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It’s a new decade, so it’s time for an improved you. Whether you want to eat healthier, develop better habits, get your gut health in check, or try a new style, these local experts advise on their favorite ways to feel healthy.
Elisabeth Warner
ElisabethRegional Marketing Specialist
Lucky’s Market
1919 S. Industrial Hwy.
734-368-9137
Luckysmarket.com
8am-10pm, daily.
Five ingredients to use in 2020? Swiss chard, sunflower seed butter, roasted cauliflower, jackfruit and almond flour.
What is your favorite easy weeknight dinner? Soup made over the weekend during batch cooking, with a loaf of Lucky’s artisan bread.
What’s the best thing to eat or drink when I’m stressed? Adaptogens are great because they can help lower cortisol. Complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, can increase serotonin production and stabilize blood pressure as a way to reduce stress. Herbal teas just feel cozy and calming.
What’s the best thing to eat or drink when I need to sleep? Foods with tryptophan like almonds, cheese, and, yes, turkey.
What’s the best thing to eat or drink when I want to boost my mood? Adaptogen teas, foods with high omega 3s like oily fish, foods with lots of vitamin D, like milk and foods high in folate like leafy greens.
What’s the best thing to eat or drink when I’m recovering from the holidays? Just clean ingredients—simple protein, veggies, and whole grains. And drink lots of water!
Do you believe in cheat days? I dislike thinking of good food and bad food. Just try to eat foods with pronounceable ingredients, chill out on sugar and processed foods, and be mindful of what you eat. If you want to eat a pint of ice cream while watching Real Housewives, do it, enjoy it, and move on.
Bonnie Dockham
LMSW / Executive Director
Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor
2010 Hogback Rd., Suite 3. Ann Arbor, MI.
734-975-2500
Cancersupportannarbor.org
What are some of your most popular support programs? Our support groups are definitely one of the most impactful. Led by licensed therapists, our support groups provide a space for people with cancer and their loved ones to find a sense of balance after a cancer diagnosis. It is a place for resources and guidance, as well as validation and normalization. I cannot fully express their power. Currently, we have over 30 support groups meeting each month, some weekly and some monthly. Although our Living with Cancer groups welcome those with any type or stage of cancer, others are more specific, like our friends and family groups, young adult group, LGBTQ+ group, and advanced cancer groups.
Tell us about one of the most impactful experiences that you’ve had with a patient. There have been so many impactful experiences working with people with cancer. Still, one of the most memorable is of a family who participated in our kid’s programs nearly ten years ago. Mom was sick with advanced cancer, and her daughters were 7 and 9. Understandably, she was angry that she was facing the end of her life, and sadness and fear consumed her husband and children. The kids participated in a session where they learned about the importance of communication using a model volcano as an example. The metaphor being that feelings can build up and eventually you can explode. One of the daughters shared this experience with her mother, indicating that she thought mom was like a volcano. Mom had no idea how her anger was impacting her children. She lived for two more years and, although that was not nearly enough time, those years were good years. The family talked about their feelings, and anger dissipated. Her death was difficult, but her husband and children attributed the wonderful years leading up to her death to that moment, standing around the baking soda volcano. Honesty opened them up to face cancer as a family— united.
What do you offer to someone seeking health and wellness improvement? The Cancer Support Community offers dozens of evidence-based programs for all people impacted by cancer, including caregivers and children as well. Our free programs include nutrition, exercise, meditation and more. Wellness programs for kids teach children how to manage emotions through meditative techniques. Our exercise and stress management for adults are shown to improve quality of life in areas such as reduced fatigue, depression, anxiety and improvement in sleep and pain. Adult wellness classes are available every day of the week, and all of our instructors are trained to make sure the class is safe and comfortable for people dealing with cancer-related fatigue, pain, and physical changes.
What does feeling “healed” mean to you? I think that healing is a process, not a single moment in time. When I think of healing, I think of the whole person— body, mind, and spirit. Healing is time-consuming; once a part of us heals, there are often other parts that need work. It is full of effort and, to be most effective, should be intentional.
Rachel Kanaan
Co-founder
Unity Vibration Kombucha Beer and Tea
93 Ecorse Rd., Ypsilanti.
734-277-4063
Unityvibrationkombucha.com
Brewery Business Hours: 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday.
Tasting Room Hours: 5-11pm, Friday-Saturday.
What are some health benefits of drinking kombucha? First of all, drinking kombucha (Unity Vibration’s at least) is an enjoyable experience that stands on its own as a beverage of choice or can act as a healthier replacement for coffee, tea, beer and pop. It also improves gut health, immune system function, detoxifies, improves digestion, and benefits your skin hair and nails.
What is “gut health” and why should I care? The term gut bacteria refers strictly to bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal system but is commonly used to refer to all types of microorganisms present in the gastrointestinal system. Gut flora is a natural presence in the human gastrointestinal system and, for the most part, a keeper of good health with beneficial bacteria increasing your total number of white blood cells. Eighty percent of your immune system is located in your gut. When your stomach and intestinal tract are healthy, your immune system works optimally, and nutrients are absorbed more easily. Studies indicate that individuals with unhealthy gut bacteria end up absorbing hundreds of calories more than people with healthy bacteria, from the same exact meal.
How much kombucha can I drink in a day? You can start slowly if you like— begin with 8oz then see how your body does— but most people feel great even when they begin drinking it in larger quantities. A few can go through a small detox period. See how your body feels, then you can drink 16oz a day. I drink much more!
I want to break my soda-drinking habit. What type of kombucha should
I swap for my afternoon Diet Coke? We would recommend Unity
Vibration Kold Brewcha! That would be ideal as it gives all the health benefits, awesome flavor and a delicious coffee kick (with Zingerman’s Cold brew coffee added to each bottle for a nice 82 milligrams of caffeine), plus the probiotics, beneficial acids and more. If you don’t like coffee, try our mild-flavored Grapefruit Sage or Mint Pear.
What’s the best flavor for a beginner to try? Bourbon Peach (8% ABV) is our best-seller, and Funky Ginger is also terrific!
Brent Engels
Franchise Owner
Profile by Sanford
215 N. Maple Rd., Suite A-1.
734-270-4060
profileplan.com/ann-arbor
9am-7pm, Monday-Friday.
9am-3pm, Saturday.
Why do most weight loss plans fail? Most weight loss plans fail because either the individual was not ready to make the change, they didn’t have the proper support system, they followed along with a system but didn’t actually make lifestyle changes, or a combination of the three.
What role does habit play in weight loss? Habit plays a major role. People trying to lose weight typically have bad habits that they need to replace with good habits to maintain their progress. For example, changing fries and chips as sides to vegetables and trading things like soda and energy drinks for water.
Tell us about one of the most impactful experiences that you’ve had with a client. We just opened in September, so many of our members are just starting on their journey, but we have one member that is already down 35lbs. He is someone that always enjoyed exercise before joining, but didn’t make smart food choices. Since he has been on the plan, he is finding healthier versions of his favorite foods and enjoying them just as much. He is also more aware of the portions he should be eating. The weight loss has given him more energy to be active with his children and has helped a lot with his joint pain while running. We love it when he comes in every week to share his progress and talk about his improved overall quality of life!
What do you offer to someone seeking health and wellness improvement? We offer a customized meal plan as well as weekly coaching to support and guide our members on their journey. We do provide solutions but prefer when our members come in with specific things they want to learn about or work on. We set weekly SMART goals and focus on an overall lifestyle change to help our members reach each of their health and wellness goals.
Do you use any health, fitness or mindfulness apps? I use Fitbit to track my calories burned and MyFitnessPal to track my intake calories and macronutrients.
Carrie Young
Office Manager
RelaxStation
300 W. Huron St. & 117 N. First, Suite 30, Ann Arbor.
734-623-1951
relaxstation.com
What are some misconceptions about massage? A big one is that it is a luxury, not a necessity. Many people think massage is just a “feel good” treat when in reality there are multiple health benefits to massage. It can reduce stress and anxiety, help with digestive disorders, insomnia, headaches, lymphatic and circulatory systems, and overall wellness. Also, it is beneficial to healing and pain reduction caused by soft tissue strains and injuries.
“The longer the massage, the better.” True or false? It depends on what your goals are in getting the massage. Relaxation massage tends to be a longer session, whereas therapeutic massage, for a specific area, would be shorter. Age and injury levels are also factors to consider as sometimes laying on the table for an extended time can be troublesome.
What should I tell my masseuse before getting my first massage? Be sure to let your masseuse know if you have any injuries or have recently had surgery. They also need to be aware of any skin conditions or sensitivity to lotions, oils or scents.
My neck is stiff and my next massage isn’t for a week. What are some self-massage techniques to try at home? Depending on why your neck hurts ice and/or heat are always good. A topical pain reliever such as Biofreeze can be helpful also. Self-massage products like foam rollers, S hooks, or just a plain old tennis ball, can be used for trigger point areas. Stretching techniques can also alleviate pain for the time being. Ask your massage therapist, chiropractor or physical therapist for stretches specific to your issues.
What should I wear to my first massage? Whatever is most comfortable for you. If you’re coming in for a private session here at RelaxStation, most people prefer not to wear anything at all during the massage and rely on the therapist for proper draping to make them as comfortable and secure as possible. If you’re coming to RelaxStation for an open atmosphere massage in our chair shop, we provide open back t-shirts, so just wear a comfy pair of yoga pants or shorts.
Dr. Amanda Himmel
O.D.
Main Street Optometry
Dexter: 8089 Main St., 734-424-9230.
Pinckney: 907 E. Main St., 734-878-7444.
mainstreetoptometry.com
Do I need to see an optometrist, even if I have great vision? Most certainly. There are so many ocular disorders that a patient may not notice symptoms of until it’s too late, such as retinal tears and glaucoma. An eye doctor can detect and provide treatment for these issues early on. Another situation I see quite commonly is patients not bringing their children in for an eye exam until after they’ve failed a school screening. A child who was born with blurry vision may not have a concept that their vision isn’t ‘clear’ or isn’t what other people typically see. Especially in this age of increasing computer use, eye exams are critical for pediatric patients whether they verbalize a complaint or not.
Tell us about an impactful experience you’ve had with a patient. When I was in school, I went on a mission trip to Honduras, where we performed free eye examinations and dispensed over 900 pairs of glasses for patients in the area. I had a five-year-old boy that had never worn glasses before and had a powerful prescription, to the point where we had to specialty make the lenses so that they would fit him without being too heavy. When we gave him his glasses, he stopped squirming and looked right at me, as if he saw for the first time. Experiences like that make me fall in love with my profession over and over again.
At your most cynical, what motivates you? Knowing that my patients depend on me to ensure their eyes are healthy and functioning properly. It’s why I’m always researching new medications and standards of care so that I can deliver the best care and most up-to-date knowledge for my patients.
Do you have a New Years’ resolution? Last year, instead of setting a resolution that we knew would fall to the wayside, my fiance and I each made a ‘year bucket list’ of things we wanted to do together and accomplish in the upcoming year. We then compared our lists and hung them up on our fridge. We tried to check off as many things as we could as the year went on. It’s fun to stick to a list while also making sure we reach our goals!
Joshua Campbell
Head Piercer and Owner
Ideal Body Piercing
211 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor
734-997-0608
Idealbodypiercing.com
Noon-8pm, Wednesday-Sunday.
What’s the advantage of going to a piercing-only studio? We do one thing correctly, so we don’t do two things wrong! With a piercing-only environment, we can focus solely on up-to-date procedures, jewelry, and care to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey for any shiny adventure! With places that do both tattooing and piercing, the piercing side can quickly be left behind. We see tons of unnecessary and avoidable mistakes.
What are some misconceptions about piercing?
That you can consider a piercing healed when it stops hurting. As a result, we see more issues because the client ends their aftercare regiment too soon, and that can bring up problems that are harder to heal in the long run. New piercings can calm down quite fast, but they take time to heal internally, so you have to be on the ball with taking care of it for longer than you might expect! It is always easy to pop into your professional piercer’s studio and have them take a peek to determine if aftercare is still required. A proper studio will always be happy to help in any way when it comes to getting the best results with your new shiny friend!
Before I get a piercing, what are a few things that I absolutely need to know? You don’t have to be an expert on the piercing world to know how to get a safe piercing, but there can be quite a few things to look into when choosing your next piercing. You always want to start by asking if they use implant-grade quality jewelry. A lot of cheaper places use things like surgical steel, sterling silver, and/or plated materials, which aren’t the best options for initial piercings. Implant-grade steel titanium, and/or at least 14 karats or 18 karats nickel-free solid gold.
Another thing to remember is that it never hurts to ask for a tour of the facility, ask how items are processed for your safety and don’t feel pressured to have to get it done right then and there! A piercing takes a while to heal, so your professional should have the same patience in helping you make an educated decision even if that takes a bit of research on the client’s behalf, and a few days to think on it. Whenever you’re ready is when you will have the most success. Remember that it’s your day, we’re here to make sure it is a great one!
What does “anodized” jewelry mean? Anodizing is a fun way to customize your jewelry by changing the color of the jewelry through an electrical current that comes into contact with either Titanium and/or niobium. Most color variants are achievable, except for reds and oranges. Still, there are so many ways to include anodized jewelry to accent specific stones, or just to make a simple piece fit your color needs. We also love showing clients how we do it live, in person! It is a quick but awesome thing to see!
