Elixir

Your number one goal this winter? Don’t catch the flu. With the cold Chicago weather on the horizon, its no wonder you’re concerned.

But there is hope for your health this year. RealAge.com released a new study that examined animals whose immune systems were lowered due to physical stress. However, when the animals were given quercetin, a type of flavanoid, their immune systems were boosted back up to normal levels.

While the results are not yet confirmed in humans, researchers seem confident that by eating certain foods, we might all be able to keep our immune systems strong as the flu season approaches. Types of food that are high in quercetin are apples, broccoli and red onions. These foods also happen to have many other healthy nutrients such as fiber and vitamins A, B and C.

However, the researchers say not to skip out on getting the flu shot in lieu of eating more of these foods. It can’t hurt to be extra cautious!

A new study published online by the journal, Obesity, projects 86 percent of Americans age 18 and older could be overweight or obese by 2030. Health care costs associated with such an epidemic would double every decade and reach $956.9 billion by that same year. Which means 1 out of every 6 health care dollars spent would go toward obesity-related illnesses.

What’s truly shocking about the study, conducted by Youfa Wang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of International Health and Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is that they estimate 100 percent of adults could be overweight or obese by 2048.

The hit summer film, “Wall-E,” portrayed a not-so-distant future in which the obesity epidemic caused Earth to be unusable and rendered its inhabitants unable to walk. When I saw the movie it felt like an effective use of hyperbole to draw a parallel between how we care for our planet and how we care for our bodies. At the same time, the logical side of my brain said, “Eh, that would never happen.”

And even in light of this study I know it won’t happen. It’s just not possible for 100% of the population to become overweight and obese. There will always be a tipping point at which time the numbers of obese Americans will start to go down again. Perhaps the ever-increasing cost of food will cause people to rethink their eating habits or perhaps some government measure (think cigarettes)  will help people take charge of their health. Either way, the earth is a living, breathing organism that will right itself one way or another.

The real question is will we do it ourselves or will Mother Nature intervene? What are your thoughts? –Matthew M. F. Miller

If acupuncture could get rid of wrinkles, would you stick needles in your face? Bet you would. Women are flocking to Cinnabar Spa and Clinic in San Diego to do just that by indulging in facial rejuvenation, or cosmetic acupuncture.

Acupuncture for facial rejuvenation is still based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and addressing the root cause, such as hormonal imbalance or stress, but it also adds points to stimulate the flow of chi in the face and superficially to the skin

“The style of needling is different,” says Lia Andrews, licensed acupuncturist and co-owner of Cinnabar. “You really want to create more circulation in a local area, where wrinkles are located and where the muscles are.”

She reiterates, however, that there’s still an underlying cause. “Whatever shows on your face indicates different conditions in your body,” she says. Treating the body and face, however, has an advantage over other cosmetic treatments as underlying problems are addressed along with improvements in the skin, leading to long-lasting results and a more natural path to vitality.

Along with the acupuncture points, Andrews may also incorporate microdermabrasion or other topical treatment. It’s all individualized to the person’s particular skin condition. Regardless of how intense your treatment is, “you’ll see huge results in one session,” Andrews says and notes that she has clients who come in just before a big event or vacation just to get that quick fix.

For best results, she recommends a regimen of two weekly sessions for five weeks followed by monthly maintenance. “You’ll notice right away that wrinkles seemless,” Andrews says. “That’s what really sells people.” –Dana Carmen