Best Friend Ever

Actress-comedian Rachael Harris on sensible eating, cheating with chocolate and self restraint By Mark Ariel Photograph by Rob McEwan

Smart, funny and attractive, it’s virtually impossible not to fall in love with actress-comedian Rachael Harris. You’ve seen her great comedic acting skills in actor-director Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, you’ve watched her poke good natured fun at other celebs on VH1’s I Love the ‘80s, I Love the ‘90s, and Best Week Ever, you’ve seen her hilarious stints on the Daily Show, and somehow - in your head - you feel like she’s one of your best friends.

Born in Worthington, Ohio, Harris moved to LA, where she studied and majored in theater. She then performed with the Los Angeles improvisation troupe, Groundlings. She debuted on television in a 1993 episode of SeaQuest DSV. After an appearance on Star Trek: Voyager in 1997, Harris went on to a recurring role in The WB’s Sister, Sister. Other television credits include a stint as a correspondent for The Daily Show’s 2002-2003 season, as well as roles on The Sarah Silverman Program, Reno 911!, The West Wing, Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Monk, and Desperate Housewives. Read more

Stem Cell Hand Lift

Hand rejuvenation using your body’s own stem cells by Nathan Newman, M.D.

Stem cells from your own body fat have the power to restore and renew the youthful appearance of the face and body. Traditional face lift procedures could not address the signs of aging on the hands and therefore the hands became the “tell-tale” sign of age. The Stem Cell Lift(tm) procedure is the ideal way to correct the hollowed, skeletal, wrinkled skin on the hands to match the youthful and rested look of a stem cell face lift.

THE AGING HAND
Just as on the face, the volume and fatty cushion that is present beneath the skin of the hands is lost over time. This results in bony looking hands with undesirably protruding veins under the skin. Sun exposure causes skin discoloration and wrinkles which also give an aged look to the hands.

STEM CELL HAND LIFT
The Stem Cell Lift(tm) is a procedure that can be done under local anesthesia in a procedure room. A mini-liposuction procedure is done on any area of the body that the patient chooses to have excess fat removed from. The stem cells found in this fat are then concentrated to increase the number of stem cells that will be injected to rejuvenate the hands. The stem cell enriched fat is then used to sculpt the hands using specially a designed instrument. The results are immediate. There is some swelling and soreness in the areas treated that subside with in days. It takes the newly introduced cells about 3 months to completely integrate into and become a natural part of the body area that they have been placed. Read more

Money Talks

Who paid for that study? Source affects outcome by Maggie Fox

One study shows that milk can help people lose weight. Another shows that tomato juice might prevent cancer and a third shows benefits to fizzy sodas.

But consumers should take those studies with a grain of salt, researchers report. If a study was industryfunded, it was far more likely to have a positive finding than if it was paid for by the government or an independent group, the researchers found. “We are not singling out any industry or any particular study,” said lead researcher Dr. David Ludwig of Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard University. “Our first look shows evidence strongly suggestive of bias,” Ludwig said in a telephone interview. The study, published by the Public Library of Science online journal PLoS Medicine, echoes other findings that show industry-funded research on drugs is more likely to be favorable to the drugs than independent research. Ludwig’s team reviewed 111 studies on soft drinks, juice and milk that were published between 1999 and 2003. Read more

The Future of Medicine

Some experts say the world is on the cusp of a “golden age” of genomics By Maggie Fox, Julie Steenhuysen and Ben Hirschler

Francis Collins, who helped map the human genome, did not get around to having his own genes analyzed until last summer. And he was surprised by what he learned.

Collins has a predisposition for type 2 diabetes, something he had never suspected. The lanky, former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) discovered this through tests offered by Navigenics, 23andMe and DecodeMe • companies that charge customers a few hundred dollars for a peek at their genetic makeup. “I signed up for all three because I wanted to see if they gave the same answer,” he said. “They all agreed my diabetes risk is higher.”

Armed with that information, he eventually lost 25 pounds. But as a rule, he doesn’t consider such tests especially useful • at least not yet. “Admittedly, right now your family history may be your best bet and it doesn’t cost anything,” he said. And so it goes in the fledgling genome field. Some experts say the world is on the cusp of a “golden age” of genomics, when a look at the DNA code will reveal your risk of cancer, diabetes or heart disease, and predict which drugs will work for you. Yet the $3 billion international Human Genome Project, whose first phase was completed a decade ago, has not led to a single blockbuster diagnosis or product. Read more

Live Longer

Calcium may offer unique longevity benefit study by Patrick Tsakuda

Getting a bit more calcium in your diet could help you live longer, new research suggests. Swedish researchers found that men who consumed the most calcium in food were 25 percent less likely to die over the next decade than their peers who took in the least calcium from food. None of the men took calcium supplements. The findings are in line with previous research linking higher calcium intake with lower mortality in both men and women, the researchers point out in a report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

While many researchers have looked at calcium and magnesium intake and the risk of chronic disease, less is known about the association between consumption of these nutrients in food and mortality.

To investigate, Dr. Joanna Kaluza of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and her colleagues looked at more than 23,000 Swedish men who were 45 to 79 years old at the study’s outset and were followed for 10 years. All had reported on their diet at the beginning of the study. During follow-up, about 2,358 died.

The top calcium consumers had a 25 percent lower risk of dying from any cause and a 23 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease during follow-up relative to men that had the least amount of calcium in their diet. Calcium intake didn’t significantly influence the risk of dying from cancer. Men in the top third based on their calcium intake were getting nearly 2,000 milligrams a day, on average, compared to about 1,000 milligrams for men in the bottom third. The US Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium intake is 1,000 milligrams for men 19 to 50 years old and 1,200 milligrams for men 50 and over. Read more

The Flu And You

Everyone should get flu vaccine, experts say By MAGGIE FOX

Everyone in the United States over the age of six months should get seasonal influenza vaccines every year, federal vaccine advisers said last month.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made the long-awaited vote to recommend virtually universal flu vaccination — something public health experts have long recommended.

“The new recommendation seeks to remove barriers to influenza immunization and signals the importance of preventing influenza across the entire population,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement. Read more

The Benefits of A Virtual Colonoscopy

The American Cancer Society recommends getting a colonoscopy at age 50, and every five to ten years thereafter. LA Health News editor Mark Ariel underwent the procedure last month at Parkview Imaging in Santa Monica By Mark Ariel

Though it commands less attention than cancers of the breast or prostate, colorectal cancer is the leading nonsmoking-related cancer killer of Americans. It is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society recommends getting a colonoscopy at age 50, and every five to ten years thereafter. While all this is good to know - many folks hit their fifties and do not rush to undergo the procedure, due to the perceived discomfort of the process. I confess - I was one of those people. What can I say - the thought of having a colonoscope (a long, flexible instrument about 1/2 inch in diameter) inserted into my rectum, advancing through my large intestine - didn’t appeal to me. However - this is an extremely important health screening and - it turns out - there are other options.

Last month I underwent a “Virtual Colonoscopy” at Parkview Imaging in Santa Monica. It was quick - the entire process took under 45 minutes - and I received my results the next day. The procedure, Virtual Colonoscopy (CT Colonoscopy), is the evaluation of the colon utilizing CT. After cleansing the colon the exam is preformed by distending the colon with air and scanning the abdomen and pelvis. The images are “reconstructed” in multiple planes and interpreted by the radiologist. This procedure is faster and less invasive than conventional colonoscopy and does not require sedation. There is a preparation required for the Virtual Colonoscopy, which is the same as a standard colonoscopy. It includes a clear liquid fast 24 hours before the procedure and drinking a laxative to cleanse your colon. Plan to spend the night at home. Read more

Goodbye Face Lift, Hello Stem Cell Lift

The Stem Cell Lift™ is a true advancement that has brought us closer to the everlasting search for the fountain of youth. In this article I will explain the change in concept in cosmetic surgery and the advancement in technology that has made this innovation possible. By Dr. Nethan Newman

Looking back at plastic surgery results for face lifts over time has made many cosmetic surgeons aware that the nip tuck of the past made the face look tighter and plastic not youthful and natural. As we age, the youthful fullness of the face starts to deflate and the skin looses its elasticity. This process causes the skin to droop and loosen causing us to look tired, unhealthy or sad. One of the first places that we notice this loss of volume is under the eyes and the cheeks. Read more

Substitute For Love

Tiger Woods case puts spotlight on “sexual addiction” By Andrew Stern

Golfer Tiger Woods’ admission that he is undergoing therapy after having adulterous affairs has focused attention on the issue of sex addiction, a condition some experts say is becoming much more common. But sex addiction is a controversial concept not currently recognized as an official diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, considered the definitive word on psychological disorders. Read more

How to Heal Faster

Listening to your body By Myke Zykoff HHP, C.Ht.

At some time or other we’ve all experienced not feeling well. Sometimes it lasts longer than we’d like. Some people even get labeled with terminal nomenclature that suddenly dictates every subsequent thought they have. A downward spiral ensues. What does it take to stop this? How can one begin to take back control and become the master of their health?

First off let’s acknowledge what an “illness” really is: a symptom. Your body is meant to be healthy. When something gets in the way of this, you experience discomfort. ALL discomforts, including illness, are merely signals your body is sending you to let you know something’s not right. To heal we must give it the attention it calls for.

Here’s a simple example: Bang your knee and it hurts. (The pain tells you something is wrong.) You rub it, it feels better. (You give your body the attention it requires and it returns to wellness.) To begin healing faster, no matter the level of discomfort, let go of the concept of illness as a problem.

(Thinking this way makes one a victim and allowing oneself to be “victim” creates secondary gains that may keep you in a discomfort for much longer than necessary.) Acknowledge that any form of un-wellness is a strong message that you’ve overlooked a core self value. Read more

Phalloplasty Surgery

What Is Important For You To Know About Surgical Male Enhancement By Patrick Tsakuda

The Rheinschild Clinic specializes in surgical male enhancement. The clinic’s Director and Founder, Gary W. Rheinschild, M.D., is a Board Certified Urologist and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a founding member of the American Academy of Phalloplasty Surgeons. Dr. Rheinschild was the first physician in the United States to pioneer Phalloplasty surgery in the early ’90s.

Dr. Rheinschild, and his trained protégés, have performed over 7,000 surgeries - half of them have been penis reconstruction cases due to the fact that the patient went to a doctor not qualified to perform Phalloplasty. The Rheinschild Clinic utilizes the latest and most advanced techniques currently being performed today in the world of Phalloplasty.

As a family business, The Rheinschild Clinic’s number one priority is to provide the best medical care. “The quality of care is more important to us than the quantity of patients,” states Linda Rheinschild, Dr. Rheinschild’s daughter and Patient Care Coordinator. “We perform our Penis Lengthening and Penis Thickening surgeries in two stages, since it’s best for the healing process and also to achieve maximum results,” Linda explains.

“For both surgeries there are no incisions made on the penis itself,” Linda reveals. “Our patient has to first focus on getting their length achieved by performing our Penile Lengthening Spacer Technique. We have been using this new method for almost 2 years with amazing results. Our patients are seeing results faster. We go transcrotally making a very small, aesthetically pleasing incision, placing the spacer to prevent scar tissue & retraction of the ligaments. We release the man’s hidden penis’ in cutting their ligaments, placing the spacer in, which stabilizes and pushes down the penis making it automatically longer. Read more

Love of Money: The Root of All Evil?

If one is not careful, intense and selfish desire can make a person lose everything By Djehuty Ma’at-Ra

If one is not careful, intense and selfish desire can make a person lose everything By Djehuty Ma’at-Ra

Ever heard of the saying “For the love of money is the root of all evil?” Well, logic would dictate that if the love of money is the root of all evil, then it stands to reason that the hatred of money is the root of all good. Sounds absurd, right? Well, that’s because it is. How can an inanimate object such as paper (dollar bills) when loved by people be the root of all evil? Money is amoral, neither moral nor immoral. In our society, money physically is paper bills or dollar bills. These bills represent energy; energy in the form of belief and this belief is what gives the paper bills their value. Even if our paper bills (Federal Reserve Notes) were still backed by gold and silver the value wouldn’t really be in these two tangible substances because these substances also only have value based upon people’s individual and collective belief. Read more

Awesomely Ryan

Actor and boad certified personal trainer Ryan McPartlin (Chuck’s “Captain Awesome”) on killer abs, mind games and giving in to temptation By Mark Ariel

Born and raised in Chicago, actor Ryan McPartlin has gone from achieving success on the football field at the University of Illinois to achieving success on screen with his midwestern charm. After graduating, where he played football in the Big Ten Conference, with a degree in Speech Communication, McPartlin decided to spend six months in Australia and New Zealand to explore the outback and decide which career path he should follow. He initially moved to California years ago to pursue acting.

En route to primetime success, McPartlin caught the eye of photographer Bruce Weber; thereby garnering a prime campaign for Abercrombie & Fitch. It wasn’t long before he parlayed a coveted role on daytime’s “Passions” into a lead role as Fran Drescher’s younger live-in love on the comedy “Living With Fran.” No stranger to romancing an older leading lady, McPartlin recently starred opposite Gina Gershon in the acclaimed Lifetime mini-series “Everything She Ever Wanted.” Amidst his series regular role on Josh Schwartz’s hit NBC action dramedy “Chuck” as Devon “Captain Awesome” Woodcomb, he’s managed to guest star on such series as “Mad Men,” “Swingtown,” and “CSI: NY” among others. Additionally, he’s voiced the title role of Universal’s animated feature “The Adventures Of Clutch Powers.” Read more

Happiness Makes For A Healthy Heart

Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in most industrialized countries

People who are usually happy and enthusiastic are less likely to develop heart disease than those who tend to be glum, scientists said last month, and boosting positive emotions could help cut heart health risks.

Researchers said their observational study was the first to show an independent relationship between positive emotions and coronary heart disease, but stressed that more work was needed before any treatment recommendations could be made. Read more

Fitness Secrets & Lies

Jenny Evans, founder and CEO of PowerHouse Performance Coaching and creator of PowerHouse Hit the Deck, busts common fitness myths

1 Longer workouts at a lower intensity burn more fat Short and intense interval training sessions can improve whole body fat oxidation by 36% and may offer greater benefits than lengthy bouts of steady-state exercise. Interval training allows you to get more work done in the same amount of time because you can work at greater intensity levels than if you were doing steady state training. Your overall production (calories burned) will be greater despite the frequent breaks because you are able to work at a higher intensity. Interval training also improves your level of fitness very quickly, typically in a matter of just a few weeks, and this improvement in fitness allows you to perform more work and burn more calories during an exercise session.

2 I should workout on an empty stomach so my body will burn fat You must put glucose (food) in the system before you exercise. If you are exercising with no glucose in the system, it sends your body into Emergency Mode. Emergency Mode = hold on to body fat for as long as possible because it is valuable energy and will be necessary to survive. Instead of fat, your body will break down muscle tissue and use that as energy. It does this for two major reasons: Read more