

a couple Christmases ago, and 

he flipped out. He still loves it. 

Basically, what a Key-Bar is is a 

metal key holder that eliminates 

the jingle, bulk, and jumble of 

keys. It's minimalism at its finest, 

plus it looks super manly and you 

know, guys are into that. 

A GIFT CARD 

Something you need to 

understand about minimalism 

is that one of the key points is 

quality over quantity. So instead 

of having nine pairs of Target 

shoes, my husband has one 

amazing pair of black Nike shoes 

that are good quality and go 

with everything, a great pair of 

sandals for the warmer seasons, 

and a pair of leather dress shoes 

for church and weddings and 

things on the fancier side of life. 

My point is, getting a gift card to a 

high-quality store is a minimalist 

dream because we prefer to spend 

our money on fewer quality items 

than tons of crap. No offense to 

the rest of you... 

GIFT IDEAS FOR THE 

MINIMALIST’S KIDS 

BOOKS 

Again, the books have the popular 

vote here. We minimalist mamas 

want our littles to use their 

imaginations, to bloom and grow 

without the noise of modern toys, 

so books pretty much take the 

cake. I really only get rid of books 

if they’re damaged or my out of 

my kids’ age range. Opt for a great 

classic (or even a set of classics) 

you know for sure isn't a part of 

their collection yet. For example, 

I found a beautiful edition of 

Where the Wild Things Are at a 

little boutique downtown this 

week, I bought it for my kids and 

am beyond excited to read it with 

them! Books are the blood in the 

minimalist mama veins. 

OUTDOOR TOYS 

Another of the main purposes 

behind having an intentional 

home is for the kids to get outside 

more often than the typical 2016 

child. A pack of baseballs and 

a couple of gloves for playing 

catch, a swing and slide set for the 

little ones, a bug catching kit... 

anything that encourages the kids 

to head outside and play is a win. 

ART SUPPLIES 

The opportunity for creativity is 

everywhere when the toys are 

limited. You can add to that by 

spending your holiday budget on 

pads of drawing paper, crayons, 

markers, colored pencils, paint 

and an easel… whatever kind of 

art the kid in mind is into. I know 

it seems like a cheap way out, 

but it’s a favorite in a minimalist 

home. My kids plow through those 

giant art pads in a week or less, 

so getting art supplies is such a 

blessing! Plus, if you’re buying for 

an artist who’s a little older, you 

can splurge on a really nice art set 

or professional art lessons. 

EXPERIENCES 

Another repeat from the adult 

sections, but yeah, it’s that 

important. My kids understand 

that one of the main reasons 

we limit our stuff is so that we 

can spend our time out doing 

awesome things instead of always 

picking up (which is what we 

used to spend our time doing. 

Boo). Spend your money on an 

awesome day trip or season 

passes to a local fun zone and 

you’re a winner in our book. 

GO AHEAD AND GET THEM 

A TOY 

For me, toys are not the enemy. 

Useless junk is. Kids are kids, and 

kids love toys. I love when my 

parents bless my littles with a 

toy they’ve really been wanting, 

and my husband and I buy them 

toys for Christmas and birthdays 

sometimes as well. It’s just the 

way it is- kids love to play with 

toys- and the point of minimalist 

is not to deeply deprive or torture 

kids, but to help them thrive 

and play intentionally. Kids just 

play so much better without 

toy clutter. So if you’re going to 

buy a toy, make it one that has a 

purpose or is something the kid in 

your life is just DYING for. 

I hope this post serves you as a 

launch pad for minimalist gift 

ideas. I know it can be stressful 

to buy for someone who lives this 

way, but take it from me - the one 

thing that sucks more than getting 

junk is getting only thoughtless 

gift cards to Walmart because 

everyone was too nervous to buy 

us anything. We’re not monsters 

or freaks, and we all love the 

thought that goes into gifts. Go 

all in and use this post as a guide 

to help you let go of the worry 

that comes with shopping for the 

minimalist in your life. 

Are you a minimalist or have 

you ever bought something for a 

minimalist in your life? Share your 

thoughts on the 

topic in the 

comments 

section! 


HEALTHY KIDS 

PROPER SLEEP PATTERNS 

MAY BE THE KEY TO HAPPY, 

HEALTHY, THRIVING CHILDREN. 

Isn’t it funny 

how the one 

thing we 

hated more than 

vegetables as 

children is the 

one thing we 

can’t ever seem 

to get enough of 

as adults? If we 

knew then, what 

most of us know 

now, we would 

have slept more. 

The effects of sleep 

deprivation were Studied 

ad nauseam where it 

pertains to adults. But if 

we actually want to delve 

into why our sleep patterns 

are the way they are, 

we must look at sleep in 

children and understand 

why it’s such a valuable 

commodity and fully 

comprehend the full effects 

of not getting adequate 

sleep. 

Sleep is as important, if not 

more, than any one thing 

we do to take care of our 

bodies. For children, this is 

even more so. They’ve not 

yet developed the horrible 

sleeping patterns that 

time, pressure, and workrelated 

stress. What proper 

sleep does for children will 

have positive lasting effects 

for their entire lives. Sleep 

is so vital it has quickly 

become an urgent health 

mission in America. 

Some of the many benefits of getting 

adequate rest are ones any parent, medical 

practitioner, or educator would appreciate. 

Proper sleep has a direct correlation with a 

child’s mood; thus, impacting their ability to 

learn and to behave properly. Sleeping for 

the recommended hours (based on a child’s 

age) has been proven to lower a child’s risk of 

becoming obese, developing diabetes, having 

learning disabilities, and having difficulties 

paying attention in class or at home. Just as we 

adults know that proper sleep is as beneficial 

to a child’s overall health as nutrition and 

regular exercise. 

When a person – young or old – begins to sleep, 

the body gets to work to repair and repackage 

the bodies neurotransmitters. These are the 

chemicals that allow our brain to recognize 

signals and patterns and enable our brain cells 

to communicate with the rest of the body. 

Mostly, these signals tell your body to purge 

what it doesn’t need to make room for what 

it does need. It rids itself of harmful diseasecausing 

toxins and rejuvenates the healthy 

cells in our bodies. 

Experts suggest that families follow a strict 

routine around bedtime. Adhering to that 

cycle, helps your child to recognize cues and 

to keep 

themselves 

in check. 

Their bodies 

and brains 

will naturally 

begin shut 

down in a 

sense to 

allow them 

end their 

days and 

"Sleep is as 

important, if not 

more, than any 

one thing we do 

to take care of 

our bodies." 

sleep as they should. Children between the 

ages of five to about twelve-years-old should 

sleep about nine and a half hours per night. 

You might find that your kid does well with 

slightly more, but whatever the case, it is our 

jobs as parents to create an environment 

that is conducive to sleep. Create a nighttime 

routine like bath, a book, and sleep. Explain 

to your child how the body works and what 

it does when you’re sleeping. They’ll be 

fascinated to know that sleep helps protect 

their hearts, can prevent weight gain, can 

destroy toxins and germs, can increase their 

ability to concentrate, and can help them to be 

the best person they can be because they did 

what their body needed to do to make them 

thrive. 

By Olga Lucia Gomez, MD 


HEALTHY 

BODY 

MIND 

& SOUL 

7. 

16. 

18. 

20. 

22. 

24. 

FRESH OPTIONS FOR 2017 

SEXY FIT VEGAN - 

ELLA MAGERS 

STRESS EATING: GOOD 

STRESS VS BAD STRESS 

AND HOW WE COPE 

EAR INFECTION SYMPTOMS, 

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS 

CANCER: 

AN EMOTIONAL 

ROLLER COASTER RIDE 

ARE YOU SUFFERING 

FROM HYPOTHYROIDISM?

COVER STORY 

Making a 

difference by living 

consciously and 

with compassion 

for all living things. 

Ella Magers didn’t set out to start a health 

revolution when she came into this world, but her can-do spirit 

and never-wavering compassion for living things took hold 

of her at seven years old and sparked an idea that she’s since 

carried with her every day of her life. At that tender young age, 

she connected the food on her plate with a living, breathing 

animal and never looked back. Her ingrained belief that, as 

humans, we should protect and love all living creatures soon 

led to a lifelong commitment to live well and be well. She 

became an advocate for preserving lives and learning all she 

could about the treatment of animals as it pertains to the 

agricultural industry and beyond. 

Most notably, she researched and exposed the pervasive 

cruelties that exist in animal agriculture, and parlayed that 

information into what she’d one day call her calling – building 

a platform to teach others how to live consciously and 

compassionately and change their lives in the process. Fitness 

had always been a part of her life, but not until she’d grown 

older and had a deeper understanding of what it truly meant 

to live well and thrive, did she comprehend just how vital it 

was to her overall wellbeing. Beginning with gymnastics and 

swimming at five years old, she developed a lifelong love of 

exercise. It was only naturally that she’d jump into the fitness 

industry after school. That passion was a natural fit for her longheld 

belief that one should live with compassion for animals. 

She blended those two disciplines and used them as motivation 

to expound upon those ideas and create a base for what is now 

a very successful health and wellness business that not only 

revolutionizes how her clients move and eat, but gives them all 

the tools they need to live more compassionate lives. 

The motivation that prompted her to begin a health movement 

still resonates with her today. The treatment of animals still 

weighs heavily on her because unfortunately the atrocities she 

discovered long ago still continue in the world today, although 

not as pervasive as they once were. She also firmly believes that 

the devastating environmental impact of animal agriculture 

on our planet is still a motivating factor as her business grows 

and the numbers of lives she’s directly impacted also increases. 

Her belief that we should not eat in a way that harms animals 

carries over into her belief that we should also eat in a way that 

doesn’t harm our bodies. For her, eating a balanced plantbased 

diet is the best possible thing we can do for ourselves, 

our health, our energy, our skin, and, on a deeper level, our 

spirits, which is the whole base of what she aims to teach her 

clients. This comprehensive approach to living and being well 

is what she teaches her clients and is ultimately what changes 

their lives for the better. 

Ella’s ability to inspire others is natural. Through example 

and solid fact-based information, she is the epitome of one 

who lives a balanced life. She is both strong and lean. She 

demonstrates what it is to treat yourself well and to treat 

animals and agriculture well while also living in the "real world" 

and battling "real-life" problems. Adversity and hardships are 

a natural part of living, but for Ella, they are not the end-all and 

be-all. They instead are motivators to do what is best for you, 

your body, and the environment. 

Everyone makes mistakes, but with Ella’s tools, clients learn 

that they can overcome temporary setbacks. It’s never too late 

to educate themselves, make conscious decisions, and do what 

is right for them. Her desire to teach others to live a balanced 

and conscious life is the over-arching theme of her life-changing 

programs. 


COVER STORY 

"Ella’s 

ability to 

inspire others is 

natural. Through 

example and solid factbased 

information, she is 

the epitome of 

one who lives a 

balanced life." 

Both programs, 

the 6-Week Plant- 

Empowered Coaching 

Program and the 8-Week 

Empower Consulting 

Program, give clients or 

budding practitioners the 

tools they need to transition to 

healthy, practical, sustainable, 

plant-based, and active 

lifestyles for themselves or their 

clients, thus proving her belief 

that success is equivalent to 

happiness and balance, as well 

as making a positive, lasting 

difference in the world. 

By Andres Portillo 


HEALTHY SOUL 

STRESS EATING: 

Good Stress vs Bad Stress 

and How We Cope Part 1 

If you are reading this because you have a rollercoaster 

dieting style, or you tend to go into an unconscious 

compulsive state when it comes to food, I think this will be 

enlightening and helpful in some way. It’s also got some 

info on the effects of stress and the difference in kinds of stress 

that’s harmful and not – so hopefully this will be helpful outside 

of food. As usual there are three parts, the what, why and how – 

the tools. 

The What 

Eating in an unconscious fashion – during times of stress, 

particularly of fatty or sugary foods. This eating will happen 

regardless of a need for food – and usually end in a state of 

shame and powerlessness. Almost like you can’t stop, or 

almost like you don’t notice – like you are outside yourself or 

unconscious. 


HEALTHY SOUL 

There’s a similar thing called 

emotional eating – and this is when 

you eat during times of upset. Similar 

results. You eat way too much, and 

then go into a shame spiral. Both 

habits often set up the need to do what 

they call “controlled eating” which is 

basically someone that tries to diet 

and eat less because of how they have 

been overeating in the in-between 

times. The catch-22 is that overall 

people who stress eat and then control 

eat consume the same amount of 

calories as those who don’t control 

eat – but instead it’s in the form of a 

rollercoaster of dieting then binging 

then dieting. 

A lot of people confuse the stresseating 

habit for “not good at dieting” 

or “don’t care about my body enough 

to not eat crappy food.” Especially 

when you think you’re on a roll and 

taking care of yourself, only to fall 

into the loop on a constant basis and 

undo all the progress you’ve had. 

This feeling of bewilderment and 

lack of control around food can make 

you suffer intensely. It can make you 

internalize the shame, intensifying 

the loop. It can lead to depression, 

more stress, more dieting, and a false 

concept of your relationship to food. 

Even though you don’t LIKE the foods 

or the feeling you have after eating 

them, necessarily, “I’m just junkfood 

obsessed and can’t motivate 

myself enough to exercise.” But that 

is the RESULT of the habit loop – a 

rationalization of it. That’s you just 

saying, “Well, this is just me. It’s who 

I am because look at my life and my 

powerlessness.” HOWEVER, that is 

false. This is not YOU, it’s an emotional/ 

chemical sensitivity that creates a 

chemical imbalance – and one that 

self-perpetuates. A negative loop that 

grows stronger with each repetition – 

and the effect it manifests is similar to 

a heroin addiction. 

As with all things that trap and keep 

you mystified – I want to start with 

some understanding so you can 

separate YOU from the symptoms you 

are suffering. You – when balanced – 

can easily stop eating when you’re full. 

You – when balanced, can get excited 

about exercise. You – when capable of 

soothing stress, can happily choose 

to go running instead of eating or 

watching TV. The processes at play are 

powerful and chemical. 

Sarah May Bates 

Founder of Yay With Me a hub of 

practical tools to create change in 

yourself, from Podcaster/Author, 

Sarah May Bates, @sarahmaybee 

A lot of 

people confuse 

the stress-eating 

habit for “not good 

at dieting” or “don’t 

care about my body 

enough to not eat 

crappy food.” 


EAR INFECTION 

SYMPTOMS, CAUSES 

& RISK FACTORS 

Everything you need to know 

about ear infections and keeping 

your family safe. 

We’ve all 

experienced it 

at one time or 

another – the 

throbbing pain, the fevers, 

swelling. Ear infections have 

wreaked havoc on the young 

and old since the dawn of 

time. For most of us, they’re 

a tolerable nuisance, but 

treatment is available for the 

ones that cannot ignore the 

pain. 

How do we know what we’re 

experiencing could be related 

to an ear infection? We could 

easily explain away the 

symptoms of an ear infection 

until the infection becomes so 

severe or the pain becomes 

too much that we must do 

something about it. 

Symptoms of an ear infection 

are pretty standard for most of 

the population. What begins 

as a short burst of pain in or 

around your ear, may become 

a throbbing, searing pain, 

then, escalates to a fever 

with increasing ear pain, until 

finally, you might notice some 

irritation, redness, or fluid 

expelling from the ear. The 

longer these symptoms persist, 

the more difficult it becomes to 

tolerate. If you haven’t already, 

you’ll seek out a doctor to help 

treat your symptoms. 

Conventional wisdom used 

to dictate that a round of 

antibiotics be given. We’ve 

since learned that antibiotics 

may do more harm than good 

for many patients. The goal 

for medical practitioners is 

to ease or relieve some, if 

not all, of the symptoms, 

but studies have shown that 

antibiotics may not be the 

best course of action. 

Two distinct groups of people 

were studied-- One group 

was put on an antibiotic 

treatment regimen, the 

other was not. The results 

proved that those treated 

with antibiotics didn’t heal 

any faster than those who 

allowed the infection to run 

its course. As a bonus, the 

latter group didn’t have to 

suffer through the typical side 

effects of being on antibiotic 

therapies. Natural treatments 

proved to be just as effective 

in alleviating symptoms. 

THERE ARE TWO 

TYPES OF EAR 

INFECTIONS THAT 

ARE MOST COMMON: 

1. A middle ear infection 

2. An inner ear infection 

The first, most often 

affect children. It is what’s 

commonly referred to as 

the Swimmer’s Ear or acute 

otitis media. The latter 

occurs much less often 

and is considered to be a 

rare finding. It’s known as 

vestibular neuritis (inner ear 

inflammation). It irritates the 

nerves that connect the ear 

to the brain and ultimately 

causes disruptions like 

vertigo or hearing difficulties. 

Like many other infections, 

ear infections can be 

viral or bacterial. Thier 

treatment depends on which 

kind you have. Neither 

is contagious. You won’t 

catch it from having close 

contact with someone. 

Anytime you suspect you or 

someone you love has an 

ear infection; you should 

seek treatment because 

ignoring them can lead to 

long-term complications like 

a permanent hearing loss, 

nerve damage, mastoiditis, or 

meningitis. 

Children under the age of 

six are more likely to get ear 

infections. There are some 

things that you can do to 

decrease the likelihood of 

that happening 

01. Breastfeeding helps 

build the child’s 

immune system 

02. Quit smoking 

03. Decreasing or 

removing all 

allergens, treating 

at the first sign of 

discomfort 

04. Avoiding processed 

foods 

05. Taking proper care 

of the ears, and 

many other natural 

treatment regimens 

to avoid toxins. 

By Olga Lucia Gomez, MD 


HEALTHY BODY 

CANCER: 

An Emotional 

Roller Coaster Ride 

For most patients, a cancer diagnosis is an attack 

on the mind as well as the body. Effectively 

managing the progression of emotions triggered 

by cancer is important to the healing process. 

Patients often experience several of the 

commonly recognized stages of grief, including 

denial, anger, and depression. This is normal, and 

may last a few days, weeks, or months. 

Because every patient’s cancer journey is different, it’s 

important to recognize and address emotional needs, and work 

through them using available resources. These could include 

professional counseling, care team visits, or leaning on friends 

and family for support during this challenging time. All of these 

can help patients confront the expected emotional roller coaster 

that accompanies cancer. 

ANGER 

Patients sometimes feel 

angry in response to the 

pain and emotional impact of 

cancer treatment. However, it’s 

important to express and confront 

these feelings to avoid letting anger 

get the best of you. Try talking with 

friends, family, and your care team. 

Journaling can also provide 

a more private form of 

emotional expression. 

DENIAL 

According to grief 

expert David Kessler, 

denial helps people pace 

feelings of grief. It is nature’s 

way of letting in only as much 

as they can handle. As denial 

fades, patients can begin to 

confront the feelings that 

were too painful to deal 

with initially. 

Following are some additional 

ways to cope with the 

emotional impact of cancer, as 

well as some things to avoid. 

DO 

• Rely on ways of coping 

that have helped you in 

the past. 

• Deal with cancer “one day 

at a time.” 

• Participate in support 

groups. 

• Leverage your care team’s 

expertise to get your 

questions answered. 

• Share your news with 

friends, family, and 

coworkers when you feel 

ready. 

• Celebrate good news, 

whether it’s a small 

victory or a big win. 

• Prioritize tasks and 

eliminate things that are 

not essential. 

• Relax with yoga or 

meditation. 

• Exercise moderately 

several times a week 

to help with feelings of 

tiredness or anxiety. 

DON’T 

• Fixate on the negative. 

• A report by the American 

Cancer Society and the 

National Cancer Institute 

estimates there are more 

DEPRESSION 

Many factors can increase your 

likelihood of becoming depressed, 

including physical conditions like 

pain or an advanced stage of cancer, a 

personal or family history of depression, 

lack of family support, or a side effect of 

cancer medication. The most common 

symptoms of depression in cancer patients are 

guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, loss of 

pleasure, and for some, thoughts of suicide. 

If you have any of these symptoms for at 

least two weeks, you should speak with 

your oncologist about treatment 

options. 

than 15.5 million cancer 

survivors alive in the U.S. 

today, and that number 

will grow to more than 20 

million by 2026. 

• Feel guilty if you’re having 

a hard time staying 

positive. 

• Suffer in silence. 

• Be embarrassed or 

ashamed to ask for help. 

• Keep your emotions or 

symptoms a secret from 

the person closest to you. 

While the fight against cancer 

is not easy, our patients do 

not fight alone. In addition to 

committed, caring medical 

teams, many patients tell 

us that their experience 

with cancer revealed just 

how much – and how many 

– people love and support 

them. Putting on a brave face 

is a form of coping. But it’s 

important for patients to allow 

themselves to accept needed 

help – whether from family, 

friends, coworkers, patients, 

or cancer survivors. 

The good news is that many 

support programs and 

resources are available. 

Cancer journeys are not onesize-fits 

all. Each patient must 

walk the path that suits him or 

her best. 

By Nurul Wahid, MD 


EXCELLENT PHYSICIANS 

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To schedule a private tour of your nearest location. 

We can also send you an information package with all our services. 

For more info visit us on the web at — www.mccigroup.com

HEALTHY BODY 

The medications prescribed for 

low thyroid patients only replace 

the hormones the gland no longer 

generates, it does not address 

the immune disorder. Hence, the 

disorder inevitably continues to 

progress. 

ARE YOU SUFFERING 

FROM LOW THYROID? 

So frequently I see patients who present the entire gamut of 

Low Thyroid symptoms and continue to suffer these for yearswithout 

ever receiving the adequate help they need. They are 

told their labs are normal and hence this means they must 

be fine. However, they continue to experience the symptoms which 

include but are not limited to weight gain, difficulty losing weight, 

fatigue and lack of energy, hair loss, brittle nails, crushing depression, 

mental fog, poor sleep, irregular periods, feeling cold, hot flashes, slow 

digestion, etc. 

The way that Low Thyroid 

disorders are diagnosed and 

addressed is something that in my 

experience needs to be revisited 

and updated. The primary marker 

used to diagnose Hypothyroidism 

is TSH. TSH is a pituitary hormone 

which is a shadow of how much 

T4 (thyroid hormone) is in 

circulation. When practitioners 

see TSH rise above 4.5 or 5 

depending on the lab, they will 

prescribe Thyroid Hormone 

Replacement (Levothyroxine, 

Synthroid, etc) to “bring down 

the TSH”. When this is achieved 

in the lab work most patients 

are then told that the problem 

is now fixed and they are all 

better. Sadly, statistics show that 

nearly 85% of all those diagnosed 

with a Low Thyroid disorder will 

continue to experience symptoms 

of Hypothyroidism regardless of 

being on medication and being 

told their labs are now normal. 

There are many reasons for this 

prolonged, yet unnecessary 

suffering. One of the reasons 

is TSH ranges are not based 

on optimal - they are based on 

population average. By the time 

someone hits 4.5 or higher on 

their TSH they are already very 

sick. Research is now showing 

that optimal TSH range should 

live between 1 and 1.5 and that 

someone who is showing an 

upward trend away from these 

values should be considered for 

intervention. 

There are at least 33 

different patterns that could 

be causing your continual 

problems such as: 

pp 

Under-conversion 

pp 

Thyroid resistance 

pp 

Over-conversion 

pp 

Pituitary problems 

pp 

Numerous other 

metabolic conditions 

that could be causing 

your symptoms 

Most doctors only check for one of 

these patterns by only looking at 

your TSH when there are actually 

over 9 essential markers to 

understand thyroid function. 

Even Worse… 

The number one cause for their 

suffering is rarely ever checked 

for in the United States. The 

number one cause of Low Thyroid 

in this country is a disease called 

Hashimoto’s Disease. 

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune 

thyroid disease. This means that 

your immune system is attacking 

your own body. 

97% of people with 

diagnosed low 

thyroid disorder 

actually have an 

immune disorder 

called Hashimoto’s. 

In Hashimoto’s Disease/ 

Thyroiditis, your immune system 

is attacking and literally eating 

your thyroid until you begin to 

lose thyroid tissue little by little. 

This goes on day by day and 

even year by year until one day 

your thyroid gland no longer has 

enough healthy thyroid tissue 

to produce adequate levels of 

thyroid hormones. 

IS IT REALLY A 

THYROID PROBLEM? 

Ultimately what you need 

to understand is that if you 

have Hashimoto’s you do not 

necessarily have a thyroid 

problem. You have an immune 

problem and the thyroid is just 

the victim. It’s just a symptom 

of a deeper problem. 

As you can see there are many 

things that are missed in 

the proper diagnosis of Low 

Thyroid disorder. Even those 

that already know they have 

Hashimoto’s receive the same 

treatment as everyone else 

– medication to replace the 

hormones they are loosing 

- when in reality what they 

have is an immune problem. 

So many of these patients 

that have been diagnosed 

sadly go on a rampage of 

internet searches and reading 

books in an attempt to help 

themselves. However, most 

of the time they fall short of 

their goal because they are not 

reading the overabundance of 

scientific data that now shows 

us that many of these immune 

disorders can be modulated 

and even arrested. That’s right, 

STOPPED! 

The first step out of your 

continuous suffering is to obtain 

a comprehensive diagnosis, 

which can only be done 

through rigorous testing. That 

is the vision of an Integrated or 

Functional Medicine doctor- it 

is always about the Root Cause 

and not just the symptoms. 

By Dr. Ruben Valdes, DC 


FITNESS 

& BEAUTY 

28. 

30. 

ULTHERAPY 

GET REAL! LEARN WHAT 

MAKES A GOOD LOVER


Most people are 

familiar with 

terms like Botox, 

microdermabrasion 

and skin brushing, 

but many may not have heard 

of Ultratherapy. As we age, our 

collagen production decreases, 

causing noticeable sagging in our 

skin. Ultratherapy is the ‘antidote,' 

if you will, for that. 

What it does is stimulate collagen 

production through highly 

targeted ultrasound therapies 

that inflict injury with thermal 

heat to the areas most affected 

like the neck and face. While 

the terminology may sound 

brutal, the application is not. 

The ultrasound treatment helps 

to lift the sagging skin back to 

elasticity. It will tighten the areas, 

create plumpness where it once 

was and fill in any unsightly 

cavities. Soon, your skin will look 

as youthful as it once did. You’ll 

see a marked improvement over 

time. Treatment usually consists 

of several sessions over a three to 

six-month period. 

HOW MUCH DOES 

SOMETHING LIKE THIS COST? 

That depends on the areas that 

you want to treat and how much 

of that surface area you want to 

address. Most commonly, it can 

cost anywhere between $500. 00 

for small areas and up to several 

thousand for larger areas. 

Procedures come with risks. Bear 

that in mind before deciding to 

have a treatment done, but if your 

goal is to look and feel better, this 

treatment may be worth the risk. 

There is discomfort involved. The 

practitioner will use a transducer 

wand to direct the ultrasound 

to the treatment area; wich is 

reported to be the most painful 

part of the procedure. You will be 

given a pain medication before 

the procedure and will likely go 

home with some pain medication. 

All in all, treatments should take 

no longer than a regular office 

visit. You might experience some 

swelling and discoloration initially, 

so don’t plan on returning to the 

office immediately after your 

procedure. 

It can take weeks, even months 

before you’ll see any noticeable 

changes in the treatment areas, 

but understand that good things 

take time. Nothing happens 

overnight. 

ULTHERAPY 

A non-surgical alternative that uses ultrasound 

to actually lift loose or sagging skin on the 

neck, under the chin and above the eyebrow. 

With no downtime 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Ultherapy. Your results may 

be vastly different from someone else’s experience. They may not 

have experienced any pain or swelling, but that doesn’t mean you 

won’t either. We age differently. For some of us, the skin sagging is 

disproportionate to our body mass. Remember this is your treatment, 

your process, and your body. Don’t compare what happened to one 

to what happens to you. And, for all that is holy, don’t choose the first 

practitioner you meet without vetting them first. 

Sit down, have a 

conversation, discuss 

your expectations, talk 

about your fears, and 

get recommendations. 

As with any other 

health concern, you 

do not want to go into 

this lightly and find 

out later that it wasn’t 

for you. Always make 

a serious, educated 

decision that will have 

lasting effects – good or 

bad. Make an informed 

decision. Be your own 

advocate. You won’t 

regret it! 

By Maydeline Moreno 

www.amethystquantum.com 



GET REAL! 

LEARN WHAT 

MAKES A 

GOOD LOVER 

Love is a verb. There are no ifs, ands, 

or buts about it. Just like any other 

thing in life, love takes a great deal 

of skill, practice, patience, and, dare 

we say, finesse. 

We all know words mean nothing if there’s 

no action behind them. Action yields results. 

Complacency breeds dissatisfaction. 

While there are no tried and true ways—no 

one-size-fits-all methodologies to being the 

greatest lover—there are basic tenets that 

will put you way ahead of the curve. To put it 

simply, it begins with self-love. You must be 

able to love yourself before you dare try to 

love another. 

Right now is as good a time as any to pause 

for a quick self-check. Stop and ask yourself 

how good of a lover you are. Are you treating 

yourself well? Do you give yourself the time, 

energy, and kindness you demand from 

others? Are your thoughts self-loving? Do 

your actions correlate with your deepest 

desires? How comfortable is it for you to 

take a good, hard look at yourself nude in 

the mirror? 

If your goal is to be a good lover, you 

must first learn how to love yourself 

unconditionally. The ability to do so doesn’t 

happen overnight. It takes a willingness to 

try and dedication to the effort. Fine-tuning 

will be in order. It’s about the journey, not 

the destination. Take it one step at a time. 

Life keeps us busy. We’re pulled in many 

different directions. That’s more reason for 

you to take a few moments every single day 

to check in and see how you’re doing. Are 

you treating yourself well? Have you allowed 

negativity to pervade your thoughts? Do 

your eating habits coincide with a happier, 

more secure you? Are there things in your 

daily routine that you can eliminate? Do you 

work out regularly? Ten minutes of exercise 

is better than none. We all have ten minutes 

to spare, whether that means we park 

farther from the door, we get off the bus or 

train a stop before our exit, or we take the 

stairs instead of the elevator. You’re worth 

the effort. 

Instead of spending your weekends sitting 

on the sofa binge-watching Netflix, you 

could use that time to exercise. (Yes, with 

the TV on!) Imagine how many miles you 

could get in while watching your favorite 

show! Taking a few minutes to exercise helps 

virtually erase what you don’t need. For 

some of us, that means stress. For others, 

that might mean guilt or shame. Whatever 

it is, in only a few minutes a day, you’ll feel 

better knowing you’ve done something 

about it. Soon, it will become habit, second 

nature, and your mind and body will thank 

you for it. 

Change is never easy, but taking the first 

step forward is a thousand times better than 

sinking back into the abyss of self-loathing 

or feelings of inadequacy. Treat yourself 

better. Practice kindness with yourself, and 

you’ll soon discover that being a good lover 

starts and ends with you. 

You must be 

able to love 

yourself before 

you dare try to 

love another. 

Sylvia Morales 


HEALTHY 

FOOD 

34. 

36. 

THE FORBIDDEN FOOD 

THAT’S ACTUALLY GOOD 

FOR YOU! 

TURMERIC–CINNAMON 

PEARS WITH CASHEW 

CUSTARD CREAM

HEALTHY FOOD 

THE 

FORBIDDEN 

FOOD 

THAT’S ACTUALLY 

GOOD FOR YOU! 

You’ve heard of the ‘forbidden fruit.' We all know the 

story, but have you heard about the one forbidden 

food that has more nutritional benefits than its more 

well-known counterparts? Chances are, you haven’t. 

Forbidden black rice just 

may be one of the healthiest 

foods available. Chock-full 

of benefits each and every 

person on earth needs, these 

small grains pack a mean 

punch and can mean the 

difference between a healthy 

gut and one that’s working 

against you. 

Long ago, black rice was 

reserved for those in power 

like Chinese Emperors and 

their royal families. It was 

believed to have healing 

qualities, and only those 

deemed worthy could benefit 

from it. Now, this once 

hidden gem is available to the 

masses. 

While many of us have learned 

by now that Brown rice is 

healthier than white rice – a 

simple carbohydrate that 

wreaks havoc on our blood 

sugar levels. Researchers 

tell us that black rice is the 

best option if nutritional 

benefits are what you’re after. 

Compared to white and brown 

rice, black rice has fewer 

calories and more protein. It’s 

rich in antioxidants. So rich, 

it has been compared to the 

benefits of eating blueberries 

and have proved to be much 

more nutritionally beneficial 

to our bodies. This is due 

to black rice having far less 

sugar and more fiber and 

vitamin E than blueberries. 

It’s also considerably more 

affordable. What’s not to love 

about that? 

Researchers have found 

that black rice may be 

effective in decreasing skin 

inflammation, which could 

have a considerable impact 

on disease processes from 

autoimmune diseases to 

cancers and is now used in 

weight management studies. 

Some studies even suggest 

that black rice has heart 

healthy benefits, decreasing 

the risk of hardening of the 

arteries or plaque build up. It 

may help with liver function, 

cognitive impairment, and 

have anti-cancer effects 

because it contains the one 

thing other foods don’t 

contain – anthocyanins, 

which help protect the body 

from free radical damage, 

which leads to cancer. 

With all the potential 

health benefits touted, 

there is no reason to avoid 

eating this once forbidden 

delicacy. Including it 

in your healthy eating 

plan can only make you 

healthier. 

With no known side effects, 

no studies indicating adverse 

effects at all, the least you 

could do is incorporate 

this super food into your 

weekly meal plan and see for 

yourself what it does. At the 

very least, it will help you feel 

full faster and will sustain you 

while you go about your daily 

activities. There’s nothing 

wrong with that. 

By Davide Castellano 

www.myfreshealthy.com

HEALTHY FOOD 

TURMERIC–CINNAMON PEARS 

WITH CASHEW CUSTARD CREAM 

INGREDIENTS 

99 

6 medium size Willams 

Christ pears, or any 

other pears 

99 

4 tbsp maple syrup 

99 

1 tsp ground turmeric 

99 

1 tsp cinnamon 

99 

½ tsp ground cloves 

99 

100g cashews, pre 

soaked in hot water for 

at least one hour 

99 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

99 

200ml cashew milk 

99 

Optinal cranberry 

compote 

Turmeric is my 

best friend. 

It is not only 

extremely 

healthy, it also tastes 

good and you can add it 

to all kinds of sweet and 

savory dishes. 

This has been my first 

attempt for a sweet dish 

with turmeric and we all 

loved it. The spicy pears 

and the creamy, vegan 

custard cream topped 

with walnuts are a 

heavenly combination. 

It does give me a little 

feeling of christmas but 

hey, the stores always 

start selling christmas 

sweets around October, 

so it can’t be too bad to 

be a little early with such 

great tasting desserts, 

right? 

STEP 1 

Preheat oven to 200 Celsius 

and line baking tray with 

parchment paper. 

STEP 2 

In a bowl mix together maple 

syrup, cinnamon, ground 

cloves and tumeric. 

STEP 3 

Peel pears and cut them in 

halves. Use a spoon to coat 

the pears with the turmeric 

glaze. 

STEP 4 

Put the pears on the baking 

tray and bake in the oven for 

25-30 minutes. 

STEP 5 

Meanwhile chop walnuts 

into small pieces and add 

them to the bowl where a 

tiny bit of the turmeric glaze 

is left inside. Use a spoon 

to mix the walnuts and the 

leftover glaze together and 

put aside. 

STEP 6 

For the cashew custard, 

add cashews, cashew milk 

and vanilla extract to the 

blender and blend for at 

least 2 minutes so it is all 

smooth. Optional you can 

add one tsp maple syrup in 

case you like the custard to 

be sweeter. 

STEP 7 

Once the pears are golden 

brown and soft, take out 

of the oven. Pour custard 

cream over pears, top with 

walnuts and in case you 

want to enjoy the pears with 

cranberry compote, add a 

tsp of compote also on top 

of the pears. 

Sassi Swanson 

Vegan plant based cuisine 

earth loving and caring 

quality before quantity 

sassi@voilavegan.com 

www.voilavegan.com 


I am Eric Stein - 

The Healthy Chefand 

I've made it my mission 

to go around town to find 

HEALTHY PLACES TO EAT. 

As new eateries open and close every 

week, we learn that the common 

factor is that only the strong ones 

survive the first year. 

With the everchanging Miami food trends, 

chefs and restauranteurs find themselves 

constantly adapting to the tough market, 

and in many cases, by trying to do so, they 

lose their original vision. 

I’ll personally find more excuses to 

go to South Miami more often. So 

see you there! 

The Heathy Chef 

Eric Stein 

That is not the case with this fairly new 

restaurant we’ve found. Hiding in plain sight 

on Sunset Dr. a couple minutes’ walk from 

South Miami Metro Station lies EARTH, a 

healthy fast food restaurant that has caught 

as much attention as the few jewelry stores 

nearby. 

With a strong conceptual but easy to 

follow menu and the ability to customize 

pretty much every dish to cater from the 

occasional salad eater to the most hardcore 

vegan warrior, EARTH has found the perfect 

balance between your daily go-to lunch cafe 

and the place where you want to take your 

future parents-in-law to impress them. 

From the moment you step in, the energy 

levels in the air spike up when you are 

greeted by the always smiling staff and your 

gut tells you something good is about to 

come. 

From their custom made-to-order rice, 

barley and quinoa salad bowls to their 

fresh and warm wraps, homemade sauces, 

juices and smoothies, EARTH has carefully 

designed the perfect eatery concept South 

Miami was in very much need of and it did it 

flawlessly. 

EARTH 

5831 Sunset Drive 


305.397.8678

places to eatTM 

Healthy Magazine presents 

our new directory, loaded with 

local restaurants and grocers 

who have taken the time to 

cater to those looking to form 

healthier dietary habits. We 

hope you enjoy Healthy Places 

to Eat. We sure did and look 

forward to expanding so we 

can continue to better connect 

our readers with healthy 

lifestyle options in their 

communities. 

BEEHIVE 

JUICE BAR 

& SMOOTHIES 

6490 Bird Road 


305.663.1300 

NUTREAT 

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, 

COFFEE AND DRINKS 

100 S Biscayne Blvd 


305.416.7577 

GREENG LIFESTYLE 

FRESH FRUIT & VEGGIE BOWLS, 

SMOOTHIES AND JUICE LAB 

@GREENGLIFESTYLE 

222 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 106 

Miami, Florida 33137 

786.300.6545 

THE LAST CARROT 

SANDWICHES, SALADS, 

SMOOTHIES AND JUICES 

3131 Grand Avenue 

Coconut Grove, FL 33133 

305.445.0805 

THE JUICERY BAR 

HOUSE SMOOTHIES , SIGNATURE 

JUICES, SPECIALTY SHOTS, ACAI BOWLS 

635 Brickell Key Dr 


305.350.2277 

17082 W Dixie Hwy 

North Miami Beach, FL 33160 

786.565.9684 

EVOS 

BURGERS, WRAPS 

& SALADS 

9537 S Dixie Hwy. 

Pinecrest, FL 33156 

305.740.3433 

DELIRIO FRESH CO. 

SALAD, PIZZA, JUICE BAR & 

SMOOTHIES 

2475 NW 95th Ave. Unit 8 


305.499.3304 

MIAMI SQUEEZE 

VEGETARIAN, PIZZA, SANDWICHES, 

SMOOTHIES & JUICES 

18315 W Dixie Hwy. 


305.935.9544 

GIARDINO 

GOURMET SALADS 

SALAD, FAST FOOD 

2346 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 

Coral Gables, FL 33134 

305.460.6010 

NORMAN BROTHERS 

JUICE BAR, SMOOTHIES 

& COFFEE 

7621 SW 87th Ave. 


305.274.9363 

PURA VIDA MIAMI 

RAW ORGANIC BOWLS, WRAPS AND 

PITAS, JUICES & SHOTS 

110 Wasington Ave CU2 

Miami Beach Fl, 33139 

754.422.2131 

www.healthyplacestoeat.com 

healthy menu vegetarian non gmo vegan gluten free

DECEMBER 2016 MIAMI for web

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