Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 26, 2010

13

The Good Life

 Mountain Views News Saturday, June 26, 2010

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Today’s Subject: 

Your Digestive Health - Part 2

Health Tips From Dr. John Talevich

FYI: 

Some Relief For Seniors 
In The “Doughnut Hole”

by Lori Abbott

 Californians who’ve fallen into the 
Medicare “doughnut hole” should soon 
find some relief in the mail. The federal 
government has started sending out 
the first round of $250 rebate checks to 
help eligible Medicare Part D enrollees 
pay for their prescription drugs.

 Last year, 382,000 Californians 
reached the drug coverage limit and 
had to start paying the entire cost of 
their prescriptions until they reached 
the catastrophic coverage threshold. 
At AARP California, Christina Clem 
says the rebate checks signal the 
eventual end of the dreaded coverage 
gap known as the “doughnut hole.” 

 “This is the first step in one of the new 
benefits of the new health care law. And 
it is also the first step, when it comes 
to Medicare Part D and the ‘doughnut 
hole,’ to closing the ‘doughnut hole’ by 
2020.”

 Clem says Part D enrollees will 
automatically receive the checks 
when they reach the gap in coverage, 
so there’s no need to apply or take 
additional action. She also cautions 
people to be wary of scam artists who 
are on the prowl.

 “People who are trying to help you get 
it faster or get it through some other 
site. If you get reports of someone 
who’s trying to help you get that check 
faster, it’s a scam and that should be 
reported to your police department or 
to the state Attorney General’s office.”

 Starting next year, those who fall 
into the prescription drug doughnut 
hole will receive a 50 percent discount 
on brand name drugs. The discounts 
continue to grow until the coverage 
gap is eliminated in 2020.

 In the meantime, if you think you’ve 
reached the doughnut hole and haven’t 
received a check within a few months, 
Clem says having your prescription 
receipts handy will be helpful when 
talking to Medicare.

Recipe of the Week:

Very Best Blueberry Cobbler Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/2 lemon, juiced 

1 cup white sugar, or to taste 

1/2 teaspoon all-purpose flour 

1 tablespoon butter, melted 

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 

4 teaspoons baking powder 

6 tablespoons white sugar 

5 tablespoons butter 

1 cup milk 

2 teaspoons sugar 

1 pinch ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

 

 Lightly grease an 8 inch square baking dish. 
Place the blueberries into the baking dish, and 
mix with vanilla and lemon juice. Sprinkle 
with 1 cup of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of flour, 
then stir in the tablespoon of melted butter. Set 
aside. 

In a medium bowl, stir together 1 3/4 cups 
of flour, baking powder, and 6 tablespoons 
sugar. Rub in the 5 tablespoons butter using 
your fingers, or cut in with a pastry blender 
until it is in small pieces. Make a well in the 
center, and quickly stir in the milk. Mix just 
until moistened. You should have a very thick 
batter, or very wet dough. You may need to add 
a splash more milk. Cover, and let batter rest 
for 10 minutes. 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees 
C). Spoon the batter over the blueberries, 
leaving only a few small holes for the berries to 
peek through. Mix together the cinnamon and 
2 teaspoons sugar; sprinkle over the top. 

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated 
oven, or until the top is golden brown. A knife 
inserted into the topping should come out 
clean - of course there will be blueberry syrup 
on the knife. 

Let cool until just warm before serving. This 
can store in the refrigerator for 2 days. 

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving Calories: 478 | Total Fat: 
12.9g | Cholesterol: 34mg


Last week, we discussed the bare essentials 
of healing the digestive tract. I pointed out 
that, by chronically overtaxing the organs 
of digestion, a state of inflammation and 
dysfunction develops. Let's look at some 
commonly recommended aids to relieving the 
symptoms of gastric distress.

Digestive Enzymes:

 During each phase of digestion, a different 
set of chemicals is secreted. We have 
hydrochloric acid in the stomach, bile salts 
in the gall bladder, and pancreatic enzymes 
from the pancreas. Additionally, there are 
enzymes from the lining of the intestines in 
play; all of these assist in completely breaking 
down food. Due to persistent overtaxing 
of these systems, it can be very helpful to 
supplement them. Nutritionally minded 
health care practitioners are familiar with the 
use of these supplements, or you may want 
to try some on your own as they are non-
prescription items.

~Probiotics

Various kinds of bacteria live along the digestive tract. In fact, there are more bacteria than there 
are cells in your body! Some are beneficial and necessary, while others are not. A high-potency, 
dairy-free probiotic can reseed the digestive tract, reducing the population of pro-inflammatory 
organisms. This is especially important after taking antibiotics, as the "good" bacteria are depleted 
by the medications. Further, avoid the sweetened yogurts and drinks touting probiotics. Stick to 
high quality formulas, generally found in powdered or capsule forms.

~Herbs and Extracts

There are a handful of tried and true herbs for digestive comfort and healing: ginger, peppermint, 
slippery elm, and comfrey are some. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is very helpful in treating 
heartburn. Unlike whole licorice, it won't raise blood pressure. You can take two tablets before each 
meal, allowing them to dissolve slowly in your mouth. Another heartburn helper is d-limonene. 
However, don't use this if pregnant and avoid using synephrine-containing formulas, as they harbor 
unwanted side-effects (generally found in stimulating, weight loss formulas).

These are a just a few ideas about the function and healing of the digestive tract. Keep in mind that, 
with a little bit of work and a few lifestyle changes, you can resolve most digestive inflammatory 
problems.

Next week, we will look at H.pylori, a little bug that has garnered a lot of attention.

Have a healthy, happy week! Dr. John

Dr. John Talevich, D.C. has practiced in Sierra Madre 
for thirty years. His clinic, LifeWorks! Chiropractic, 
offers patient-specific approaches to the alleviation 
of pain and individually tailored wellness programs. 

LifeWorks! Chiropractic Center

Individually Tailored Wellness Programs

31 S. Baldwin Avenue Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

626-355-4710

Methodist Hospital 
Offers Free Hip and 
Knee Seminar July 10

Hip or knee pain keeps many people 
from doing the things they love. Aspirin, 
ibuprofen and other pain medications 
are temporary fixes. Methodist 
Hospital will offer a free seminar 
in Lewis Hall at 300 W. Huntington 
Drive in Arcadia at 9 a.m. Saturday, 
July 10, on hip and knee pain and how 
to find a more permanent solution. 

The public is invited to attend this 
seminar and hear orthopedic surgeon 
Gary Moscarello, MD, discuss hip and 
knee replacement techniques. 

Combining advanced techniques, 
leading edge technology, state-of-
the-art facilities and skilled surgeons, 
nurses and staff, the Methodist Hospital 
Hip and Knee Center features 
computer navigation systems, ceramic 
and all-metal implants, mini-incision 
technique for less pain and quicker recovery 
and cell-saver device for minimal 
blood loss.

Although the seminar is free, seating 
is limited and reservations are 
required. Please call 888-388-2838 to 
reserve a seat. In addition to free parking, 
Methodist Hospital also offers 
free valet parking and mobility carts.

For more information, please 
call 626-898-8000 or visit www.
methodisthospital.org. 

Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters

Join the Sierra Madre Community & Personnel Services Department 
on this annual excursion to see art come alive.

 Date & Time: Friday, July 9th – 4:30 pm to 11:30 pm

 Cost: $48.00 per person inc. transporation & ticket

This excursion includes time to visit the Festival of the Arts or have dinner on your own 
prior to the show. The bus will depart & return to the Community Recreation Center, 611 
E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Reservations need to be made in advance by either 
going online at www.cityofsierramadre/onlineregistration , visiting the Recreation Center 
or visiting the Hart Park House/Senior Center. Please call (626) 355-5278 ext. 227

June Birthdays

Pat Fujiwara, Nellie Haynes, Laura Aguilar, 
Florence Brown, Mary Carney, Theresa Daley, 
Ann Disbrow, Ann Durgerian, Joan Ellison, Ruth 
Kirby, Irene Kudirka, Marilyn McKernan, Anne 
Montgomery, Trini Ornelas, Martha Spriggs, Patricia Starkey


Activities: 

Lunch Program: Monday- 
Friday at the Intervale 
Café -12:00 Noon-Call 
(626) 355-0256 to make 
your daily reservation. 
Suggested donation $2.00 
for seniors (60+) and 
$3.75 for visitors.

Monday: 

1:00 pm to 1:45 pm: 
Strength training with 
Lisa Brandley. FREE class 
of stretching with light 
hand weights while you 
sit.

Tuesday:

2nd Tuesday of each 
month FREE blood 
pressure checks by 
Methodist Hospital; 11 
am to 12 noon 

3rd Tuesday of each 
month FREE financial 
consulting; 10 -12 noon 
call 355-7394 for an 
appointment

1:30 pm to 3:30 pm: 
BINGO; cards are only 
25 cents each so stop by 
& play 

5:30 pm to 7 pm: Yoga; 
$7.00 - 50 & over. Please 

call 355-5278 for more 
information

Wednesday:

11 –11:45 am: Balance 
Class with Teryl. FREE 
class designed to improve 
balance & refresh the 
joints

2nd Wednesday of the 
month: FREE Legal 
Consultations: 10-11:30 
am. Appointments call 
355-7394

Wii Wednesday - 1:00 
pm or call the senior desk 
at 355-7394 to arrange 
another time & day to 
learn how to play. No 
previous experience or 
skills required and it is 
great exercise.

Thursday:

1:00 to 3:30 pm: Game 
Day. Join us for UNO 
and Poker with Bridge on 
the 2nd & 4th Thursdays; 
so please call for more 
information.

5:00 pm to 6:30 pm: Yoga; 
$7.00 - 50 & over. Please 
call 355-5278 for more 
information

Friday: 

1:00 pm: Ping Pong

Saturday: 11:30 am: 
Senior Club brown bag 
lunch and BINGO at 
12:30 pm

 
Unless listed differently, all 
activities are at the Hart 
Memorial Park (Senior Center) 
222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., 
Sierra Madre


Meals are delivered to home-
bound seniors by volunteer drivers through 
the YWCA Intervale Lunch Program M-F 
(with frozen meals for the weekend.) Call the 
YWCA at (626) 214-9460 or Darlene Traxler 
at (626) 355-0256 for more information.

Meals-On-Wheels


MEALS-ON-WHEELS NEEDS 
VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER MEALS TO 
OUR HOMEBOUND NEIGHBORS **ONCE 
A MONTH OR WEEKLY** 

Please contact Darlene Traxler at 

626.355.6220 or 

(626) 355-0256.

We Can Save You Water ! 
(800) 414-1004IRRIGATION SYSTEMS Landscape Lighting WaterfallsLIC #644140 
June TBA - Cheese Factory Tour & Lunch 

at a Temecula Winery

 May excursions are open and reservations can be 
made by filling out a registration form & making 
payment. For questions, please call the Sierra 
Madre Senior Desk at (626) 355-7394. 

MONTHLY 
EXCURSIONS