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There are luxury sports sedans and then there are BMW’s. I have always found BMW’s to be very forgiving to the average driving attempting to maneuver through S-curves like Mario Andretti. The BMW 3-series may be the most popular vehicle that the industry benchmarks. They look beautiful, handle like a dream, perform effortlessly and just look so hot sitting anywhere–even in your garage!

The 3-Series is BMW’s bread-and-butter vehicle, so to increase its reach the 2013 model year introduces new models and platforms. The sedans and wagons sit on a new platform. The coupes and convertibles remain on the previous generation platform, but will be replaced by the new 4-Series in the near future.

New to the lineup for 2013 is the 320i, an entry-level 3-Series sedan designed to attract new buyers with a friendlier price point. The new 320i relies on a less powerful version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the BMW 328i and generates 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. It is available in either a rear- or all-wheel drive (x-Drive) version.

Also new for 2013 is the BMW ActiveHybrid3. The ActiveHybrid3 combines the 335i’s engine with an electric motor for a total of 335 horsepower. It is paired with the 8-speed automatic and has a lithium-ion battery pack.

The full 3-Series lineup for 2013 includes the following: 320i Sedan ($33,445), 320i x-Drive Sedan ($35,445), 328i Sedan ($37,445), 328i x-Drive Sedan ($39,445), 328i Coupe ($38,700), 328i x-Drive Coupe ($40,400),328i Convertible ($47,600), 335i Sedan ($44,045), 335i x-Drive Sedan ($46,045), 335i Coupe ($45,100), 335i x-Drive Coupe ($46,800), 335i Convertible ($53,800), and the ActiveHybrid 3 ($50,545).

Sedan powertrain stats – I already mentioned the 320i, but will add that it is available with either 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 328i upgrades the turbocharged 2.0-liter to deliver 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. Need more speed then go for the 335i, which is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 that pounds out 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. All x-Drives models only are mated only to the 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 328i coupes and convertibles are packaged with a 3.0-liter inline-6 that produces 230 hp and 200 lb.-ft. of torque, while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. 335i coupes and convertibles are powered by the same turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 found in the sedans.

The 2013 BMW 3-Series comes in three body styles: coupe, sedan and the upcoming wagon. All feature short front and rear overhangs and prominent BMW styling cues. LED accent lights are angled above the headlamps. The lines are clean and flow throughout the models with smooth angled edges.  Each trim level offers subtle exterior differences and unique grilles.

The different trim levels also enjoy seat variations and comfort levels. The interior has a rich and luxury feel with soft touch-points, dark wood and silver trim and tech features throughout. The BMW Connected app allows users to access Pandora and the owners music library, text messages, and email by tethering their iPhones with a built-in cable docking system.

My test model included rear heated seats, moonroof, Satellite radio and the M Sport Line with red seats. Passengers sitting in the rear seat will benefit from the increased leg and headroom introduced in the 2012 model year. Both the front and rear cabins have a power outlet to charge up your phone or operate other devices. There are plenty of little storage areas too, yet there isn’t a specific place to place your cell phone.

Room for improvement:

• My test model priced out at $47,295 and didn’t include a backup camera or navigation. They were available for another $5000. Just saying…

Cool Features:

• Opening your trunk is as easy as kicking your foot under the rear bumper and the system will pop open the trunk lid
• The Parking Assistant system helps the driver parallel park by finding a space, turning the steering wheel, and practically parking the car itself
• Push-button start

The standard safety equipment on the 2013 BMW 3-Series includes but are not limited to front airbags that deploy at different rates based on the severity of the impact, front passenger side-impact and full-cabin airbags, curtain-style head protection airbags, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Optional features include lane departure warning system with forward collision warning, active blind-spot alert, and rear view camera.

In Summary – The 2013 BMW 3-Series in my opinion will continue to be the iconic benchmark that the industry will measure again in the Premium Compact passenger car category. It manages to deliver style, luxury, performance, technology, handling and sportiness in a single package. The new offerings for 2013 will bring in new buyers at lower price points and different body styles. The 2013 BMW 3-Series remains a favorite to drive.

Specifications

2013 BMW 328i Sedan

Base price:                  $36,885 as driven: $47,295 (including destination)

Engine:                       4-Cyl, 2.0-Liter Turbocharged

Horsepower:             240 @ 5000-6000 RPM

Torque:                       255 @ 1250-4800 RPM

Transmission:            Eight-speed Automatic

Drive:                          Front Wheel-Drive

Seating:                       5-passenger

Turning circle:           37.1 feet

Cargo space:              13 cubic feet

Curb weight:              2461 pounds

Fuel capacity:             15.8 gallons

EPA mileage:              City 23/Hwy 33

Wheel Base:                  110.6 inches

Warranty:                    4 years/50,000 miles powertrain limited

Also consider:             Audi A4, Cadillac ATS, Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS, Lincoln

MKZ,  Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Volvo S60

 

 

 

 

I have a friend who every time I see her asks me if I have watched Captains Courageous yet.  The answer is finally, yes—a “yes” with a smile on my face!

I have to admit when I read that it was a movie made in 1937, I wasn’t in any hurry to add it to my queue.  I love movies from the 50s but going back to black and white and “no tech” was not my idea of an enjoyable viewing evening. But, I added it to the list and 15 movies later it appeared in my mailbox.  I did it cold turkey; no popcorn, no Diet Coke, no Milk Duds. About five minutes into this little jewel, I was hooked.

Captains Courageous is about a boy.  No, let me re-phrase that; it’s about an incorrigible brat.  Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew) is the son of a wealthy widowed businessman.  His father, played by Melvyn Douglas, is well intentioned but has decided to hide from the pain in his life so he ships his son off to a fancy boarding school that he practically supports single handedly.

I think I mentioned that Harvey is a spoiled brat.  Harvey has everything he needs but never stops asking for more, convinced he can get anything if he yells, lies, pouts or throws a tantrum. Even the other boys his age are disgusted with his antics and when he gets kicked out of school he goes on an ocean cruise with his father but has no friends.  Harvey, whose father is on the Board for the Cruise line, decides to “big deal” some boys on the ship and intimidates one of the staff to open up the soda fountain early for rounds for his friends. Acting like a big shot, Harvey drinks six sodas and has to make a quick trip to the rail to deal with his over indulgence.  While at the rail of the ship, he falls overboard.

That’s where the message of the movie begins.  Harvey is pulled out of the drink by Manuel (Spencer Tracy), and taken back to his the Gloucester fishing schooner where he is one of the fishermen.  He shows no gratitude for Manuel saving his life but instead Harvey yells and screams. He attempts bribery but none of it works with these men.  This is where the coming of age begins for Harvey Cheyne. His father thinks he is lost at sea and if he is to eat, he must work for the first time in his life.

Captains Courageous is an amazing movie considering it is seventy six, yes I said 76, years old.  I still don’t believe what they were able to do with this film in an era where every set had to be constructed for filming rather than digitized. Most of us weren’t even born when this incredible movie was made! Spencer Tracy won an Academy Award for his role as Manuel.  The Academy Awards have only been in existence for eighty five years.

This film is an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling book (originally a series of articles for a magazine) by the same name. Captains Courageous is probably only second to his Jungle Book movies by Walt Disney Studios.

Do yourself a favor and put it in your queue and watch it some lazy evening. I might suggest you make a snack food run though. I may just have to watch it again and give it the dignity it deserves, Milk Duds and all!  As always I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

 

Have you been thinking about changing something about your living space but don’t know where to start? Look no further—design help and project management are here! Project sizes can vary but the process is always the same. Start by selecting your design team to help make your ideas a reality on paper. Think about the components needed for your design and plan accordingly for various quotes and lead times. Custom cabinets always have the longest lead time; the design and finishes need to be selected in the first phases of the project and will make selecting other finishes easier.

A reasonable budget will start your plans out right and reduce future frustrations if you have taken into account all potential aspects of a project. Prioritizing is a key ingredient—what do you need? What do you want? Natural stone products and custom designed tiles will increase your budget because while they are beautiful, they are also costly. Being aware of prices and doing research on the quality and maintenance of various stones and wood finishes will save you time, energy, and money.  Some rooms are going to be more expensive than others to remodel, for example, a lot of the budget for a kitchen can go into the appliances themselves. This is where your design team will be especially helpful. An interior designer and a contractor can provide quotes and brainstorms and can assist in juggling the budget—getting as much as possible accomplished.   Discussion with your designer on how you plan to use a room (study, living room, family room, hobby room, office, etc.) is a useful and necessary tool for lighting and electrical outlets and to create an overall balance between functionality and decoration.

If your home leaves you feeling blah and uninspired, think about adding more natural light with skylights and windows. In the rooms where more windows are not a possibility, think of including a lighting designer in your planning process. He or she can recommend the correct amount of recessed lighting, task lighting, and spot lighting along with placement. Lighting is one of the most important components in design and is often overlooked. Your remodel is always manageable when you have a clear idea of what needs to be accomplished and the time it takes to complete those tasks. An experienced designer will take the guess work out of your project and help it run smoothly.

The A’s ended last season with a 23-7 record including a sweep of the Texas Rangers in the last regular season series to clinch the American League West Championship with such a ragtag roster that only five players were active all season.

Pundits and experts declared it a fluke and picked the A’s to finish no better than third this season behind the Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Instead, they seized the division lead in June and as this is written are neck and neck with the Rangers and 10 games ahead of the Angels.

How did this happen? The A’s have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and arguably the worst ballpark. On Father’s Day raw sewage backed up into the clubhouses and the A’s, Mariners and the umpires had to shower upstairs in the Raiders locker room. Free agent hitters won’t come because the Coliseum depresses their statistics, and the A’s won’t spend big anyway.

What they are relying on is superior talent evaluation, prudent risks, and creativity. Their third baseman, Josh Donaldson has been their best hitter since converting from catcher.  Jed Lowrie has been very productive at shortstop for Oakland when injuries he suffered while playing for the Red Sox and Houston depressed his value into the A’s range. Their ace pitcher, Bartolo Colon, was suspended in 2012 for performance enhancing drug violations, which scared off other teams. Their best athlete, leftfielder Yoenis Cespedes, was signed after defecting from Cuba off little more than a promotional video put together by his agent. They have the top bullpen in the majors, and it is entirely made up of young players or players rescued from the scrap heap at bargain prices.

General Manager Billy Beane has again proven that you don’t have to follow convention to have success putting together a major league roster.  He gets the pieces and lets manager Bob Melvin run the games. Beane and Melvin are candidates for Executive of the Year and Manager of the Year, respectively.

The Giants may have won two of the last three World Series, but Bay Area baseball fans who are not following the A’s may be missing the best story in baseball.

Changes For Off the Bench

I am retiring from my career in public relations and marketing and moving to San Diego. However, Alive publisher Eric Johnson accepted my offer to continue my column from there, and my pledge is you won’t even notice that I don’t live in the Bay Area.

The magic of the Internet, with an assist from the football, baseball and hockey packages on DirecTV, will allow me to continue to follow Bay Area Sports. I can listen to KNBR and read the Chronicle and the Bay Area news group to take the pulse of Bay Area sports and comment on that.

Off the Bench has occasionally focused on national stories and trend pieces and that won’t change. What also won’t change is my email and if you think I’m missing a story you can contact me at plhirsch30@aol.com.

And who knows, retirement from my day job might allow for more time to follow sports and develop new outlooks. Alive East Bay readers may even benefit from having a SoCal correspondent.

 

Going to the movies is as American as apple pie, mom and baseball.  Movies have the power to arouse every human emotion in some form or another.  We all have laughed; cried; been scared; felt sad; happy; elated; deflated; excited and emotionally stirred watching movies. But what greatly enhances these emotions is the music that goes with the action or drama in the movie.

Film researchers have conducted test trials showing a film without the musical background to a test group. The same group is then shown the same film with music. The reported results are exactly what one would expect. The screening with the music had a much greater emotional impact on the test group than the same film without the music. Film makers have known this simple fact for years and consequently spend a great deal of time, effort and money hiring top film composers to enhance their productions.

In some form or other motion pictures have been around for over 100 years. It wasn’t until the 1920’s that the first sound-tract was introduced in film production. It was a tremendous breakthrough in the industry. They were called “Talkies” replacing the printed subtitles that were interspersed on the screen.  Sound was a revolutionary development in film-making. Actors were heard speaking for the first time and a musical background was introduced.

The evolution of music in films is a long and interesting story. In the 1920’s some early movie theaters did not have a separate projector enclosure.  The projector was set up in the room where the audience was seated. Believe it or not, music was used to cover-up the sound of the projector!

Early silent films, where music was introduced, often included an orchestra, an organist or pianist positioned under the screen in the theater.  Music to accompany films became so important that books and lists were provided to the musicians with ideas for particular scenes on the screen.  For example, love scenes, action, comedy and dramas.

In the 1930’s it was common to use western European classical music as a mainstay in films. Then film-makers gradually began using original music composed specifically for a film. Max Steiner, in 1933, wrote an original score for the film King Kong. This is thought to be one of the very first original musical scores of early filmdom. The 1940’s saw a refinement of this and more original scores were used in film production.

Many children and adults were first exposed to great classical music through cartoons at their local neighborhood theaters. Fans of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and many other cartoons owe a lot to composer, Carl Stalling. During his 22 years, from 1936 to 1958, as a composer for Warner Brothers’ animated shorts, Stalling invented the musical vocabulary of cartoons. Stallings compositional genius and uncanny ability to borrow a tune helped make cartoon characters silly, funny and entertaining.

Until the 1950s film music was almost entirely symphonic in nature. This meant many musicians were needed to create the full orchestral sound. As jazz and pop music was introduced into movie music, at an increasing rate, fewer musicians were needed. This greatly reduced the payroll of the music budget.  Obviously, producers were very much in favor of reducing expenses for production of the film.

The 1960s and 70s saw more jazz and other musical experiments, including a rock sound-tract of the 60s, continuing what began in the 50s. The 70s saw the emergence of a phenomenal film composer, John Williams. There are literally hundreds of noted film composers but it is generally acknowledged that John Williams is the most famous. Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globes and many other awards, including many Grammys, so far. His compositions include: Star Wars; Jaws; Jurassic Park; Indiana Jones; Saving Private Ryan; Superman; ET; Schindler’s List; Harry Potter; Olympic Themes; War Horse and Lincoln. He works with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas almost exclusively.  Williams’ career has spanned six decades.

Other great film composers are: Maurice Garre; Elmer Bernstein; Klaus Badett; Hans Zimmer; Miklos Rozsa; Henry Mancini; Dimitri Tiomkin; Franz Waxman; Leonard Bernstein; Aaron Copland and many others too numerous to mention.

The 1980s and 90s saw the introduction of synthesized music, created by computers, often produced by a single person. Contemporary rock music became the basis for entire film scores. With these electronic innovations composers have the ability to create any sound they want, enhancing the film’s plot, characters and theme.

Through decades film music has drawn from classical; jazz; rock; pop; blues; new-age; ethnic and other world music styles. Composers usually enter in the production period near the end of shooting a film, collaborating with directors and producers about specific requests for the music. As one can imagine, timing is extremely important.

It is a well-known fact that music can be a major part of the success of any film.  Without music to help create the action or drama, the end result would not be the same.

“Hooray for Hollywood” and great movie music!

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.

On a warm Saturday morning, I always try to make the farmers’ market my first stop. It seems to set a positive vibe for the entire day—bright colors; clean, fresh aromas; happy people and—with a little luck—some good music.

Summer is in full-swing at the market now, with truckloads of just-picked corn, vine-ripened tomatoes, juicy-sweet stone fruits, fat little berries galore, and a rainbow of perfectly ripe melons—including the lamentably short-seasoned watermelon. We’re also seeing the first harvest of apples and grapes for the coming months. With all this to choose from, it’s easy to fill the refrigerator for a week of healthy meals and snacks—so be sure to pack a cooler in the trunk of your car.

When it’s hot outside and firing up the oven is the last thing on my mind, I turn to the cuisines of warm-weather countries for inspiration. Salad-meals are the obvious choice, but sometimes I’m looking for something with a little more substance. That’s when tabbouleh comes to mind.

Tabbouleh (pronounced tuh-BOO-luh), a favorite in the Middle East, is essentially a salad of fresh parsley dotted with chunks of ripe tomatoes and cucumber, all bound together with a bit of cracked wheat and a lemony vinaigrette. Diners spoon the salad onto a lettuce leaf to eat out of hand like a low-cal “wrap,” making this equally at-home as an appetizer, side-dish, or light entree. Plus, the flavors actually improve when it is made in advance. A taste of summer bliss.

Farmers’ Market Tabbouleh

 1 cup medium-grind bulgur (cracked wheat)*

2 cups boiling water

Fine sea salt

2 cups vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, preferably a mixture of red and yellow, halved (or 3 large tomatoes, seeded and diced)

1 or 2 cucumbers, seeded and diced

4 to 6 green onions (scallions), chopped

1 1/2 cups finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (from 1 large or 2 smaller bunches)

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 large lemons)

1/4 cup California olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

Hearts of romaine lettuce leaves for serving

 

1. In a heatproof medium bowl, combine the bulgur with 2 cups of boiling water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and let stand until the bulgur is tender but still slightly chewy, about 30 minutes. Drain in a fine sieve, pressing down firmly with a rubber spatula to remove any liquid; then return the bulgur to the bowl.
2. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, parsley, mint, lemon juice, and olive oil. Toss gently to mix thoroughly. Season well with salt and pepper to taste, and toss again. Serve at once, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Return to cool room temperature and toss again before serving. To serve, mound the tabbouleh on a large platter and surround with lettuce leaves. Have each guest spoon some of the filling onto a lettuce leaf to eat out of hand. Serves 6.

*Bulgur is available in most well-stocked supermarkets, health food stores, and Middle Eastern markets.

 A few final thoughts on tabbouleh….

1. Since tabbouleh contains such a large amount of parsley, I usually chop it in the food processor. The only down-side is that chopping mechanically draws out a lot of excess liquid from the parsley. So when I remove it from the food processor, I scrape the parsley onto a double-thickness of paper towels, gather up the corners, and squeeze the mass of parsley until it is dry.
2. Fresh mint has a tendency to discolor quickly after it is chopped, so you may want to wait and add it shortly before serving.
3. Variations: A handful of crumbled feta cheese can add both flavor and texture to this salad. Ditto for a few sliced radishes. And sometimes I like to pump up the Middle Eastern profile by adding a couple of cloves of minced garlic and/or a half-teaspoon or so of ground cumin.
4. If you prefer, substitute butter lettuce leaves for romaine. Their cup-like shape makes them easier to wrap around the filling, though they won’t be as crisp and crunchy as romaine. Either way, buy twice as much lettuce as you think you’ll need—once guests get into the rhythm of eating tabbouleh, the supply dwindles quickly!
5. Instead of wrapping tabbouleh in lettuce leaves, serve it as part of a meze platter—with  hummus; assorted olives;roasted almonds or pistachios; quartered hard-boiled eggs; feta or string cheese; a marinated carrot or lentil salad; Greek-style plain yogurt; and a pile of warm pita bread triangles for scooping. Serve meze as a tiny feast on its own, or alongside grilled lamb kebabs.
6. If gluten is an issue in your life, substitute quinoa for the bulgur.

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.

 Looking to expand your entertaining repertoire? Check out Peggy Fallon’s upcoming class at Draeger’s Cooking Schoolat Blackhawk on Wednesday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m. For more information go to www.draegerscookingschool.com, or call 1-800-642-9463 ext. 261.

 

 

 

 

We watched footage of the scarred, burned fuselage wreckage of the Asiana Boeing 777 at SFO over and over and over again. Our morbid curiosity was fueled by several factors: tragedy, heroic struggle, human frailties, the fact that many of us are getting on a plane again probably sooner than later, and the news media latching onto a story that was really a story.

A sub plot in all of this is the government’s transparency, the refreshing management of information by the Chairwoman of the NTSB, Deborah Hersman. And it makes sense.   You can spend your life trying to trace back to where government officials stopped trusting the media and the American public, and where we stopped trusting it—where government almost treated the public’s right to know as an enemy manifesto. Could it have been the Vietnam War era or Watergate, or even before?  What has transpired over the years has been a policy of “give the public a morsel and see if it will go away.”  For “gawd’s” sake, don’t tell them everything, and surely not the whole truth.

Look at the NSA…okay, let’s not go there again.  So on to the stage stepped Deborah Hersman who was telling us in a very matter-of-fact way, what the agency was doing.  True transparency. What she did in some quarters was subject of speculation, wild as it may have been sometimes, but not her fault. She was careful to say they were looking at everything and wouldn’t have a full conclusion of cause for possibly months. She was taken to task.

The Airline Pilots Association stepped up and said she shouldn’t be releasing the information she did.  The Pilot’s Association pretty much stepped back, realizing the NTSB was releasing all possibilities—from systems failure, to industry reliance on technology, to pilot error, to a sudden flash of blinking light in the pilot’s eyes, to inexperience.  Hersman’s no-nonsense presenting of facts, knowledge, and investigation progress was refreshing.

As a journalist, I firmly believe a lot of angst could have been spared over the years if officials, politicians—well, quite frankly anybody in public life—stepped up and said, “this is what we know,” or, “this is what we don’t know,” or, “I blew it.” Looking back over the years, there are probably a lot of people who wish they had taken that path.

Thank you, Chairwoman Hersman, for taking us through a very difficult process and for being transparent with information through a very tough time.  Anymore of this, and we might begin trusting government again.  Make sense?

 

Bone health is not high on most people’s worry list. It is invisible and certainly below the surface of concern. Unfortunately, when a problem is discovered it is invariably after a fracture or an abnormal bone density test. Up to that point, let’s face it, what we don’t know can hurt us.

Decreased bone density can signal weakness of other organ systems.  For instance, if your bones are losing calcium and strength, it is likely that it’s more than a calcium deficiency and related to Vitamin D levels, blood glucose surges, hormonal flux or  adrenal function (high cortisol levels will inhibit bone formation) or… well a lot of other things that aren’t called calcium. In fact, in my experience, osteoporosis can be successfully controlled by thoroughly dealing with inflammation and hormone issues.  That’s why I’m writing this—because all the most recent scientific studies show that a combination of factors, organ systems, food intake and genes, determine your bone strength health, and it turns out that you have control of about 80% of that.

Quickly, initial bone loss (below normal) is called osteopenia and more substantial bone loss is called osteoporosis.  If you are reading this, probably you or someone you care about is suffering from either of these.  This is scary, because fracture is so sudden, painful and disabling.

Here’s the deal: In osteoporosis, we are constantly making and losing (excreting) bone matrix all the time. In fact, your bones are replaced every seven years. It’s a balance thing with some going out while some is going in. This process is pushed toward losing matrix with low functioning organ systems in the body. We’re unable to add matrix if we can’t absorb correctly or form matrix out of our diet. It’s just not a simple issue of not having enough calcium.

We’ve been told for many years that you can solve this problem by taking drugs like bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Boniva).  Well, kinda. Initially the bone mass will increase but not in the way you, or anyone else, would like. It turns out that the crystal lattice structure that sets the stage for the incredible stability in bone (like concrete and re-bar) is not stabilized by these drugs at all. So these woman, after a few years of taking the drug do not improve, but in fact have increased fractures in odd places, like the middle of the thigh bone—very unusual.  This is because these drugs don’t allow any natural breakdown of bone leading to old, funky bone.  Also, if that wasn’t disappointing enough, taking calcium supplements simply doesn’t work because low calcium is not the cause in the first place.

So where doesthis strong bone matrix come from?  Well, let’s take a look at absorption.

First, minerals are absorbed in the small intestine and if it is inflamed we absorb fewer minerals. In this case, calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium can’t be used to make bone.  This is the reason osteoporosis is high with celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and autoimmune disease. These conditions all involve inflamed intestines and malabsorption.

Second, the retention/secretion issue here is basically one of acid/base relationships and a net alkalinizing diet. A diet with at least 20% coming from fruits and veggies should do the trick.

Third, clearly hormone flux can be at the heart of bone loss and evaluation of all the players of hormone function need to be at optimal levels.

We have to look at each person as an individual because the cause in one person may not be the same cause in another. Proper lab work with bone markers and adrenal gland testing for proper cortisol levels is required.  Gut testing and clear and concise exercise options are a must.

If this makes sense to you, let’s take a look at your total profile to find out what your body can tell us about your bone density matrix.

If you are interested in seeing if you are a candidate for our breakthrough procedures for treating Bone Loss give us a call at (925) 279-4325 or visit WalnutCreekHealth.com to schedule a free consultation.

 

You may not be aware, but the growth and development of your child, both physical and mental, can be vastly improved by making minor lifestyle changes and correcting hidden problems that mostly go ignored.

I feel very fortunate to belong to the American Association of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry. The goal of this group is to bring a fuller, more integrated care to the public by building bridges and common understanding between all of the various health care providers. Much of the theme of the last meeting was on the subject of proper breathing and how it influences the growth and development of our children.

Sleep apnea can have a profound effect on both the mental and physical development of children.  Children can be much more affected by a lower threshold for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) than adults. An adult with fewer that five apnea episodes per hour is considered normal. Most pediatric sleep centers view apneas or hypopneas occurring more than once per hour as abnormal.

Snoring is not cute, it is dangerous. Current research has suggested that snoring, even without apneas, can be associated with cognitive and psychosocial problems. Snoring in children has been shown to be associated with lower scores on memory and learning tests including some IQ tests. Growth hormone production can also be altered by SDB.

Proper sleep and breathing has also been associated with the development of the immune system.  If your child has allergies, frequent colds, cold soars, is sleepy at school, has a weight problem or avoids exercise, it could be due to SDB. Dark circles under the eyes are a big clue.

Many years ago I was one of 25 American orthodontists lucky enough to learn the use of the Frankel appliance from Dr. Frankel himself.  He developed an appliance that alters the growth of the oral complex and face, an received the Russian equivalent of the Nobel Prize for it.

This appliance is removable and only placed in the mouth at night. It corrects “bucked teeth” by causing the lower jaw to grow forward. Previous orthodontic methods push the upper teeth back with head gear or extractions, decreasing the airway. It is possible that OSA can be not only corrected in the child, using his appliance, but prevented in the adult.

WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

Does your child snore, gasp or does his or her chest heave while trying to breathe?  If your child raises the chest and shoulders to breathe you should be very concerned and contact your doctor.  If your doctor is not concerned, find one that is, because this serious problem is found in more recent literature which the practitioner may not be aware of.

In my TMJ and Sleep Apnea practice I have found a very high percentage of patients over 40 who should have had their nasal airway treated as a child. An ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) can correct the nasal airway surgically, with very little discomfort.  Don’t try nasal sprays unless they are prescribed by a practitioner and have no side effects.

In growing children, nasal congestion can create an alteration of the development of the nose and face. Making sure a child primarily breathes through the nose can not only help sleeping but create an environment in which the face can develop to what it was supposed to be.An ENT can be very effective in achieving this.

Growth occurs mostly during sleep and an open mouth causes the teeth to erupt more and forces a low tongue posture in order to breath. This results in a narrow and crowded upper jaw as well as creating a longer face with a more reduced chin. Now you have an orthodontic or even surgical orthodontic challenge.

When we control the apnea we are correcting an upper protrusion by growing the lower jaw forward. Not only is far more beautiful, but it increases the airway giving many additional health benefits.

Needless to say, being the one who lives with a growing beautiful child, you must take an aggressive part in that child’s development.  The pediatrician is there to check if everything is going all right and treats any illness, but you must be there to make sure the little angel is breathing through his or her nose with closed lips and sleeps calmly.

Now that you have done your part for your child, it is very important for you to get your sleep.  The same rules apply if you want to enjoy your life to its fullest.  A good night’s sleep is not only a pleasure, but extremely essential to your health and to remaining youthful.

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.

 

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