Visions Medical Center

Visions Medical Center is excited to announce our newest offering that will bring you success in reaching your health- related goals.  A complete definition of health at Visions includes not only your physical health, but also your spiritual, biochemical, energetic and emotional/ psychological health. In order to help you realize your goals for each of these facets of your health, we designed a program that will redefine the way you approach your journey to complete health.

Joyce Strong, RN, BSN has joined the Visions family to serve as your acting support for this program. She is the Health Navigator. At Visions, the Health Navigator is a practitioner who helps you experience clarity about your health-related goals, gain insight into your current situation and design a process that breathes life into your goals so that your dreams become reality.

As with any goal, there may be barriers on your path. Joyce will work closely with you - coaching you - to eliminate these barriers and help you establish a comprehensive understanding of values and motivations that will lead you to your personal end result.

We have designed two different programs for you to choose from to fit your needs, schedule, and health.  By the end of the program you will be able to actively direct and manage your own health and attain your goals for improved health and lifestyle.

I am thrilled to be joining Visions - as the Health Navigator and a Visions team member, I feel that the message I would like our patients and our practitioners to hear is that the Health Navigator walks with people on their path to health.  I believe change starts with self-efficacy and that sustainable change only happens when the patient finds the answers. One way to highlight this idea may be with contrast… as a nurse I have an area of expertise.  The patient comes to me for that medical expertise and I give them a list of what I think they need.  As a Health Navigator, I take off my expert hat and support the patient in developing the ability to manage their own health.  I may occasionally answer a question with my medical expertise but most often my job is to listen and ask good questions.  The patient and I are on equal ground.  The patient leads and the patient finds the answers.  I am an expert listener. I don’t manage the patient’s health.  I help the patient’s manage their own health by helping them believe in themselves and develop the confidence they need to take risks and try new ideas to overcome obstacles.  It is all about self-efficacy, and I look forward to helping you establish yours. I am excited to work with each of you!

A discussion and store tour with J Freeman, MA, RD, LD

In light of a growing overweight population, and rising concern over chronic disease throughout the country, there has been an increased emphasis on healthy eating and staying fit these days.  In the classroom, in the magazines, and every time a teen sits down to a family meal, he or she faces the pressure every day.  It can be overwhelming to think about how to get started - at home, with friends, and in school.  With some guidance, the task to stay fit & eat healthfully can be broken down into very manageable steps.

Knowing about balance is the key to fluid energy, both physically and psychologically.  An easy guideline is to choose carbohydrates with 3 grams or more of fiber and 6 grams or less of sugar, and to pair this combination with a lean protein.  In addition, it is important to choose carbohydrates that are not highly processed.  For example, many low-carbohydrate, high-fiber foods are really manufactured in the warehouse!  An unrefined choice, such as Ezekial Bread or Cereal, is made from whole grain and contains no artificial or altered ingredients.   In this way, your body will extract the most energy, B vitamins and other nutrients.

Think about what you enjoy in your meals:  smooth, crunchy, savory or sweet?   Are you a volume eater or is a small portion of a rich item satisfying to you?  Do some foods tend to make you hungrier?  Are you a grab and go person or do you like making meals in the kitchen?  Once you settle on your own style of eating, it will be easier to come up with menu ideas for meals and snacks that can help keep you on the healthy path.   A few sample snack ideas include:

Hummus and Akmak Crackers

Food should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips and Sunbutter

Baked Apple with Cinnamon and Walnuts

Greek Yogurt with Berries, a few Chocolate Chips

And more . . .

As a teenager, you are in your most rapid growth phase and this requires that you supply your body with nutrient-dense foods.  Learning to enjoy new foods is a process, and it takes about a month for your taste buds to recognize and accept new foods.  Your first encounter with the Wasa Cracker may seem like eating corrugated cardboard, but you will grow to appreciate what it does for your body and how to add to its taste without negating its nutritional values.   Powerhouse meals and snacks have lots of color from vegetables and fruits, as well as whole grains and lean protein from both animal and vegetarian sources.

Learn all of this and more during a NUTRTITIONAL SEMINAR and STORE TOUR at Roche Brothers in Wellesley on Wednesday, August 25 from 9-11am. If you are a Teenager struggling with your weight, an athlete, or simply want more energy to get you through this phase of your life, join Julie Freeman RD, MA, LD for this enlightening and motivational discussion on Nutrition for Teens.

For more information about the educational session and tour, contact Visions Medical Center, 781-431-1333. www.visionsmedical.com.

Julie Freeman, MA, RD, LD, is a nutritionist in private practice as well as a nutrition provider at Visions Medical Center.  Both practices are in Wellesley and accept most insurance plans.  Visit www.FeelGreatLookGreatRd.com and www.visionsmedical.com.

The summer is here!  It is a wonderful opportunity to cool off with a variety of refreshing smoothies!  These recipes were graciously provided by Chris at Metagenics.  Feel free to modify, blend and enjoy!

Berry Blast Smoothie:

• 1/2 Cup Filtered Water
• 1/4 Cup Almond, Rice or Soy Milk
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Organic Strawberries
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Organic Blueberries
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Organic Raspberries
• 1/2 Cup Milled Flaxseed
• 2 Scoops Ultraclear Plus Natural Berry

Just Peachy Smoothie:

• 1/2 Cup Filtered Water
• 1/2 Cup Grapes (Red or Green
• 1 Cup Frozen Organic Blueberries
• 1 Medium Peach, Halved, Pitted
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Peach

Banana Mania Smoothie:

• 3/4 Cup Almond, Rice or Soy
• 1 Cup Soy Yogurt
• 1 Banana, Frozen, Peeled
• 1/2 Cup Milled Flaxseed
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Banana

Citrus Refresther Smoothie:

• 1 Cup Filtered Water
• 1/2 Cup Grapes (Red or Green)
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Organic Blackberries or Raspberries
• 1/4 Lime, Peeled
• 1/4 Cup Sliced Pineapple
• 2 Scoops Ultraclear Plus PH Pineapple Banana
• 1 1/4 Cups Ice Cubes

Summer Splash Smoothie:

• 1 Cup Filtered Water
• 1/2 Cup Honeydew Chunks
• 1/2 Cup Cantaloupe Chunks
• 1 Medium Peach, Halved, Pitted
• 1/2 Cup Fresh Pineapple Chunks
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Whey Vanilla
• 1 Cup Ice Cubes

Strawberry Key Lime Kiwi Smoothie:

• 1/2 Cup Filtered Water
• 1 Tablespoon Key Lime Juice
• 2 Kiwis, Peeled, Halved
• 1/2 Ripe Pear, Halved
• 1/2 Frozen Organic Strawberries
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Strawberry
• 1 Cup Ice Cubes

Super Slimmer Smoothie:

• 1 Cup Filtered Water
• 1/2 Cup Milled Flaxseed
• 1/2 Ripe Peach, Halved
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Organic Strawberries
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Whey Vanilla

Nada Colada Smoothie:

• 1/4 Cup Pineapple Chunks
• 1/2 Orange
• 1 Cup Coconut Milk
• 1/2 Cup Ice Cubes
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Pina Colada

Tropical Paradise Smoothie:

• 1/2 Cup Filtered Water
• 1/2 Cup Pineapple Chunks
• 1/4 Frozen Banana
• 1 Cup Coconut Milk
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Banana

Vanilla Coffee Delight Smoothie:

• 1 Cup Almond, Rice, or Soy Milk
• 1 Scoop Ultrameal Vanilla
• 1 Scoop Ultrameal Mocha
• 1 Spoonful of Instant Coffee

Thin Mint Cookie Smoothie:

• 1 Cup Almond, Rice, or Soy Milk
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Chocolate Mint
• 1/4 Cup Oatmeal
• 1 Teaspoon Peppermint Extract

Carreiro Crunch Shake:

• 1 Cup Almond, Rice, or Soy Milk
• 2 Scoops Ultrameal Chocolate Rice
• 1 Cup Dry Oatmeal
• 1/4 Cup Bran Flakes
• 1 Tablespoon Almond Butter

Tango Mango Smoothie:

• 1 Medium Orange, Peeled, Halved
• 1/4 Banana, Peeled
• 1/2 Mango, Peeled, Pitted
• 2 Scoops UltraInflamX Mango
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 1 Cup Ice Cubes

Believe it or not, in this intense heat and humidity, it is easy to miss the warning signs for a heat stroke. What may be mistaken for your body’s normal, sweaty response to extreme temperatures could quite possibly be its way of warning you it’s time to cool down….and it needs your help!

Heat stroke occurs when your body spikes a temperature of 104 degrees or higher. Though often linked to the very young or the very old, everyone should consider the risks before dismissing the warning signs as just a nuisance and inconvenience. Heat stroke can happen in two ways – through overexertion in hot environments; or interestingly enough, through being overly sedentary and lingering while exposed to high temperatures (typically found in older people). Both types of heat stroke carry with them similar symptoms and potential outcomes: organ failure, brain damage and sometimes death.

Below, some symptoms to watch for and tips for prevention:

· Hot, DRY skin (non sweating) – this is typical to passive heat stroke, whereas heat stroke caused by overexertion tends to lead to hot, MOIST skin

· High body temperature. Typically 104 or higher.

· Sudden alteration in mental alertness and motor skill abilities; speech, confusion, hallucinations

· Red , flushed skin

· Shallow and quick breathing

· Increased pulse

· Headache

· Cramps or muscle weakness

As with any warning signs, contact emergency services immediately. Remove your clothing, find shade, air conditioning or a fan and spray water on yourself, or apply ice packs.  It is also important to get fluids into yourself.  Water is the best hydration option; however, juices or other drinks are fine as long as they are non-caffeinated.

These words come from the mouth of the Great Nazarene, Jesus. He uses them to change the weather, making him an exemplary weather witch! (Forgive me, I couldn’t resist!)

Seriously, Jesus has been preaching all day, and is tired. He and his disciples decide to take their boat across the Sea of Galilee to rest and recuperate. The Sea of Galilee isn’t really a sea, it’s a lake, and one that’s notorious for untimely, unseasonable, instantaneous weather squalls.

Jesus is sleeping with his head on a pillow. The disciples start to panic because of the weather. Jesus sleeps on. Now remember that the disciples are fishermen who go out on this lake to ply their trade. This is a totally normal occurrence for them.

No matter, eventually they hit their panic limit. “Lord,” they cry, “do you not care that we may perish?” Jesus wakens still wrapped in sleep. He looks at their situation, notes the weather, and speaks his famous prescription,

Peace, Be Still

The weather subsides. The disciples, awed, mutter to themselves. “Who is He, that even the wind and the rain obey Him?”For my money, it isn’t about Him, per se. It’s about the Christed Self that Jesus realized, which each of us are realizing as we live our lives accepting our own inner Divinity.

It is your right to speak peace to any area of your life, to any relationship, to any circumstance, to any diagnosis because you, like all of us, are a Christed being, a being whose core is divine.

Now that the great outdoors are  really beckoning with bright blue skies and hot summer days, I’m sure many of you are preparing for some of those summer activities New England is famous for – hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, or just good ol’ bird watching.  In any event, and no matter where or how you enjoy nature, it’s tick season to be sure, and the deer tick  - best known for delivering Lyme Disease - revels in our neck of the woods.

Deer Ticks tend to most heavily be populated in and around wooded areas where we relish so many of our summer retreats. Below are some easy measures to prevent a tick bite and what to do in the event that you meet a tick that fancies you.

Prevention:

·         Wear light colored, long sleeved shirts that will not camouflage a preying tick

·         Wear pants, and tuck them into socks and hiking boots to prevent the little beasts from finding their way up your pant leg

·         Consistently and regularly throughout your outdoor time, perform and ‘tick check’.  Ask a friend for an extra once over

·         Bathe immediately after an extended period of time in woods or tall grass

·         Make note of that tell-tail “Bullseye” formation reaction indicative of a tick bite

Common Symptoms (please make an appointment with your physician should you have reason to believe you may have a tick bite, or have been in tick territory):

·         Flu like symptoms

·         Rash

·         Skin inflammation

·         Fatigue

·         Fever

·         Joint Pain

Finally, if possible, save the tick and bring it to Visions for testing to find out if it is a true deer tick or just the less poisonous cousin, the wood tick.  Usually, a tick bite can be treated with a dose of antibiotics; but the sooner the better, as if left untreated, can cause permanent damage to the nervous system and joints.

As some of you know, my wife Erica and I recently had a son, Grayson. In the delivery room, as soon as he left his safe warm dark quiet cozy cocoon of mama’s womb, and abruptly entered this harsh glaring noisy intrusive place, I was ushered over to his side.

As he approached the ripe old age of 3 minutes, I tenderly adjusted his spine.  While I lightly, precisely touched a vertebra in his neck with my finger, his crying eased, his breathing slowed and deepened, and a healthy pink flush coursed through his tiny body.

I gazed at his helpless innocent face, felt the warm touch of his skin, smelled his sweet breath, and thought, I am participating in a miracle.

And this miracle happens thousands of times every day.

The miracle of Life.

The same miracle that caused breath and blood to flow through my son, is the same miracle that keeps you alive each moment of every day.  The same miracle that helps you heal, change, and grow.

This miracle happens all the time, in grand and trivial ways, relentlessly.  All you need do is give it a chance.

And that is what we here at Visions are here to help you do.

So take a chance on yourself, and give your miracle a fighting chance.

You may soon see, that You are a miracle too.

One of the things that’s hard to keep in focus when we are frustrated with our partners is what we are grateful for in that sacred being who is ticking us off at that moment. Gratitude, dear one, is a discipline. I mean it. Gratitude takes discipline.
Keeping our eyes on what we are grateful for in a primary relationship takes time, energy, focus and determination, especially when you’re once again screwing the cap back on the toothpaste tube. I know it’s frustrating, but really now, is it going to matter in 10 minutes?
I highly recommend keeping a file in your computer or in your journal where you can refer to it often of a list of things you’re grateful for about your spouse, your kids, and any other significant relationships in your life.
It’s easy to fall into complaint or criticism if we don’t actively remind
ourselves of what we have to be grateful for. Gratitude increases the qualities it praises. It is the epitome of the tools of a spiritual life. Are you grateful? Say so.
As often as you can. It will feel a little silly in the beginning, but wait till you see the results.
A client of mine has her own personal spelling of grateful: greatful. True gratitude is true greatness.

For spiritual nourishment, visit Dr. Susan Corso’s website and blog, Seeds for Sanctuary. Follow her on Twitter @PeaceCorso and Friend her on Facebook. And discover your own Inner Peace at, To Me Peace Is … What is Peace to You?

These are the words to which I fall asleep every single night. These are the words that I believe address the true desire of every sacred being on the planet, and all beings are sacred beings here.
These words help me return to the nature of Being. Being itself, the very Divine Spark that animates each one of us, has as its essential nature Inner Peace.
First, I get comfortable. Then I begin the practice:
I breathe in …
Inner …
I breathe out …
Peace …
Over and over again until I fall asleep. When I do this, I visualize it for all beings as well as myself.
Inner …
Peace …
I often think of scenarios I’ve either experienced or heard of during the past day, scenarios that are less than peace-filled, and I let my breath send peace into
those situations.
This is a great practice to foil feelings of helplessness.

For spiritual nourishment, visit Dr. Susan Corso’s website and blog, Seeds for Sanctuary. Follow her on Twitter @PeaceCorso and Friend her on Facebook. And discover your own Inner Peace at, To Me Peace Is … What is Peace to You?