However You Celebrate It…  From Our Family To Your Family…  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

December 2015 Newsletter

What´s New at Savon

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Quote Of The Month:  “Merry Christmas, nearly everybody!”  (Ogden Nash - Poet - (1902-1971)


Congratulations To:

W. Hanneman of Goldbar, Washington  Winner of our November early payment drawing for 1 free additional year of membership.

Congratulations to our winner and thank you to everyone that entered the drawing.


To Your Health With Jourdin Hendershot:

Winter-Proofing Your Skin

Jourdin
Whether you‘re dealing with snow, sleet, blistering cold temperatures or mild, dry desert temperatures it‘s very important to protect your skin.

With winter among us, it‘s the perfect time to begin changing your daily moisturizing routine to help prevent dry, itchy, chapped skin. Harsh winds, low humidity (below 30%) and indoor heating are common factors that drain the moisture from our skin.  Many people do not realize this but the cold weather actually has a greater impact on skin as we age, this is because the body‘s ability to produce natural protective oils declines.

According to RedBox magazine they asked top facial specialists across the United States to tell us some helpful tips on keeping our skin gorgeous, fresh and healthy based on the region you live in!
  • The Frigid (Northeast and Midwest) –

    • Switch to a soap-free, creamy face wash.  Every other night mix a dollop of the face wash with a tiny amount of rice powder to slough away dead skin (build up is more during winter months – making you lose your glow).

    • Spritz on a hydrating mist that has calming ingredients such as lavender or neroli.  Spray this onto clean skin before lotion to boost skin moisture.  Avoid anything containing Alcohol.

  • Dewy Conditions (Down South) –

    • Swap your night cream for oil.  Oils will deliver necessary nutrients and antioxidants to the skin.  Since oils absorb fast, they don‘t congest pores like creams do.

    • When you blend in the oil, gently pinch your skin as you go.  This boosts the circulation and brings blood and oxygen to the surface which helps flush out impurities and brightens the skin.

  • High Altitude (Mountain States) –

    • Use an antioxidant serum in the morning.  If you spend money in one area of your regimen, spend it on a high quality antioxidant serum that contains ferulic acid and vitamins C and E.

    • Lips are just as vulnerable to skin cancer.  During the day use a lip balm that is SPF 30 or greater.  Before bed, rub on a lip treatment that contains hydrating nutrients such as coconut oil or shea butter.

  • Dry Air (Out West) –

    • Start the day out with a green smoothie; this is full of antioxidants that help fight off free radicals.

    • Don‘t stop exfoliating; many people think this will dry their skin out more.  But dry skin is a buildup of dead cells, so unless you remove them, your lotions can not penetrate as well.
No matter where you live or what weather conditions you are facing these simple changes to your daily routine will help make a difference in your skin‘s appearance along with keeping your skin in tip-top condition.

If you have questions you would like to discuss with Jourdin, feel free to drop her an email by clicking here.

The above health material is provided as an information service.  It should not be used for diagnostic purposes nor is it intended to take the place of the important relationship between you and your doctor.


Grandma's Kitchen With Grandma C.:

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Grandma C.
Ingredients
  1. 2 cups leftover Turkey (white and dark meat)
  2. 1 cup celery, thinly sliced
  3. 1 medium onion, chopped
  4. 1 pkg frozen mixed vegetables
  5. 1 can Cream of Chicken soup
  6. ½ cup sour cream
  7. 1 TBSP dried parsley flakes
  8. Salt and Pepper

Saute' onion and celery in 1 tbsp butter or margarine for 3 to 4 minutes.  Add turkey meat and stir.  Add cream of chicken soup, sour cream, parsley flakes, mixed vegetables and salt and pepper.  Stir and simmer on low for 8-10 minutes.

While the mixture is simmering, open one pie crust and roll out to desired thickness and width.  Press into pie pan, trim edges.  Pour turkey mixture into crust.  Roll out remaining pie crust.  Lay on top of pie and trim excess crust.  With a fork, press the edges together.  Make one criss-cross cut in center (top) of pie crust, about 1 inch.  Gently pierce the top crust with a fork approx four times to vent.

Bake in 350 degree oven for approx 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown.  Let stand for 5 minutes to settle, then serve!

Enjoy!  And remember, if it looks and smells good, eat it!!

If you have a recipe that you would like to share with Grandma C., drop her an email by clicking here.


Keeping Fit With Clayton "TR" Parker

Keeping Fit 2015 – The Year In Review

Clayton (TR)
2016 is right around the corner and I don‘t know about you, but I‘m still not used to writing 2015 yet!  These last 11 months have flown by.  As I look back on the year, there is a lot of information that I have thrown your way.  So, as I do every December, I would like to briefly review all of the topics from Keeping Fit 2015.

January was an attempt to start off right by putting a Workout Plan in your New Year‘s Resolution.  Question: Did you make your goals?  Which ones will carry over to next year?  Which ones will you remove from your 2016 plan?  We will talk about that in January.

February brought the topic of stretching.  I gave you 4 tips for proper stretching.  Just remember to stretch out your whole body, every time.

In March I gave you 4 main causes of workout dizziness. If that is something that affects your workout, I hope that you found that article useful and helpful.
In April, I had a disclaimer that I was not doing a Nike endorsement in my article titled “Just Do It”.  This was a subtle plea for everyone to get out and exercise.  Remember that, contrary to society‘s opinion, being healthy and being in shape are two very different things.  You can be one without being the other.

In May I confused everyone including myself by showing you the rocket science algorithm for BMI (Body Mass Index).  Again, I cannot stress enough that BMI is just generalized formula and does not take individual body types in to consideration.  Let it be the foundation of your workout, not the goal.

June was confession month for me as I was the one that got dehydrated and had a mild case of heat exhaustion, which lead me to play the myth buster on whether or not gum can dehydrate you.  Answer: No, but it can mask the symptoms and warning signs!

July and August I went on my various exercise apparatus endorsement.  Did you get a Doorway Pull Up bar or the Water noodles?  If not, there is still time to add them to your Christmas list.  They are great in -home exercise items.  The doorway pull up bar is something I use on a daily basis.

September took us on a treadmill run as I touched on ways to get the most out of a treadmill workout.  Do you still think it is an apparatus for cardio?  I bet not.

October was Part 1 of a series on Exercise Resistance Bands that I promise I will complete soon.  It‘s a great portable piece of workout equipment that anyone can use.

Lastly, in November I gave you the key to continuing your workout goals and still get through this Holiday Season.  Remember, Tone It Down, But Don‘t Shut It Down.  By doing this you will not be starting over again in 2016.

I look forward to sharing the wonderful topics, tips and equipment recommendations that I have for you in 2016.  In the meantime, have a safe and wonderful Christmas and New Years!

If you would like to read any of the articles that I have reviewed, please visit our newsletter archive.

If you have questions you would like to discuss with Clayton, feel free to drop him an email by clicking here.

The above fitness material is provided as an information service.  Remember:  Always check with your doctor before starting any new type of exercise program.


spotlight
 

Atlantic Dental

Dental Center
Our final spotlight for 2015 stays in our home city of Phoenix, Arizona and shines on Dr. Mark Ashtiana and the staff at Atlantic Dental

Dr. Ashtiana graduated from Marquette University, school of dentistry in 1996.  He has been practicing in Arizona since 1999 and opened his own practice in 2002.  Dr. Ashtiana's main goal is to provide outstanding and quality dentistry.

The mission of Atlantic Dental is:  “To provide affordable dental care, without sacrificing quality or convenience.”  This mission is both reinforced by their talented group of dental professionals and supported by their patients who recognize the quality of care they receive.  “Our patients rely on us to provide quality, professional dental care, and we deliver that - one smile at a time.”
The practice is located at 3229 East Greenway, Suite 103, Phoenix, Arizona 85032.  The phone number is 602-923-0800.  We also invite you to visit them on the web.

Say thank you to your dental office for the excellent manner in which you are treated by nominating your dentist!


Fun Facts:

12 Fun Facts For The 12 Days Of Christmas

confused holiday

  • 1.  Norwegian scientists have hypothesized that Rudolph‘s red nose is probably the result of a parasitic infection of his respiratory system.

  • 2.  The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers.

  • 3.  Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone.

  • 4.  All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts.

  • 5.  In A.D. 350, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ.

  • 6.  The traditional three colors of Christmas are green, red, and gold.  Green has long been a symbol of life and rebirth; red symbolizes the blood of Christ, and gold represents light as well as wealth and royalty.

7.  Bolivians celebrate Misa del Gallo or “Mass of the Rooster” on Christmas Eve.  Some people bring roosters to the midnight mass, a gesture that symbolizes the belief that a rooster was the first animal to announce the birth of Jesus.

8.  Christmas wasn‘t declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26, 1870.

9.  Ancient peoples, such as the Druids, considered mistletoe sacred because it remains green and bears fruit during the winter when all other plants appear to die.  Druids would cut the plant with golden sickles and never let it touch the ground.  They thought it had the power to cure infertility and nervous diseases and to ward off evil.

10.  Santa Claus is based on a real person, St. Nikolas of Myra (also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker, Bishop Saint Nicholas of Smyrna, and Nikolaos of Bari), who lived during the fourth century.  Born in Patara (in modern-day Turkey), he is the world‘s most popular non-Biblical saint, and artists have portrayed him more often than any other saint except Mary.  He is the patron saint of banking, pawnbroking, pirating, butchery, sailing, thievery, orphans, royalty, and New York City.

11.  Christmas stockings allegedly evolved from three sisters who were too poor to afford a marriage dowry and were, therefore, doomed to a life of prostitution.  They were saved, however, when the wealthy Bishop Saint Nicholas of Smyrna (the precursor to Santa Claus) crept down their chimney and generously filled their stockings with gold coins.

12.  The first person to decorate a Christmas tree was reportedly the Protestant reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546).  According to legend, he was so moved by the beauty of the stars shining between the branches of a fir tree, he brought home an evergreen tree and decorated it with candles to share the image with his children.


Come back for more in next months issue!


Dental Talk - A Member Blog Forum:

Blogging
Come blog with us!  Dental Talk with Savon is a fun forum to post your interesting topics!  Your comments are welcome, it‘s free to use and no membership is required.

Some of the topics include;

These are just a few of the topics.  Our blog site contains many other interesting topics.  Please join us!!


Here’s Your Answer

Questions From Our Members

Dave S. of Phoenix, AZ asks:

“I am in my 70's and I have been on blood thinners for a few years now.  I have been going to the same dentist for quite sometime and have only needed cleanings and minor fillings.  The last time I went in, he decided that I needed to have a tooth extracted but would not do it at this visit because of the blood thinners.  If they can do all of the other work, why can't they just pull the tooth?”

Savon’s Answer

You are taking blood thinning drugs (antiplatelet or anticoagulant) to maintain the consistency of blood and prevent blood clotting.  These make the blood thin enough to flow through fine vessels and this reduced consistency can be dangerous in case of deep wounds or surgeries.

For dental procedures that do not involve cutting – like fillings, whitening, or cleaning – it is relatively safer for you to continue using blood thinners than to give up the medication completely.  That‘s because, there are a number of local measures (like using gauze) which can be applied to control bleeding.

Sometimes, patients using blood thinners need major dental surgery or procedure like implantation, extraction, or root canal.  As always, the benefits and potential risks of stopping the blood thinners must be analyzed and weighed.  Dentists might require conducting a series of blood tests to determine the consistency of the blood, and prescribe some pre-treatment medication to the patient.

Although it is very rare in dentistry to cause critical or life threatening complexities, it is important to inform the dentist about blood thinners before going for a dental procedure.  Not only about anticoagulant medications, but you should also discuss with the dentists about every medicine you are taking.  While people using anticoagulant medications can have dental work, dentists recommend patients to share their health record with them.

The above answer is provided for your information and is not a medical opinion.
Remember:  Always discuss your health conditions with your doctor before starting any procedure.

This answer was taken in part from BayView Dental Associates


Are You Dental Phobic?

Helpful Suggestions For The Dental Phobic Patient

It is a fair estimation to say that some 80% of the population has at least some level of anxiety and fear over dental procedures.  (Surprisingly, a higher percentage of women have reported having dental phobia than men!)  Many people avoid seeing a dentist (some for up to 15 or 20 years ) and consequently, they are diagnosed as needing major restorative work all because they were too afraid to see a dentist for preventative care.

So, for those dental phobics out there, any suggestions we can provide are helpful to them, even to the smallest degree:
  1. Choose a dentist you can trust.  The best method for this is word of mouth.  Talk to a trusted friend or co-worker, or ask a family member for a referral.  Chances are if they've had a good experience, you will too.

  2. Level with the dentist about your fears.  The more he/she knows about your history of phobia, the better able he is to plan your treatment.

  3. Be involved in the treatment planning.  (Except in the case of an emergency, of course). Mental preparation is important to the dental experience.  Discuss all options prior to treatment.  Knowing what to expect goes a long way toward relaxation.

  4. Bringing a spouse or trusted friend along to the office may be just enough to help you get through the treatment process.  Sometimes just knowing someone is there (even if they stay in the waiting room) provides comfort.

  5. Talking about dental related fears with a friend or family member can help to alleviate and eradicate the jitters.  You might even be surprised to learn that they have similar fears!

  6. Predetermine a "stop signal".  Most people will just raise a hand…  that seems to be the most common signal.  Sometimes all that is required is to stop for a moment and let the feeling pass.

  7. Bring a music device with headphones to distract you.  Music calms the soul, and consequently the mind and body.  If you are in to motivational or inspirational types of listening material, that can be helpful as well.  Many of the new state of the art dental facilities already have these things available.

Overall, communication is the best source for overcoming dental phobia.  It‘s a joint effort between your and the doctor so keep those lines of communication open, and Keep Smiling!

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