Take a look at the latest edition of the Monthly Renewal!
The
Monthly
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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • www.eyeplasticmd.com
MARCH 2021
“Over the past decades, our nation has experienced a significant decline in health, largely due to
Searching for a Healthier Diet? TURN TO THE PERIMETER IN THE GROCERY STORE
the processed foods consumed on a daily or weekly basis.”
When you walk through a grocery store, what’s the first thing you see? Regular supermarkets will put the most enticing items at eye level to get customers’ attention. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean they’re the healthiest choices for our bodies. Though the standard Western diet seems obsessed with health and nutrition, that’s not the case. Over the past decades, our nation has experienced a significant decline in health, largely due to the processed foods consumed on a daily or weekly basis. To make matters worse, many companies place health claims on the packaging, and grocery stores promote these products. Thus, in order to find healthier foods, we have to generally rely on the perimeter of the store. Those items claiming to be healthy, often full of chemicals, artificial flavors, and sweeteners, are usually in the main internal aisles. Whereas, the healthiest foods are often marketed on the perimeter of the store and make no claim to their benefits. Think of fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef products, or organic milk. These are great choices to add to your grocery shopping cart — you just have to browse the perimeter to find them. Grocery stores are now aware that people are making this change in their shopping patterns, and they have started to shift items around so be aware and read the labels carefully.
Arriving at the produce section of a store, you still might need some help knowing which items are best. To
make these decisions a little easier, here are the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen of 2020. Each year, one list is updated to help shoppers avoid vegetables and fruits most likely to contain pesticides and the other is aimed to help you pick foods that are cleaner. Alternatively, if you want something in the dirty dozen — it is best to spend a little extra and buy organic.
DIRTY DOZEN 1. Strawberries 2. Spinach 3. Kale 4. Nectarines 5. Apples 6. Grapes 7. Peaches 8. Cherries 9. Pears 10. Tomatoes 11. Celery 12. Potatoes
CLEAN FIFTEEN 1. Avocado 2. Sweet corn 3. Pineapple
4. Onion 5. Papaya 6. Sweet peas, frozen 7. Eggplant 8. Asparagus 9. Cauliflower 10. Cantaloupe 11. Broccoli 12. Mushrooms 13. Cabbage 14. Honeydew melon 15. Kiwi
In addition to choosing the freshest fruits and vegetables, I also recommend avoiding certain oils when shopping for other foods. Canola, corn, cottonseed,
soybean, rice bran, sesame, peanut, safflower, and sunflower are all highly processed and oxidize easily and tend to be pro-inflammatory. Instead, choose foods with avocado, olive, and coconut oils, which are healthier alternatives.
With the suggestions above, let’s all try to do our very best to maintain a healthy diet.
—Dr. Kevin Scott
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Spring brings with it many wonderful things, like longer days, picturesque scenery, and spring break, but right alongside those good things is something most people suffer from: allergies. While beautiful, the blooming trees and flowers make you want to stay away from the great outdoors for fear of nonstop sneezing or puffy, watery eyes. If you suffer from allergies caused by pollen, grass, or other spring plants, take these steps to breathe a little easier. When outside, avoid walking through areas with weeds, shrubbery, or lots of trees as much as possible. Grass and weeds are notably problematic. The slightest breeze can send particles flying through the air in the blink of an eye. When you walk through grassy areas, pollen will get on you, your clothes, and your hair. It’s best to stick to trails, sidewalks, and other paved areas. If you do find yourself inundated with pollen or other allergens, your next best bet is to establish an at-home decontamination protocol. Take your shoes off at the door and make sure your clothes don’t come in contact with soft surfaces such as carpet, upholstery, or bedding. Take care to wash your “pollinated” clothes as soon as possible and wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly. Next, head for the shower. The sooner you can wash away the allergens, the better. Finally, don’t forget to replace the air filter in your home’s air system in the spring. Consider using an air filter designed to capture allergens. If your allergies are particularly troublesome, invest in a dedicated air filtration system or unit. While you can opt for portable, stand-alone air purifiers, there are larger systems that can be incorporated into your heating and air system that keep your entire home’s air free from most, if not all, common allergens. Get Your Seasonal Allergies Before They Get You!
Medical Office Receptionist and New Patient Coordinator Meet Your Team Member, Tiara
Here at Eye Plastic Associates, we know that first interactions are important, which is why we trust Tiara at our front desk. For the past two years, Tiara has been one of our caring and friendly receptionists, always happy to help our patients and answer any questions they may have. Helping people means a lot to Tiara as she continues to grow her skills in the medical field. Throughout her life, Tiara has been drawn to helping people who need medical and restorative services. Being part of a person’s path to improved health and feeling better has filled her with a sense of pride and achievement. Working in the medical field for 16 years, she understands the positive impact these procedures have on a patient’s life. So, when Tiara joined our team, she was drawn to the opportunities and growth our office provided in this area, especially in surgery. Often, patients come in uncertain and fearful because of the severity of their conditions, but Tiara not only understands the positive influence surgery can have on a person’s life but also its intrigue. “It’s never been something gruesome to me or something I couldn’t stand watching,” Tiara explains. “I like surgery and seeing the transformation it can provide.”
Currently, she is attending university, studying for her bachelor’s degree in health care administration.
Though she admits she won’t go into surgery itself, she hopes to work alongside surgeons.
Outside of the office, Tiara enjoys spending time with her family. Unfortunately, due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her two children are unable to enjoy their usual activities. Her kids look forward to the day when they can once again compete and participate in football and gymnastics. Hopefully, Tiara will happily cheer them on again soon.
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WHY DO I HAVE TEARING Is It Due to a Blocked Tear Duct or Dry Eyes?
However, if one of these components is out of sync with the others, it can result in tearing. This is a condition in which tears can puddle on the lower lid margin or in some cases overflow and spill down the face. At times, it can be a natural reaction; for example, when a person walks through cold, windy weather or if they read for long periods of time, the eyes get dry. In an attempt to catch up with any dry spots, the eyes will create more tears. However, when this occurs frequently and without a clear reason, it’s important to seek medical help. When we see a patient with this ophthalmic issue, our first priority is to determine whether or not the glands/cells of the eye are functioning in their appropriate manner. It could be that any one or more of these three key components of your tears are not producing enough to keep the ocular surface happy, resulting in reflex tearing in an attempt to catch up. If this is not the issue, there
could be a blockage in the punctum, canaliculus or nasolacrimal duct, all of which make up the tear drainage system allowing tears to naturally drip into the nose. Yet another cause could be a loose eyelid that doesn’t blink moisture across the eye properly. A method we use to determine the issue is to apply fluorescein, a special dye that sticks to the eye, and any delay in dye drainage from the eye after 10 minutes could suggest the drainage system or the lid blinking function is compromised. This can be further evaluated with a special irrigation technique to detect any possible areas of blockage in the tear drainage system. With a detailed evaluation, we can determine what is causing the problem and take steps to repair it. If you or a family member are having problems with tearing, call our office today at (703) 620-4300 to set up an appointment.
When someone cries, they’re usually feeling strong emotions, and the last thing they’re wondering is how their tears are produced. But what about when the eyes tear up when someone isn’t crying? Before we can answer that question, it’s important to understand that all tears come from a combination of three components. First, the lacrimal gland, which sits under the upper eyelid by the lateral brow, produces the aqueous or water portion of your tears. Second, the meibomian glands, which are minuscule glands that line the lid margins, secrete oil that coats the eye. Lastly, the goblet cells, which are on the white of the eye, produce mucin. These three elements, working together, make up a healthy tear film on the eye.
Inspired by OhMyVeggies.com Tasty Thai Fried Rice
Have a Laugh “My doctor told me I had to stop throwing intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people.” –Orson Welles
We’re smack in the middle of broccoli season, and fried rice is the perfect dish to celebrate it. This savory, plant-based recipe is packed with nutritious vegetables and delicious Thai flavors.
INGREDIENTS
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2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced
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5 cups jasmine rice, cooked and cooled 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped
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2 tbsp soy sauce
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4 cups broccoli, chopped to bite-size pieces
Toppings of choice for serving (sliced green onions, sliced cucumber, chopped peanuts, lime wedges, Sriracha, etc.)
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4 cloves garlic, minced
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened. 2. Add the mushrooms and broccoli. Cook for 5–7 minutes, until the broccoli is tender. 3. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. 4. Finally, add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, for 3–4 minutes. 5. Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the peanuts and soy sauce. 6. Serve garnished with your toppings.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • www.eyeplasticmd.com
Inside This Issue
1
Searching for a Healthier Diet
2
Get Your Seasonal Allergies Before They Get You!
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Team Member Spotlight: Tiara
The Reason You Have Tearing
Tasty Thai Fried Rice
How to Be More Patient and Less Stressed
WITH THESE 4 TIPS IMPROVE PATIENCE AND REDUCE STRESS
In this fast-paced world, it can be easy to grow impatient. Things as small as waiting for a slowwebsite to load or waiting in a long line for coffee can sometimes leave people feeling frustrated and anxious. Practicing patience helps reduce stress and helps you realize it’s okay if something takes a few extra minutes. If you find yourself feeling impatient, here are a few helpful tips. BREATHE DEEPLY When you feel stressed, your breathing gets shallow, which amplifies anxiety. Practicing deep breathing can help reduce stress and frustration by relaxing your body and mind. This is as simple as taking a few quiet moments to inhale through the nose, drawing your breath into the belly and lungs. Count to four to help you focus as you inhale. Then exhale slowly through your mouth. After a few repetitions, you will find that your mind and body feel calmer. SWITCH FOCUS When agitated, it’s common for our thoughts to center on the irritant. Though it may feel difficult to do when you’re stressed out, switching your focus will help you calm down and be more patient. For instance, if you find yourself growing more and more frustrated by hitting red lights as you drive, try focusing on green instead. Looking for passing cars, signs, trees, or
anything that is green will help break that hyper-focus and shift it from negative to positive. Soon, those red lights will be less bothersome.
MEDITATE A great way to increase your patience is by meditating, a combination of the first two tips — focus and breathing. Meditation helps people constructively manage thoughts by allowing them to practice
observing their thoughts from a neutral perspective. Regular meditation can reduce stress and improve patience throughout the day. Even just 5–10 minutes of daily practice can have a tremendous impact over time. PRACTICE ACCEPTANCE While the above tips can help you improve your patience, sometimes you must simply accept that some things can’t be rushed. There will be times when we cannot control the outcome: A red light will change to green when it changes and no sooner. Learning to accept that can help people let go of their frustration, become more understanding of their situation, and greatly improve their patience.
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