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I don’t play Chess. I’ve never played Chess. I’m not sure why, I just never knew anyone willing to teach me. I’ve never really felt like I had this huge void in my life, until maybe now. I’m sure the feeling will go away after a few days.

There are so many different vantage points from which I could approach this film, but maybe I’ll stick with what I know. I have raised two awesome children and now I have the privilege of participating in the lives of my four amazing grandchildren. All four of them have vastly different personalities, strengths, weaknesses and yet the potential I see in each of them is unlimited. My kids still get a kick out of teasing me about how I used to tell them they could do and be whatever they chose. My son even reminds me occasionally that he was full grown before he realized he was not tall enough to dunk a basketball.

Back to Searching for Bobby Fischer…for those of you who do not know, Bobby Fischer was a world champion chess player who one day just walked away. Many said he was ultimately consumed with madness. Our film today was inspired by the life of chess prodigy, Josh Waitzkin and written by his father, Fred Waitzkin. Josh (Max Pomeranc) is just a typical American boy interested in baseball when one day he challenges his father (Joe Mantegna) at chess and wins. Showing unusual talent at the outdoor matches at Washington Square in New York City, he quickly makes friends with a hustler named Vinnie who teaches him speed chess. Josh’s parents hire a renowned chess coach, Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsley) who teaches Josh the usefulness of measured planning. Along the way, Josh becomes tired of Bruce’s system and chess in general and throws a match, leaving the prospect of winning a national championship in serious jeopardy.

Chess is a lot like life. At one point Josh tells his father that he’s afraid of losing, “Maybe it’s better not to be the best, then you can lose and it’s okay.”  His friend, Vinnie tells him you have to risk everything, always going to the edge of defeat. During one day of lessons, Bruce tells Josh you have to hate your opponents because they hate you. Josh’s mother, Bonnie (Joan Allen) throws Bruce out and he tells her to put a child in a position to care about winning and not prepare him in wrong. Hmmm, where is the balance?

Later in life, Josh Waitzkin went on to apply his focus in other areas besides chess, also becoming a champion in martial arts. A champion at whatever he chooses!

Everyone I asked about Searching for Bobby Fischer absolutely loved it!  Great family movie, great moral values. I will just tell you up front: If you want to see this movie, you might as well go online and buy it. Shop around because it is priced all over the place. Netflix has it but it says ‘very long wait’ next to the title. I am going to leave it in my queue just to see how long, “very long” really is. One thing I can tell you is that it is worth whatever you have to do to get it. As always, I welcome your comments at Chastings@rockcliff.com

Alex Trebek says “Prague Pal.” What is the question?  “What is a Czech Mate?” How better to get into a discussion of the venerable game of chess. Apparently invented centuries ago by the Chinese or Indians, it continues to challenge, perplex and enslave millions. My grand kids beat me without mercy, so I am hardly an expert. Even so, here goes?

1. The most famous chess player in US history was the controversial genius, Bobby Fischer. The most famous chess match in history occurred in 1972, when Fischer met the Russian champion. What was the Russian’s name?

2. The match was televised worldwide. In which city and country was the match held?

3. A couple decades back, the Musical “Chess” had a short run in England and on Broadway. The composers were Tim Rice, of “Evita” fame, and a couple of rock musicians from a famous rock group. What rock group did they represent?

4. “Searching for Bobby Fischer” was a fine movie of a few years back. Who played the father of the child prodigy chess player in the movie?

5. In the opening scene of this movie, consistently ranked among the five best American movies of the past century, our hero is shown for the first time in the movie playing chess against an unknown opponent. Who is the actor and what is the movie?

6. Everyone protects the king in chess, so he has to be pretty important. In the late 1930s, a movie magazine had a contest to select the King of Hollywood. From this point on, the star was referred to as “The King.” Who was he?

 

All right, does everybody have their permission slips signed and have you teamed up with your travel buddies? Today we are going on a field trip outside the comfort of Alive Magazine’s Circulation for the first time since this column’s inception.

Today we visit a San Francisco icon that recently did for me what I certainly hope it will soon do for you. It peeled back the layer of my analytical restaurant mind and altered my perception of “messing with greatness” as if to say, “you aren’t ready for this level of the game.” Let’s step back for a minute.

Fog City Diner was opened in 1985 but the property has always been a food and drink haven. At one time, it was for sailors first and last meal before shipping off or arriving from duty overseas in WWII or serving the railroad workers as the city seemed to spring up around the location on the waterfront.

I remember my parents making special trips there to feel a part of the “city lifestyle” so when I got to go my first time; I was awash in nostalgia for a time I never knew myself.

The restaurant was boxy, toting a small but traditional bar and heavy wooden tables, with low-lining, bulky booths along the windows. Brass handles on the bar accompanied the brass plaque letting me know some history of the place. The retro metal exterior made the outside look like an airstream trailer, and the inside felt like a train car, and I loved it. Being there just felt like the fog was coming in off the bay, and the many television shows and movie representations made me feel as if I was in the place where I might run into a celebrity at any minute.

Then I didn’t go for a while, as East Bay life got in the way, but when a business colleague of mine suggested we meet there, I was instantly giddy.

I walked in only to find the place had been given a massive facelift. Enter the proverbial surgical tools that proceeded to peel my skull back. The site I beheld was remarkable. Never, in all my time in the business, had I seen a full renovation bring a small space into the current century, all the while still protecting the old world charm and classic San Francisco feel.

Soft light throughout the now angular floor space allows the huge wood fire oven in the exhibition kitchen to be the focal point that local Architect Michael Guthrie intended. And as if the oven weren’t enough of a vehicle to inject the smoky goodness of open fire to not only the food but the very ambiance, he placed a seven foot grill right next to it. Ask yourself: Have you ever been pelted in the olfactory senses with the nuance of wood smoke and said, “eww, gross?” I .didn’t think so. We think lodge, comfort, warm, inviting—and then we think, yum!

They didn’t close for six months and gut the place, simply to rebuild the interior and lose the “diner” in the title; they overhauled the menu as well, and nailed the sights and smells with the tastes.

Small bites and shareable entrees promote family style eating, with classics like deviled eggs but with a quinoa bacon bit or Brussels Sprouts with Asian Pear Ponzu. Entrees have smoke, like the Whole Wood Fired Chicken or Smoked Trout served on an alder plank with veggie options to accompany them, like the Grilled Mission Fig Salad served with Point Reyes Blue Prosciutto.

The low-lining booths along the windows are still there but there are a lot more of them to look through, and there are no worries about finding a seat at the bar to enjoy their 16 wines on tap—that’s right—on tap!

Usually renovation is desperate, but here it is just right!

Fog City 1300 Battery St, San Francisco, California ‎ (415) 982-2000 ‎ · fogcitydiner.com

 

What has happened to our so called “free time” in the United States of America?  Does it make sense that neither we nor our government is taking care of our time off?  I am holding in my poor, tired hands, a report  that says many companies doing business in the U.S. are starting to realize that our super connectivity, our twenty-four-seven ping availability by mobile device, laptop, desktop or Skype, has left us vulnerable to working all the time. Well now some companies are trying to step up and say, “Hey your personal time is important. Maybe we shouldn’t squeeze this until it pops.”  Goldman Sachs is urging junior staff to take weekends off. BMW is planning rules that will keep workers from being contacted after hours. Some analysts have suggested that workers may be working longer hours, but are so burned-out that they are not as productive. It may go even deeper than that. My wife and I, while on vacation on Maui ironically, ran into a woman from Germany who does basically the same thing I do. She was on “holiday” and making stops in many different places. She said she had six weeks a year, mandated by the German government.

So I’ve checked several different sources to find out how we stack up. Bottom line: We are terrible, awful, horrific. We are at “the bottom.” Loosely figured in weeks, vacation and holiday time, Portugal, Austria, and Russia mandate seven weeks. Germany, Australia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ireland: Six weeks. Heck, Iran is four weeks. Ecuador and Canada are three weeks. Saudi Arabia is between three and six, based on years worked.  One of the tables I checked listed over 80 countries. Every one, with the exception of one, had government-protected vacation time. Only one didn’t: The United States of America. Now we are the world’s economic leader, and I’m sure there are some things here that we don’t understand, and maybe I’m just naive or not too smart, but—we are alone here.

Back to my original point: We are “hot wired.” We have the ability to produce more, know more and be vital for every minute of our real and virtual lives. Should we self impose blackout periods for our own good?  Should the government be involved? What do we do?  Should or can this continue?  Will we reach a breaking point?  Or should we do nothing?  Laissez-faire?  What makes sense?

 

 

“If music be the food of love, play on.” …Shakespeare

Love songs are always popular but on Valentine’s Day they are the choice of listeners everywhere. If you’re planning an intimate, just for two, Valentine’s celebration, there is nothing more romantic than having the right music playing in the background.

A candle-light dinner, a bottle of wine or champagne and flowers and candy for your sweetheart all set the stage for a romantic evening. But, it’s romantic music that sets the mood to make the evening complete.

Romantic proclamations of love in the form of timeless love songs and ballads permeate the atmosphere surrounding Valentine’s Day. Music has the power to inspire so many feelings and emotions, especially feelings for a special person in your life. Songs can often say what is in your heart and say it with words that may not be your own but help express what you really mean.

Popular love songs:  The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, How Sweet it is to be Loved by You, and I’m in the Mood for Love, are tunes that have endured for years. Many romantic tunes come and go but Unchained Melody, You Belong to Me, And I Love Her, by the Beatles, and Can’t help Falling in Love, by Elvis, will be staples for generations to come. Love songs are always popular but on Valentine’s Day they are the choice of listeners everywhere.

The majority of romantic love songs come from the popular form of music. A myriad of composers have written love songs too many to mention. Surprisingly, Jackie Gleason (1916 – 1987) who was primarily an accomplish actor, comedian and showman, was a musician and producer of mood music. Jackie Gleason’s first and most famous album was, Music for Lovers Only. This album became so popular that it held the record for longest run on the top ten billboard charts for an astounding 153 weeks.

Earl Klugh, born in 1953, is another musical ambassador of romance. He is a master of acoustic guitar and an American composer of smooth/fusion jazz. One of his most famous albums is Music for Lovers, romantic beyond belief. The music was described as music for quiet days and quiet nights and gentle moments. “An astonishing collection of classics from the absolute master of mood music,” said writer, S. Howard, “This music is so romantic it will make you fall in love again and again.”  Klug’s album includes: Wishful thinking, Living Inside Your Love, and Long Ago and Far Away. Music changes and evolves with each generation but there is one topic that has proven to be constant: Romantic love songs.

Love is a universally understood feeling and experience. While there have been countless crooners over the years to explore the ups and downs of love, there have been a select few who stand out from the rest. Romantic songs by Frank Sinatra, who first became noticed in the Big Band era, are still popular today. Nothing says classic romance—or seduction—like a rendition of, Embraceable You, All of Me, My Funny Valentine or The Way You Look Tonight.

            Other great romantic singers whose hit songs are timeless include Tony Martin, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett and, of course, Elvis, to name just a few.

Music of romance is not confined to the popular genre. There are numerous examples of romantic music in the serious or classical period form of music. Opera has many arias that speak of all things romantic. O mio babbino caro from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi; Nessun dorma from Puccini’s Turandot; Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore from Puccini’s Tosca; O giusto  cielo! – Il dolce suono from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Quando m’en vo from Puccini’s La Boheme.

            Romantic music and love songs can lift the hearts and spirits of lovers throughout the world, and not just on Valentine’s Day. Have a lovely Valentine’s Day and here’s a good way to celebrate this year. Bring your sweetheart to hear romantic music performed by the Danville Community Band at their Annual Dinner Concert, Sunday, February 9, 2014. Call the Diablo Country Club for reservations 925-837-7040. Open to the public.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In an attempt to discourage its customers from falling into a culinary rut, a supermarket in England adopted the slogan, “Try something scary today.” This made me smile, but also got me thinking. It’s really not a bad way to approach shopping at the farmers’ market.

In February, do you automatically load up your market bag with apples and oranges? Perhaps tossing in a bag of lettuce or a head of broccoli every now and then? Ho-hum. It’s time to get out of that rut. Make this the year to explore new horizons and embrace the bounty of California’s top growing regions—all of which are represented at the Danville farmers’ market.

Have you ever tried cardoon? Pummelo? Carambola? How about that wild tangle of Asian greens you’ve walked by a dozen times? We’re talking produce here, folks. How scary could these things possibly be?

One of the many advantages of shopping at a certified farmers’ market is the person doing the selling is the same person doing the growing. So if anyone knows how to tackle a kohlrabi or choose a cherimoya, it’s your friendly local farmer. Here’s the challenge for 2014: when you come across anything unfamiliar at the market, just ask the person who grew it. Like most proud parents, they love to talk about their progeny. And their enthusiasm is often contagious.

This month at the farmers’ market, along with those “scary” items you vow to try, no doubt you’ll also want to pick up something sweet for Valentine’s Day. How about something comfortingly familiar, seemingly extravagant, and vaguely romantic? Nothing but farm-fresh strawberries will do.

After months of hiding underground, strawberries are now appearing at the market. Oh sure, they’ll probably get sweeter and cheaper as the season progresses; but for now, they are a colorful addition to the limited lineup of winter fruits. A hopeful sign that spring is on its way. And unlike the hard-as-rocks strawberries sold in most supermarkets, these little gems are the real deal, i.e., they actually smell and taste like berries. Imagine!

While sorting through a mountain of papers I had saved for one reason or another, I came across this long-forgotten recipe. It’s something that used to be served as a special dessert at the Four Seasons in New York City. I hadn’t made these for years. Maybe even decades. And I have no idea why I stopped. (Might it be because I couldn’t find the recipe?) Anyway, these shiny glazed strawberries are now back in rotation.

If you were once a devotee of candy apples—the carnival specialty consisting of an irresistibly crisp, tart apple encased in a crackly-sweet coating that shattered with each bite—think of these strawberries as their sophisticated cousins. The chic relatives who fly in from Paris for the weekend.

These glossy fruits are a welcome break from the ubiquitous chocolate-covered strawberry, yet every bit as delicious.And even though I may have gone overboard in my explanation of the candying process, it’s really quite simple to do. Just have everything set up before you get started, and it will be done in no time.

Best of all, unlike candy apples, these do not provoke the wrath of the American Dental Association. Since it’s only one teeny bite, your veneers should remain in place.

Candied Strawberries

2 baskets farm-fresh strawberries, stems and green caps left intact

2 cups granulated pure cane sugar

1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar

2/3 cup water

1. Rinse the strawberries in a large bowl of cold water. Drain well in a colander and pat dry with paper towels. Arrange the strawberries on an absorbent towel to air-dry.
2. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat; or line with parchment or foil and spray with no-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar and cream of tartar. Stir in the water until evenly moistened. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbles surface around the edges of the pan. Continue cooking, without stirring, watching carefully, until the mixture becomes a clear syrup that reaches the hard-crack stage (300 to 310 degrees F.) on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.
4. Working one at a time, dip aberry into the sugar syrup by holding its long stem or by using a bamboo skewer. (Coat only the red part of the berry; not the green cap or stem.) Immediately transfer the berry to the prepared baking sheet to cool. (The syrup will harden as it cools.) Repeat with the remaining strawberries.
5. Oncecool, these are best served within 2 hours. Do not refrigerate.

Tips for Crackling-Good Success

1. Long-stemmed strawberries make for an especially showy presentation. Valentine’s Day comes only once a year, so you may as well look like a big spender. If long stems arenot available, stick a bamboo skewer securely into the cap of each strawberry to use as a “handle.”
2. Use only perfect—and perfectly dry—fruit. Any moisture left on the berries, or any nicks in the flesh that might leak moisture, will throw off the chemistry.
3. Don’t attempt to make these on a humid or rainy day. The sugar syrup may never harden. (It’s that moisture thing again.)
4. If you don’t own a candy thermometer, buy one. But if that’s out of the question, here’s the old-school way of checking the temperature: Drop a small spoonful of hot syrup into a bowl of ice water. Remove the resulting candy from the water and try to bend it between your fingers. If the proper hard-crack stage has been reached, the syrup will form brittle threads in the water, and will crack if you try to mold it with your fingers.
5. You want to work fairly quickly, before the sugar syrup cools down and loses its crackling powers. You can prolong the proper temperature by carefully placing the pot of hot syrup inside a larger pot or bowl filled with a couple of inches of hot (not boiling) water.
6. This is NOT a project to do with young children. Or clumsy adults. In fact, have a bowl of ice water nearby, just in case any of the sugar syrup splatters; immediately submerge your hand in the ice water.

‘Looking for a few new recipes to liven up your entertaining repertoire? Check out Peggy Fallon’s upcoming class at Draeger’s Cooking School at the Blackhawk store on Wednesday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m. For more information go to www.draegerscookingschool.com, or call 1-800-642-9463 ext. 261.

 The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well.

 

 

 

For the woman in her 50’s, projecting her best personal style may be a struggle. Gravity takes a toll, “muffin tops” pop out, and her internal thermometer may run on the warm (bordering on the hot and sweaty) side. However, looking youthful and on-trend is easy when the art of dressing age-appropriately is mastered. Some Do’s and Don’ts to consider:

*Do combine trendy pieces (like knee-high boots) with a classic wardrobe, rather than piling trend on trend ontrend. Let one item in outfit “lead the look” so the effect is sophisticated (photo 1).

 

*Do wear layers to provide a relief, should the nasty hot flash creep up on you. For colder weather, add a lightweight sweater and a cotton scarf (photo 2).

 

 

 

*Don’t wear a sleeveless dress without a jacket, cardigan or a wrap if you’re not comfortable with your upper arms. On the other hand, if you have suffered through a million tricep kickbacks, then proudly show off your arms (photo 3).

 

 

 

 

 

*Do wear a bra that supports “the girls”, and try shape wear that smoothes and creates a lean line through the mid-section (photo 4, available at theperkylift.com).

 

 

*Don’t give up on your individual sense of style by wearing shapeless styles that do nothing for your figure (photo 5). You’re much too fabulous for that!

 

 

 

For style tips and trends, subscribe to Carolyn’s blog at C2style.com/blog or follow her on Facebook (C2 style) and Twitter (shopwithC2style).

 

 

Q. We replaced a big Ash tree with two Crape Myrtles. The pink blooming tree has five or six upward pointing branches. At the ends of the branches, are what I think are seedpods. The white Crape Myrtle has easily a dozen sideways/downward pointing branches and I’m a little concerned that the white Crape Myrtle will not have an upright growth habit, like it’s pink cousin. Will pruning and removing the seedpods cause the tree to grow upright? Also, what should I do to encourage the growth?

A. Crape Myrtle is a very popular summer blooming, deciduous tree although there are some varieties that flower in September. They’re a low to medium size tree that also produces some very nice fall color. The species has a number of varieties that have some distinct characteristics such as mildew resistant, large bold leaves, a stiff upright growth habit, and peeling bark, just too mention a few. Each species has a range of colors, so there are several whites, pinks, reds etc. From your description, you have two different varieties so the shape of these trees is not going to be mirror images of each other. Pruning will help but it’s not going erase the differences. Crape Myrtles are pruned during the winter months. They can be pruned severely, lightly or somewhere in between, it just doesn’t matter. On the white flowering variety, I’d look to remove the side growth keeping the larger upright branches and then fertilize to encourage the new growth. Fertilizer is also critical to each years blooming cycle as Crape Myrtles bloom only on the first year or current wood. Little to no new growth is the primary cause for the trees to stop blooming. With young trees, fertilize twice a year with 16-16-16. You would apply a half-pound of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter measured two feet off the ground. It is spread under the drip line and not piled at the trunk of the tree. The first application can be done anytime after pruning through the end of March with the follow up feeding in May/June. With established tree, one application is all that is necessary.  You’re correct that the structures at the ends of the Crape Myrtle stems are the seedpods. After flowering, a cluster of green, round seedpods form. They vary in size depending on the variety. The clusters mature in the late summer/early fall and then rupture. The seed is scattered around by the wind. Fortunately, they’re sterile, so they don’t become a nuisance popping up everywhere the next year. What left at the end of the stems is the brownish color casing that should be removed annually. After the flush of growth, I’d stand back a take a critical look at the canopy of the trees. If they continue to look dissimilar, I’d then consider replacing one before it gets too big. I’d check the label on the desirable tree for the correct variety. It should be available in white but probably not until late May.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero

 

 

As a doctor who has dealt with patients who are overly tired for many years, you might think that I’d be .C., DA of dealing with it, but tiredness/fatigue is probably one of the easier symptoms to cure and the most gratifying for me, but often misunderstood. This is probably because, at first glance, we write it off to overwork, inadequate sleep, increased stress, or poor nutrition.  Yes, this can be where it begins, but these four very common effects of the current century have interesting interconnections that “down regulate” our body systems and slowly degrade health, leading not only to tiredness, but to debilitating fatigue.

Body fatigue can be confusing and the world of health and medicine is complex.  The interactions of our body’s organs and systems are so interrelated and complex that simple knee-jerk assumptions about actual functions can be incomplete and incorrect.  But if one places the facts of health in an order that shows the progression of a process or an effect of some nutrient or brain neurotransmitter, our bodies start to make sense in the big picture. This is why I do this work. It is the reason I enjoy this work.

Most people, and physicians for that matter, think that poor sleep leads to tiredness instead of the other way around.  So, of course, their first plan of attack is to take sleep medication. This can increase total sleep time and reduce the stress of long hours of staring at the ceiling, but it certainly does not address fatigue, or the cause of the sleep disorder.  My point is that fixing fatigue by medicating a symptom (and this includes thyroid medication) may not help in the long run and can actually increase your problems. This is, in fact, where most of my patients are at when I first see them.

Here’s how it actually works. At first it can begin with any of a group of “stressors,” like anemia, adrenal gland dysfunction, inflammation, gut disorders, food sensitivity, but soon it bleeds over to other areas that are susceptible because of your genes or your lifestyle, or both. The fatigue causes are real but the common denominator is that the reactions to these offensive stressors lead to adrenal gland strain and eventual adrenal fatigue. The adrenal glands (small glands above your kidneys) manage your stress from every possible source–a tall order considering how much stress we deal with.  They actually produce more than 50 hormones, the majority, however, are cortisol, DHEA and aldosterone and epinephrine.

Once the adrenal glands are traumatized and under-functioning, you are not the same.  In the initial stages of adrenal stress you may be hyper-responsive to minor stressors, like missing trash day, but when the adrenals continue to be strained they fully fatigue, leaving you unable to cope—overwhelmed and drained.  Of course, most of us find ourselves somewhere between tired and debilitated at times, but the good thing is that the adrenals rarely are permanently scared like can happen with the pancreas (diabetes) or the brain (Alzheimer’s).  It’s just that it can take a while (6 months to a year) to sort things out so that we can clearly identify the cause to the initial problem and then provide support for the organs that are under water.

Treating adrenal fatigue requires a whole-body approach, one that encompasses life style habits, diet, and excess stress that attacked your adrenal glands in the first place. Testing the adrenals with an Adrenal Salivary Test is the most accurate starting point (one that most doctors don’t do).  That, along with appropriate blood testing for other causes of fatigue, will usually round-out the picture.The good news is that natural treatments for this syndrome are very effective.

Dr. Don Davis, D.C., DACNB is a BOARD CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST in Walnut Creek.  He has been serving individuals with chronic pain for 30 years. For information about how you can get a free consultation with Dr. Davis, call (925) 279-4324 (HEAL).  Visit us at WalnutCreekHealth.com or WalnutCreekThyroidInstitute.com

 

It seems the further we stray from our natural environment and let society dictate our habits, the more health problems we encounter.

Something as simple as the invention of the light bulb has dramatically altered our environment, allowing us to not be guided by nature as to our sleeping routines, but by the rat race in which we have chosen to take part.

We are not satisfied losing sleep as adults, but force this ugly and unhealthy habit on our children. Adding night lights to our sports fields gives us one more way to cut into our children’s sleep; and then throw in excessive homework to be done after practice. To add further injury, add a very late dinner associated with no bedtime routine to make sure what sleep the kids get is poor at best.

A 2006 Harvard Medical School Publication came up with the following reasons for getting enough sleep:

1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. People who slept after a learning task did better on tests.
2. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
3. Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during daytime resulting in mistakes and accidents as well as unhappy teachers.
4. Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness.
5. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels and irregular heartbeat.
6. Disease:  Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also fight cancer.

How much sleep do you really need?  The National Sleep Foundation recently recommended the following:

Newborns (0-2 months)                      12 to 18 hours

• Infants (3 to 11 months)                       14 to 15 hours
• Toddlers (1 to 3 years)                        12 to 14 hours
• Preschoolers (3 to 5 years)                  11 to 13 hours
• School age (5 to 10 years)                   10 to 11 hours
• Teens  (10 to 17 years)                        8.5 to  9.25 hours
• Adults                         `                       7 to 9 hours

In children under ten, an evening routine that is very conducive to quality sleep includes a regular meal time with calmer activities and relaxation. Bath time, tooth brushing and story telling are all good. Frightening TV and video games reverse the desired state.

Being sure that your child is not a mouth breather will not only enhance the quality of the sleep, but may help prevent orthodontic problems. Mouth breathing is a major cause of the narrowing of the upper arch with the resulting crowding and blocking out of our canines.

Large tonsils and adenoids are usual suspects in this case. Sometimes merely eliminated dairy or gluten from the diet will take this problem away. Your family doctor should be well aware of the importance of enough good sleep. Ultimately, it is the parent who routinely checks the child’s sleep and demands something be done about problems found. Most of the children in my sleep practice have been brought in by their parents

Unless you are an extreme exception, we are all guilty of improper time management, having to stay up late to make up for it. Then the vicious cycle begins. You start to make mistakes and use bad judgment at work or school and you find you have to make up for them by working late again. This can become a habit which is not only destructive to your goals, but to the quality of life and ultimately your health and good nature.

You just can’t get away from it. Balancing your life is the answer, not only for your health and happiness, but to act as the proper model for your children to follow. Kids learn more from osmosis than opinion. It’s not what you say; it’s what you do that really makes a difference, right down to what we eat and drink and the part we take in creating our own happiness.

Robert Brown, DDS has a TMJ, orthodontia, and sleep apnea practice in Danville and thoroughly enjoys discussing holistic medicine. You can contact him at 925-837-8048, at info@aodtc.com, or visit his web site at www.aodtc.com.