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How to Eat to Lower Your Cholesterol
With the holidays around the corner, it is important to think ahead about healthy eating during times of celebrations.
We all need some cholesterol from what we eat to make our bodies work properly - but finding a healthy balance is important. Choosing heart-healthy foods can help lower bad cholesterol, which sticks to artery walls and can narrow or block them, and raise good cholesterol, which helps ferry bad cholesterol back to your liver, where it can be removed from your blood.
But which heart-healthy habits are best? The American Heart Association suggests keeping these seven habits in mind when choosing your meals.
Include lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. They can increase cholesterol-lowering compounds in your diet.
Choose low-fat dairy options. Whole-fat dairy is high in cholesterol, so opt for low-fat or fat-free versions of your favorite dairy foods, like milk, yogurt and cheese.
Remove the skin and extra fat before eating poultry. This cuts down on saturated fat, a main source of cholesterol in foods. You can keep meat moist by basting it with fruit juice or a marinade made from heart-healthy oils.
Bake or broil fish and seafood instead of frying it. And choose fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, which can raise your good cholesterol levels.
REACH FOR healthier cooking oils. Go for vegetable oils instead of solid fats like butter, bacon grease, lard or coconut oil.
Add legumes - beans and peas - and unsalted nuts to your meals and snacks. Legumes contain soluble fiber that helps your digestive tract avoid absorbing cholesterol. And in moderation, nuts are a source of healthy fats.
Pick water instead of sugar-sweetened drinks. Sugary drinks can lower good cholesterol and raise triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood.
Small changes lead to big results. If that list seems like a lot to change at once, pick one habit at a time to work on. Then when you've got it down, move on to the next one. Along with other heart-healthy habits like staying active and watching your weight, healthy eating can help you make a real difference in your cholesterol numbers.
henrymayo.com

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A Dental Office Manager Tells You How to get the most from your Insurance
Becky Short, an office manager with Dr. Marvin Tong, DDS, has been leading professional dental practices for over a decade. Here are her tips to getting the most out of your insurance coverage.
Divide & Conquer
"Once the calendar flips to 2022, in most cases, so does your coverage. You'll forfeit anything left over in 2021, so use it before you lose it. And absolutely ask, if it's not offered, to divide treatments up at the end of the year. If you have $1,500 in annual coverage and you need a $3,000 treatment, see if it can be broken into two appointments - one in December 2021 and the other in January 2022! That way, you don't spend a penny out of pocket and your treatment is done in a timely manner," explains Short.
Get a Free Second Opinion
"If you get a quote for treatment that seems outrageous, call another office. Some, like ours, will give you a free second opinion. That way you can proceed with confidence and try to stay within your annual coverage amount," says Short.
Don't Skip the Free Stuff
The most important tip? "Use it! You're paying for it - so get every cleaning, check up and treatment your insurance covers. Those preventative appointments that usually have zero co-pays will save you so much money down the line in costs for pricier procedures you never would have needed with regular checkups. Plus, you'll spend a lot less time in the chair," explains the pro.
Dr. Marvin Tong, DDS 268-6284

Soup's On
Bridge to Home to Host 2021 "Soup for the Soul"
Following a record-breaking event in 2020, Soup for the Soul will once again be presented virtually in 2021. Buy your tickets now for the event which will take place on December 4 at 6:30pm. Participants will be entertained and inspired by returning host Shawn Parr. The outrageously-fun, nationally-syndicated radio host will emcee an evening filled with fantastic entertainment. The much-anticipated Soup for the Soul event is the largest fundraiser for Bridge to Home, raising crucial funds which allow for year-round shelter services and resources for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
"Soup for the Soul is one of the most anticipated events of the year in Santa Clarita," said Bridge to Home Executive Director Michael Foley. "We are excited to once again offer an evening of unparalleled entertainment, heart-warming stories, important shelter news and a can't-miss auction. Plus, viewers will get an update on the progress toward a permanent homeless shelter in Santa Clarita. I urge all of you to support Bridge to Home through Soup for the Soul and make a true and lasting impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness."
Guests are encouraged to gather safely with small groups of family and friends to view Soup for the Soul. All participants will pick-up their custom curated food box the afternoon of the event. This year guests will dine on four tantalizing soups, cooked up by local restaurants, fresh baked breads, crisp green salad and a decadent dessert. As you indulge in the comfort of hot soup, you can watch the live show and auction on Facebook live or SCVTV Channel 20. Tickets and more info can be found online.
btohome.org

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Have Venous Reflux? Help your Legs Look & Feel their Best
People can develop leg pain and varicose veins for many different reasons. Sometimes they are caused by abnormally-functioning veins. The veins in the leg bring the blood from the feet back up to the heart. When walking, the calf muscles activate the venous pump in the leg and promote venous return. There are valves within the vein that allow one-way flow. In many people, however, the veins become enlarged and the valves become incompetent, allowing blood to pool in the legs and ankles. This is called venous reflux. This can cause patients to develop leg pain, especially when standing for long periods of time. In addition, patients may also have leg swelling, itching, cramping, fatigue, heaviness or restless legs. If left long enough, patients can develop permanent skin discoloration or an ulcer near their ankle.
Fortunately, venous reflux can be treated with minimally-invasive procedures that can allow patients to go back to work the next day. Veins with venous reflux can be closed with radiofrequency catheter ablation, which requires just a single needle puncture performed under local anesthesia. Remaining unsightly bulging varicose veins can also be removed under local anesthesia with multiple tiny incisions.
Harvard and Stanford trained, double board-certified surgeon Dr. Larisse Lee focuses on the most-up-to-date techniques to get the results
you want. Be it vein treatment, laser liposuction or other concerns, Dr. Lee can tailor a plan for you. Her state-of-the-art facility offers minimally-invasive procedures with exceptional results.
LA Vein Center 818-325-0400

What You should Know About Medicare 2021
Seniors will definitely see an increase in telehealth services by most Medicare providers. Also called telemedicine, telehealth allows individuals to meet with doctors and healthcare providers right in their own homes. Instead of heading to the doctor's office, you can schedule a video call to discuss health concerns, ongoing care and more. For seniors who have a difficult time or are concerned about leaving their homes, or have problems finding transportation, this new world of telehealth may be a significant and positive change. However, it's vital to remember that some conditions can not be addressed over a phone line and patients need to make their health care providers aware of all their concerns, so doctors can decide whether hands-on or tele-visits are most appropriate.
In addition, some Medicare Advantage Plans will be offering more long-term care options including adult daycare, some in-home care, home safety modifications, meal delivery and transportation services to and from doctors' appointments. The coverage will vary, depending on what MA Plan you're enrolled in. In fact, some MA Plans even offer supplemental coverage to better serve a particular patient's needs. It's important to ask questions of your provider, and if you don't like the answers, you may want to check out other plans during Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs from October 15, 2021 to December 7, 2021. For more information, log on to medicare.com or call Home Instead for help.
Home Instead Senior Care for Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys 254-8701

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Saturday | November 13
Sugar Daddy Marathon
Kids Fun Run, 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
Runners get to enjoy the best of Santa Clarita's awesome paths and paseos taking runners on a spectacular tour around the Santa Clarita Valley on a very fast course. All runners get to make the final push into finish line to run across the historic 120-year old Iron Horse bridge, making for a landmark race finish. The Sugar Daddy Race is for everyone, runners, walkers, hikers, there is even a Kids Fun Run for the little ones to get active and healthy to experience a race. In addition to earning an awesome medal, Sugar Daddy finishers will get a special ice cream treat to help cool them off after finishing the race.
sugardaddymarathon.com

Dr. Kapil Moza Named One of Southern California Super Doctors for 2022 in the Field of Neurological Surgery
We're losing count of how many times Dr. Kapil Moza has been named a Super Doctor! (Not really... this is number seven!). This prestigious award is a reflection of Dr. Moza's incredible surgical record, positive patient outcomes and personable bedside manner. According to the Super Doctor's website, "In selecting physicians for Super Doctors, MSP Communications employs a rigorous multi-step process designed to identify physicians who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement."
Dr. Moza is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in minimally-invasive and complex spine surgery. Dr. Moza utilizes minimally-invasive technologies that preserve normal physiologic motion whenever possible.
Dr. Moza is widely regarded as the leading expert in the region, with zero infections in nine consecutive years in addition with the highest patient satisfaction. As the area's foremost leader in spine surgery and neurosurgery, Dr. Moza has performed many successful surgical revisions for patients that underwent surgery elsewhere.
Kapil Moza, MD drmoza.com