Rae Federico, MSW, LCSW

“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.” – Buddha

DEFINITION OF FEAR: FEAR IS “FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL”

Quantum physics and ancient spiritual teachings agree that the way we experience reality is determined by our perceptions, beliefs, and thought patterns. The more you experience stress and anxiety, the more stress-related and anxiety-filled reactions become etched in your neural pathways. Consequently, anxiety and panic becomes an automatic response to fearful, stressful thoughts and feelings. As we continue to feel stressed and to worry, we become more fearful. These programmed thought patterns that we have become comfortable with are reinforced by repetition, thus causing the information that runs counter to one’s beliefs to be ignored.

Anxiety and stress keep your body filled with stress hormones that drain your energy and cause you to feel exhausted. Some of the physical symptoms of anxiety and stress are: Panic attacks, rapid heartbeats, dizziness, shaking, sweating, chest tension, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor. Some emotions you might experience when you are stressed and anxious are anger, irritability, guilt, and frustration. If you do not manage your emotions, then your emotions will manage you. We become fearful when we believe our security or stability is being threatened. Beneath most anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings are your beliefs.

When your emotions cause you to experience stress through physical symptoms such as panic attacks, both your mind and body become defensive in an effort to protect you. You may feel like you are going to pass out or that you are having a heart attack. As this cycle continues, you begin to become obsessed by worry and fear, thus creating the “flight-fight response”. In the long run, chronic stress may contribute to illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, weight gain or loss, and depression.

Beneath your anxiety and your fears are your distorted thoughts, which may have developed either from your childhood experiences or from unresolved hurt or shame. Anxiety, fear, and worry are all about not having control over a situation. When we experience a crisis (real or imagined) we try to convince ourselves that if we can control the situation, then we will not be vulnerable or get hurt.

Research has proven that positive emotions can improve your health and increase longevity of life. Positive emotions are more important to mental health and physical well-being than scientists have ever before realized. Positive emotions have a neutralizing effect on negative emotions. Developing a more positive emotional perspective creates new neural pathways in the brain. A positive, optimistic attitude helps you to direct and manage your energy. A study conducted by Harvard professor Robert Epstein found that 25% of our happiness is linked to how well we manage stress. If we do not take care of our basic needs of mind, body, and spirit, then we cannot stay healthy.

Reasons Why Too Much Stress Is Bad For You

• Stress takes the joy out of life.
• Being stressed for extended periods of time may cause you to become depressed.
• Stress can make you feel anxious and over-whelmed.
• Stress may damage your self-esteem.
• Stress can ultimately cause you to feel helpless and hopeless.
• Extended periods of stress may make you judgmental and negative.
• (Most importantly) Extended periods of stress may make you physically sick.

Do you want to learn how to redirect your energy in a positive way in order to better deal with stress? Fearful, negative thoughts and attitudes create emotional undercurrents that can and will become ingrained and automatic. Worry, fear, and stress make us feel anxious, disconnected, isolated, depressed, and oftentimes overwhelmed. I can help you to change your negative thoughts through “Cognitive Restructuring”. Cognitive Restructuring deals with changing the way you process information as well as changing the way you talk to yourself. Being happy involves letting go of self-judgment. If and when you decide to give up the need to suffer, you will then experience enlightenment. If you decide to heal your stress and your fears, then you will need to make a commitment to let go of your identity as victim. Your broadcast teaches people how to treat you. There is a direct correlation between your thoughts/perceptions and the level of contentment in your life.

Recommended Reading:

“I DWELL IN POSSIBILITY” by Emily Dickinson

“INSANITY: DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT” by Albert Einstein

Wishing Everyone Happiness,

Rae R. Federico, LCSW

Boheme Opera NJ, one of the oldest opera companies in New Jersey, providing opera, concerts and outreach in the New Jersey/ Pennsylvania region, will be taking audiences on the magical, musical journey that is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute, on April 20 and 22 at The College of New Jersey Center for the Arts in Ewing, NJ.

Boheme Opera NJ entitled this, its 23rd season, “Into a Forest of Fantasy”: and The Magic Flute continues Boheme’s mission of making the arts accessible to artists and audiences. Performed in English with English supertitles, the production at Kendall Hall Theatre will be under the artistic and musical direction of Artistic Director and Conductor Joseph Pucciatti. “We are offering a visionary presentation of Mozart’s amazing imagination,” said Mr. Pucciatti, “through the combination of the latest, state-of-the-art, high-definition (HD) projection technology and the lifelike artistry of J. Matthew Root.” Mr. Pucciatti continued, “Boheme promises our audiences a visual experience unlike anything else in our main stage history.”

The cast will be making the production an extravaganza for the ear, as well as the eye. The dynamic ensemble of emerging and veteran artists is headed by New York City Opera soprano Lorraine Ernest as the Queen of the Night. Acclaimed by critics for her portrayal of the Queen in opera houses throughout the United States and Europe, her Boheme appearances have included Musetta in La Boheme, Adina in The Elixir of Love, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Violetta in La Traviata.

The “magical, musical journey” mentioned above is one that ends at important lessons about life – in this, the opera is, at its heart, a fairy tale. And, really, what is a fairy tale? It is a story in which the characters go through trials and tribulations in a fantastic world until, like Dorothy at the end of The Wizard of Oz, they finally wake up realizing that they have gained a valuable insight into life and themselves. The Magic Flute is no different: The music and the spectacle are the “spoonful of sugar” that help the message go down.

But what is the opera’s message? The Magic Flute has been studied, analyzed and interpreted in numerous ways. Ultimately, though, most agree that it centers on the concept of intellectual and spiritual enlightenment, which was weaving its way through the social consciousness during the time in which the opera was written.

However, predating the 18th century Age of Enlightenment was Freemasonry, upon which Mozart heavily drew for The Magic Flute. The opera can be enjoyed on the surface as pure fantastical diversion or, more deeply, as an allegory based on the central themes of Masonry: good versus evil, enlightenment versus ignorance and the virtues of wisdom, knowledge, truth and justice. Each character undergoes challenges and changes: through trial and education, they are ultimately initiated into an enlightened state in which reason overcomes superstition, faith overcomes fear, friendship overcomes divisiveness, equality overcomes inequality, and pure love overcomes passion.

With all of that being said, what does The Magic Flute mean to us in 2012? Pretty much what it meant in 1791 when it was first performed: If we work to overcome the obstacles that are put in our way by life, society – and, sometimes, the ones we create for ourselves – we can become better people and make the world a better place. Now, readers of this article may have already run for the exits before even getting to their seats, thinking that they have entered a lecture instead of an opera. To you, Mozart giggles, “Oh, but you aren’t going to know you’re getting an education.”

The composer’s impish charm and humor, again, make this an operatic fairy tale, filled with laughter and excitement. There are “good guys and gals” to cheer for – and “bad guys and gals” to root against. Like a story from the Brothers Grimm – or a Bugs Bunny cartoon from Warner Bros. – The Magic Flute can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The tale is set in a fantastical world, filled with and driven by equally fantastical people and events.

The Magic Flute offers something for everyone, with that “something” being entirely up to you. And that is how Mozart wanted it. So, whether you come to The Magic Flute for the laughter or the lessons, you will definitely leave having learned this: that opera can be fun in all ages, for all ages.

About The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute will be performed on April 20 at 8:00 p.m. and April 22 at 3:00 p.m. at the Kendall Hall Theatre of The College of New Jersey Center for the Arts. Pre-curtain talks will be given one hour and fifteen minutes before each performance. Directed and conducted by Boheme Opera NJ Artistic Director Joseph Pucciatti. Tickets are $55, $45 and $35. Special “early bird” and group sale ticketing is available. Visit www.bohemeoperanj.com for more information on the production and ticketing. To reach The College of New Jersey Center for the Arts box office directly, call (609) 771-2775. Major funding is made possible in part by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts; The Boheme Opera Guild, Inc.; and Roma Bank.

“Changing Minds…One Step at a Time”

A local non-profit will host a wide-scale community outreach event on Saturday, May 5, 2012.

NAMI Mercer will host its 5th annual walkathon – the NAMI Mercer WALK 2012. The WALK will be held at Educational Testing Services (ETS), located at 660 Rosedale Road, Princeton, New Jersey. The event will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. The WALK will commence rain or shine at 10:00 a.m.

WALKERS will enjoy an on-site health and wellness expo, music, entertainment, food, and the company of more than 1,000 like-minded participants who share the mission of reducing the stigma so often associated with mental illness. The NAMI Mercer WALK is a unique opportunity to join together in strength, friendship and purpose to support an organization dedicated to individuals and families on their journey to wellness and recovery. The NAMI Mercer WALK is a very special event that raises the much needed funding to sustain the education, outreach and advocacy services that benefit those in greater Mercer County who face the challenges of mental illness every day.

NAMI is the largest grassroots mental health organization, a life saver to thousands, offering help, hope, and information to individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI members and leaders are visible and formidable advocates, owning a well-earned reputation for taking on hard battles and winning them, ensuring a national commitment to research and to improving access to evidence-based services and treatment.

From coast-to-coast and around the globe, mental illness affects everyone. Each year, regardless of race, age, religion or economic status, mental illness impacts the lives of at least one in four adults and one in 10 children across the United States—that is nearly 60 million Americans. Mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are medical conditions that can disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. People living with mental illness need help and hope; they need a community that supports them, their families and their recovery. The thousands who participate in NAMIWALKS are the face and voice of the NAMI movement—families, individuals, coworkers, and businesses who come together to express their belief in mental illness recovery, to honor those who have lost their lives to mental illness, to raise funds, combat stigma, and promote awareness.

NAMI Mercer was incorporated in 1984 and has grown into a strong and diverse organization of more than four hundred households.  We recognize that education, resiliency and support are key to improving the wellness and quality of life of all persons affected by mental illness. Mental illnesses should not preclude the possibility of full and meaningful lives for those impacted. During 2011, NAMI Mercer affected the lives of more than 4,000 people in greater Mercer County, many in underserved communities.

NAMI Mercer will host a Kick-Off Luncheon on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 sponsored by Janssen. The luncheon will be held on the Janssen campus located in Titusville, New Jersey. We welcome team captains, walkers, volunteers, vendors, and sponsors to this mid-day luncheon.

For more information about the Kick-Off Luncheon and the NAMI Mercer WALK 2012, please contact NAMI Mercer WALK 2012 Manager Jenn Antinoro by phone (609) 799-8994 X 17 or via email at jantinoro@namimercer.org. Information about the WALK, registration, team formation, volunteering, and sponsorship are available at http://www.namimercer.org.

New Jersey is one of the few states that recognizes parental obligation to contribute towards college and post secondary educational expenses for children of divorced parents. The New Jersey Courts have developed 12 factors to assist in determining these issues ranging from the cost of college to the commitment of the child to achieve such educational goals.

So, what should a parent do?

Start early and plan ahead.

What are your child’s post high school graduation plans? Do they want to go to college? Trade school? Join the military? Enter the workforce? Sit down with your child and talk. Was college contribution addressed? Even if college wasn’t addressed, your ex may still have a college contribution obligation. Now is a good time to dust off your Property Settlement Agreement to check. Absent changed circumstances, the terms of your Agreement will prevail and are enforceable by the Courts.

Know your financial realities.

Do you have any 529 plans? Are grandparents going to contribute? Will your child work part time or contribute towards these expenses? Will your child be a full time student? Not only do parents need to assess their financial realities, but children should understand the impact of student loans and how they work.

Take advantage of financial aid. It’s a win-win! Every little bit helps, a $1,000 scholarship from a local civic organization can take care of a year of books. If the Courts establish or enforce a parent’s college contribution, it is almost always established after deducting any financial aid, scholarships, student loans, grants, etc.

Don’t forget that a child going off to college also impacts child support. There’s no hard and fast rule, but if your support obligations are based upon the Child Support Guidelines and you have a child living away at school, the Guidelines no longer apply and child support will require adjustment.

Embrace the process and get involved.

Enjoy this time with your child. More than a decade later, I have fond memories of my own college search and road trips to look at colleges with my Dad. Children must involve both parents in the college selection process, including the difficult financial discussions. When you are off visiting college campuses, pick up an extra brochure to pass along.

Are your child and your ex not on the best of terms? A strained relationship between parent and child doesn’t necessarily eliminate the estranged parent’s obligation to contribute towards college expenses. Failures to consult prior to college enrollment will raise questions for the need for contribution, which can result in costly litigation.

College is expensive, but it is also an investment in your child’s future. Make your investment count!

Kimberly Pelkey Sdeo is an attorney with the law firm of Maselli Warren. She focuses her practice in all areas of matrimonial and family law which includes cases involving divorce, custody of children, child support, visitation, domestic partnerships, preparation of property separation agreements, mediation and pre-nuptial agreements. For more information on College Contribution Issues call Kimberly at 609.452.8411 Ext. 111. Maselli Warren has offices in Princeton and Hamilton, New Jersey and in Newtown, Pennsylvania, www.maselliwarren.com

As the days get longer and the chill of winter gives way to the warmth of spring, for many home cooks grilling moves from the wings to center stage. Certainly there is no greater star of the grill than a juicy, perfectly charred, steak. If you were to ask a dozen grill masters their methods, you would likely receive a dozen different answers. While this may lead one to believe that turning out a wonderful steak is complicated or difficult, the truth is that if you start with the right cut of quality beef, the process that will take that beef from butcher to plate may be the simplest cooking one does all year.

It’s All About the Beef

The first and most important step is to choose the best quality meat possible. While there is plenty of information available on-line and in magazines, the best way to learn about meat available to you is to go straight to the source. Find a local butcher, or better yet – a local farmer, to help you learn about the best way to purchase, store and prepare great steaks.

USDA Certified

When shopping for beef in a supermarket, we recommend only purchasing beef that has been graded for quality. Interestingly, while inspections for safety are mandatory, the quality grading done by the USDA Marketing department is voluntary and is used by meat producers as a marketing tool. If you pick up a package of steaks and there is no grade such as USDA Choice, either the meat hasn’t been graded by the USDA or the grade has been removed by the producer. In general, non-graded beef is not necessarily a lesser product. In fact, many high-end selective or local suppliers, such as those listed under our resources section, do not use USDA grading. But if you’re selecting from the meat section in the local mega-market, stick to the graded USDA selections or the graded brand known as Certified Angus Beef described below.

Most of the beef available to consumers will fall into one of the three following quality categories of the USDA grading system: Prime, Choice and Select. The two major factors in determining a beef’s grade is marbling  and maturity, with marbling being the most prominent indicator ranging from abundant marbling in Prime to moderate marbling in Choice cuts and slight marbling in Select. Marbling refers to the amount of white flecks of fat in the meat which adds to the flavor, tenderness and juiciness of the product. Only two percent of graded beef is Prime and a visit to a fine steakhouse may be required to sample this quality meat as most beef available for consumers at supermarkets and butchers is Choice and Select. Because of this, our favorite cut of beef to use for grilling is a bone-in ribeye, as it has a bit more fat than most other cuts. Strip steaks, T-bone steaks and Porterhouse cuts also grill well.

Certified Angus Beef®

Another system to certify beef is offered by the American Angus Association through their non-profit brand Certified Angus Beef® (CAB). You may have noticed this brand of beef in your local market.  Although Angus is a breed of cattle and most of the mass-produced beef  products in the US comes from this breed, not all Angus is certified. The brand owned by the Association and its 30,000 ranchers promotes the breed through sales of high-quality, Certified Angus Beef ^® brand products that is certified using its own quality standards to earn the premium name.. They claim that the brand is a cut above USDA Prime, Choice and Select.

Grain Fed, Grass Fed or Grass finished

Most beef provided by restaurants and supermarkets is grain-fed. The recent popularity in eco-friendly production and local sourcing as well as objections to volume meat packing practices has produced an increase in the demand for grass-fed beef, which tends to be less marbled. Beef that is grass-fed and then grain finished blends these two practices.

Dry-aged and wet-aged Beef

Have you ever been to a fine steakhouse and marveled at the rich, buttery flavor of their high-priced steaks and wondered why the steaks you cook at home don’t measure up? Two reasons. First, they are – or should be- serving up Prime and Choice grade meat and second, the beef is probably dry aged. According to the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, dry aging is a process where beef is hung and stored without protective packaging at refrigeration temperatures for one to five weeks to allow an enzymatic process that results in improved tenderness and development of unique flavors.  The meat loses moisture and develops a thick, sometime moldy crust that is trimmed after aging. The storage time and loss of yield makes this a very expensive process which therefore makes for a very expensive end product. Wet aging, which stores the beef in vacuum sealed packaging, aims for similar results without the loss of meat to dehydration. This is the way most meats we consume are aged. There have been many articles and recipes for dry aging beef at home. We admit to not being that adventurous and prefer to leave this to professionals. Some butchers and select markets will dry age beef for customers.

Time to Grill

The following recipe for Grilled Rib-eye was adapted from Bon Appetit magazine. Skip the marinades and dry rubs, the ribeye cut is so full of flavor it requires only a simple seasoning of salt and pepper. The principles in this recipe can be applied to most cuts, just adjust the cooking time accordingly. While a charcoal grill is preferred, gas will suffice. One mandatory item is an instant read thermometer to eliminate any guesswork regarding doneness.

1  (1 1/2”) bone-in rib-eye

1 tsp olive oil – (optional)

2 tsp kosher salt (divided)

1 tsp cracked black peppercorns  (for best results smash whole peppercorns yourself by placing them in a plastic bag and smashing with a heavy saucepan)

Put steak on a wire rack set on a rimmed baking sheet. Pat dry with paper towels and season with 1/2 tsp. salt per side. Chill uncovered for up to 3 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour prior to grilling and let the meat come to room temperature.

Pat dry with paper towels, brush with olive oil, and season once again with remaining salt. Press cracked peppercorns into meat.

Prepare grill with two zones for direct (medium high) and indirect (medium low) heat. For gas grills, leave one burner off to create a low heat zone.

Sear steak over direct (high) heat, turning once to create nice char (about three minutes). Move steak away from heat if flare-ups occur. You do not want too much flame. Do not douse coals to cool, this creates ash.

Move steak to indirect heat and continue grilling 3 – 4 minutes per side. Use tongs to lift steak and sear the edges for 1 -2 minutes to render out some of the fat.

Finish grilling steak to desired doneness, 14 – 18 minutes total or until steak registers 120 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. The steak will heat to medium rare while resting.

Remove steak from grill and allow steak to rest a full ten minutes before carving.

RESOURCES

If you want to try a fine steak prepared by professionals, try one of these local restaurants:

KC Prime – www.kcprimerestaurant.com

4160 Quakerbridge Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08648; 609-275-5418

Ruth’s Chris Steak House – www.ruthschris.com

2 Village Blvd., Princeton, NJ 08540; 609-452-0041

Local farmers providing grass-fed beef:

Cherry Grove Farm – www.cherrygrovefarm.com/

3200 Lawrence Road (Rt. 206 N.), Lawrenceville, NJ 08648; 609-219-0053

Beechtree Farm – web.mac.com/beechtreefarm

105 Crusher Road, Hopewill, NJ 08525; 609-466-0277

Quality beef available via mail:

Niman Ranch – www.nimanranch.com

Allenbrothers – www.allenbrothers.com

General resources:

Certified Angus Beef® www.certifiedangusbeef.com (This website lists local retailers)

USDA – www.usda.gov

Epicurious – www.epicurious.com – Our favorite site for recipes and food guides.

Frances. M. Merritt

especially problematic in times such as our society has experienced in the last several recessionary years, yet the circumstances which cause the breakdown of marriages do not simply wait for better economic times. As mentioned previously in this column, options do exist that can substantially reduce the financial costs of divorce and provide as a very important bonus the ability to reduce the emotional costs as well.  The processes of divorce mediation and collaborative divorce provide these advantages because they are both based on a non-adversarial, mutual problem-solving model.

The hallmark characteristics of mediation and collaborative law are that the resolution of the issues takes place largely out of court in informal settings, under the guidance of professionals who are highly skilled at (1) assisting the parties to identify their goals and needs, (2) creating options to achieve such goals, (3) determining what facts need to be gathered or specific expert advice required to inform the solutions to the issues, and (4) most of all, empowering and assisting the parties to be able to work together to have direct input in the resolving of their issues.  This last benefit is exceedingly important in helping the parties ultimately to achieve an “emotional divorce” in a way that avoids the all-too-frequent emotional devastation of divorce and its consequences for the parties, their children and extended family members.

Without question, the bigger the fight, the more costly the divorce.  Both mediation and collaborative law have proven track records of substantially lowering costs through mutual, non-adversarial problem-solving guided by highly trained professionals.

For further information on mediation and collaborative law, please visit my website at www.francesmerrittlaw.com.

Origami Owl was founded by a 14 year old in the fall of 2010. Fueled by a goal to raise enough money to buy a car for her 16th birthday, she started a business with $350 worth of babysitting money and a matched contribution from her parents. She sold her unique line of personalized jewelry at home parties and events and quickly realized that this brand had an energy all its own. People absolutely love creating and wearing personalized jewelry that has meaning and is special to them.

Origami Owl’s launched their direct sales business in January of 2012. Over 500 designers signed on in the first month and a half alone. The Silakoski’s are only the third in New Jersey and the first designers in Mercer County.

“We loved the idea of creating lockets to tell a story of our lives,” said Courtney. “I also liked that Origami Owl was started by a fourteen year old and being a teenager myself, that was encouraging.” Girls as young as fourteen can sign up to be designers with parental approval! “It made perfect sense for Courtney and I to do this together because we both love jewelry,” said Connie Silakoski.

The Silakoski’s invite you to visit their website at www.courtneysil.origamiowl.com to learn more about Origami Owl and to place an order. If you are interested in hosting a party or becoming a designer, you can contact them at (609) 439-2597.

“We are looking for others to join our team,” said Connie Silakoski. We believe if you can dream it, you can do it. Whether you aspire to raise money to further your education, buy your first home, go on a dream vacation, or buy a new car, it is possible with Origami Owl. Let us show you how!

Origami Owl will be at the Head to Toe Women’s Expo at Robbinsville High School on Saturday, May 12th from 9 am – 3 pm! Come on out and see them and create your very own living locket!

Helen Simigiannis, MD, FACOG

What is osteoporosis?  It is a disease in which our bones become weak and are more easily fractured.  This occurs because we either lose too much bone, we make too little, or both. In women, this is more commonly diagnosed around menopause, but can strike at any age.  According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 10 million Americans have osteoporosis.   Women make up 80%.   An additional 34 million people are at risk. One in two women and one in four men will break a bone after age 50.

How does osteoporosis develop? Our bones are made up of calcium phosphate, collagen and bone cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts.  All these components work together to build and rebuild our bones.  As we develop and grow this activity changes.  In the adolescents, bone is predominantly being formed.  In early adults up to the middle age, this activity begins to slow down.  In midlife, bone loss begins to speed up, especially after menopause.

How does osteoporosis present?  Osteoporosis usually affects the hip, spine and wrist.  The effects of osteoporosis can be silent, presenting merely as a loss of height or abnormal posture that can make it difficult to move around and enjoy regular daily activities.  Some patients are diagnosed at the time of their first bone fracture.

What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?  Older age,  female gender, menopause, family history, being small and thin, insufficient dietary calcium and vitamin D, inactive lifestyle, smoking, excess alcohol drinking, weight loss, history of fractures, and certain medications and diseases.

What can we do to prevent and treat osteoporosis? Daily calcium and vitamin D.  It is recommended for adults to take 1000mg of calcium from any source daily plus 400-800 international units (IU) of vitamin D.   For those patients over the age of 50 it is recommended to take 1200mg calcium daily with 800-1000 IU of vitamin D.  In addition, regular muscle strengthening and weight- bearing exercises help to build bone.  Avoiding cigarette smoking and excess alcohol drinking that can speed up bone loss is also recommended.  Once osteoporosis is diagnosed, the addition of medication is recommended.

How can I be screened for osteoporosis?  It is important to speak with your doctor about your risk for osteoporosis and when to begin screening using a DXA Scan, which stands for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.  This test can diagnose osteoporosis and predict what your risk for bone fracture is in the future.

First generation fields (e.g., AstroTurf), developed in the 1960s, were more carpet-like with “grass” that was made of nylon fibers.  As these fields have been exposed to heat and UV light over the years, the nylon fibers have broken down to a fine dust that contains lead at unacceptable levels.  Many of them are being carted away as toxic waste now (including the ones at TCNJ) and replaced with second generation fields.

Second generation fields were developed in the mid 1990s.  They have a bottom layer drainage system designed to move water quickly off the surface.  The “grass” is backed with rubber for shock absorbance and the grass fibers are made of polyethylene.  There is an “infill” strewn over the grass at a level of about 2-3 inches in height which increases shock absorption, holds the turf down, and keeps the blades of grass erect.  This infill is typically crumb rubber.  This is recycled car and truck tires ground into 3mm sized pellets (vastly increasing the surface area of exposure to these recycled tires).

This crumb rubber infill has not been sufficiently studied and, to our shame, our children are the experimental guinea pigs.  Recycled automobile and truck tires contain chemicals of potential concern to human health due to the rubber (both natural and synthetic styrene-butadiene rubber), their manufacture, and what gets bound to them from road use.  These chemicals are classified as: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Semi Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs).  These chemicals are both airborne and in particulate form (2.5 – 10 microns in size) from crumb rubber dust. Each of these categories contains known irritants, carcinogens, and  hazardous chemicals.  Certain metals have also been found in crumb rubber (barium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese and zinc).   Phthalates, alkyl phenols and benzene have also been identified.  Research studies have shown that these chemicals can be released from crumb rubber but the studies are inconsistent in their methodologies and so conclusions cannot yet be drawn about real human exposure risks.  Review papers consistently identify gaps in our knowledge and the need for more study.  Potential for exposure to these chemicals would occur through inhalation, by inadvertent ingestion, and through skin absorption.   Crumbs and dust from these fields can coat the skin of the athletes and be brought home on their clothes and shoes.

Issues of toxicity are perplexing because 1) people equate harm with acute, usually occupational exposures, not small doses over time, 2) people assume the government has only allowed safe products to be on the market.  However, in the US, a chemical is considered safe until usage or research has shown that it is harmful.  This is how we get Love Canal, Camp Lejeune, carcinogens in plastic baby bottles and other travesties. 3) Testing for toxicity is done for individual chemicals and cannot take into account the synergistic effects of mixtures of potentially toxic chemicals.  4) Toxicological assessments are mathematical guessing.  Every authoritative report on the safety of these artificial turf fields that I have read has stated that there are substantial data gaps in our knowledge regarding its impact on human health, particularly of exposure in real use conditions.   In my community, rainwater “filtered” through polyethylene fibers and crumb rubber will be returning to the groundwater and entering our wells.  Since most artificial turf fields are installed in communities supplied with treated city water, I have thus far found no information regarding the impact of artificial turf fields on well water and the distance such an “unknown” exposure source needs to be from adjacent wells.

There is growing concern and increasing scrutiny of these fields and decision making bodies have both approved and denied their use across the country.  You may hear that the Consumer Protection Safety Commission has deemed these fields safe – however, they were only evaluating the safety of the newer polyethylene fibers with regard to lead exposure.  They did not report on the safety or toxicity of crumb rubber.

In toxicology, there is a saying, “It’s the dose that makes the poison”. We know that water, in large enough quantities, is toxic. We also know that minute amounts of synthetic chemicals can cause adverse health effects over time.  Since WWII  75 – 80,000 new chemicals have been released into the environment.  Less than 50% of these have been tested for potential toxicity in humans.  The CDCs Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals tested for 212 chemicals.  They found ALL to be in blood and urine of most Americans.  These chemicals included flame retardants, Teflon, bisphenol A, gasoline additives and mercury – all probable health hazards.   At the same time that these new-to-nature molecules have become ubiquitous in our environment over 2 generations, we have witnessed the skyrocketing of chronic disease – especially in children in industrialized countries (see side bar).

My father worked in a chemical factory in Fords NJ.  Many days he came home in his work suit reeking of synthetic chemicals.  We had a special covered barrel in the basement where he had to put these clothes to contain the smell.  But obviously we were all exposed – in small doses over a long period of time.  My father died of kidney cancer.  The kidney, like the liver, plays a major role in attempting to rid the body of toxins.  My mother had colon cancer, I had invasive breast cancer and my brother had a malignant brain tumor.  Just sayin.

Yes, my father should have showered and changed at the factory – but this was the 1950s and 1960s.  We didn’t know then about long term exposures to minute amounts of chemicals.  Just like we didn’t know that the first generation artificial turf fields would disintegrate into a lead containing dust.  Shame on us for accepting the risks to our children and communities without adequate information and study.  At this point, we don’t even know what we don’t know about the second generation fields made with recycled car and truck tire crumbs.   We do know that every batch of crumb rubber differs in composition from other batches and a “test of a sample product” is meaningless.  The good news is – there are both natural grass and artificial turf alternatives to the current second generation artificial turf fields and we need to advocate for them.    Until we do, shame on us.  I’ll discuss the safer alternatives in the next article.

Dr Kate Thomsen has a holistic health practice in Pennington, NJ.  She is board certified in Family Medicine and in Integrative/Holistic Medicine.  She has been practicing Functional Medicine for over 14 years.  For more information see www.drkatethomsen.com or call the office at 609-818-9700.

Poisoning Ourselves

• The incidence of childhood leukemia has risen 62% from 1973 – 1999.
• The incidence of childhood brain cancer has increased 40% from 1973 – 1994
• The prevalence of Autism and autistic spectrum disorders has increased from 4-5 per 10,000 children to 1 in 150 children since the  early 1980s
• Childhood asthma has doubled from 1982 – 1993
• The rate of preterm birth has increased 23% from the mid 1980s to 2002
• Infertility affects 5-10% of all couples
• Birth defects are seen in 3-5% of all babies
• Sperm counts have decreased at a rate of 1% yearly from 1934 – 1996

The National Cancer Institute states that in 2012 over one million new cases of all types of cancer will be diagnosed and of that 226,000 will be of breast cancer. One in four women are likely to suffer from some form of cancer in their lives and I am sure that everyone reading this article probably knows a family member, friend or co-worker that has had a form of cancer treatment and one in eight women have breast cancer or might be dealing with it now.

Suffering from cancer and having to deal with the horrible side effects of chemotherapy treatments can be very overwhelming. One of these least discussed but often seen side effects to chemotherapy treatment is traumatic hair loss. Hair loss can be a devastating side effect of chemotherapy and it is often the most dreaded result, which have a strong emotional impact on the patient. Hair loss is not caused by the cancer it is caused by the chemotherapy drugs that work to eliminate cancer cells that rapidly multiply. There are other cells in the body, like hair follicle cells, that multiply just as quickly. Unfortunately chemotherapy drugs may not be able to discern the two, attacking healthy cells that cause hair loss.

As a master hairstylist that has been in the beauty industry for 20+ years, one of the main functions that I serve to my clients is that of a ‘friendly ear to lean on’. I hear stories of amazing and life altering events that happen to everyday people in our communities. Stories about a triumphant child in a sport, the devastating reality of dealing with a death of a family member, unhappy sagas of divorce and emotionally charged announcements of bad health related issues. As someone that touches my client’s hair on a regular basis, I can usually detect an emotional issue just by the manner in which someone’s hair changes in texture, length or density. Hormones and emotions are not mutually exclusive dynamics and they often feed off of one another to alter chemicals in the body and the first evidence of this is usually in the hair follicles. I normally know when a client of mine is dealing with a serious issue prior to them telling me. Over the last ten years, cancer is one of those ailments that have leapt out at me once too often.

The purpose of this article and the next 2-3 articles I write will be focused on developing awareness and education as to the effects that cancer treatments will have on women’s hair and how it can positively or negatively affect their lives,..depending on their outlook.

As I deal with more and more women that suffer through this dramatic life change, I have found that there doesn’t appear to be a great deal of information or education on the subject and I hope that I can shed a little more light on the subject matter so that more education can be developed for the Mercer County community around this very critical topic. There is an organization called Look Good Feel Better which is a resource for women suffering with breast cancer and this is offered through the American Cancer Society that offers support and is a free resource. But I haven’t found a high number of cancer patients that have heard of the organization and it doesn’t seem to be promoted very heavily within physician’s offices or health care organizations. Great Looks 4 Less Hair Salon would like to offer that small town feel and support for the needs of the individual who might be suffering emotionally and physically with having hair loss due to chemotherapy.

Over the next few months through the articles in the Mercer County Women’s Newspaper, I will be covering such topics as, hair loss and its effects, the decision to you shave your hair, emotional support for the patient, support for family members during hair loss and many other areas to lend support for this dreaded disease.

If you or someone that you care about is dealing with hair loss due to cancer and needs specialized hair treatment or would like to share your personal story with me so that I can use it to help someone else please feel free to email me directly with your story. GL4LDenise@yahoo.com

Also, as another great resource in the area, please visit the Princeton Breast Cancer Resource Center which is located in Princeton should you require additional help with other issues. BCRCNJ.org