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GROWING IN HEALTH AND HAPPINESS MY JOURNEY WITH AMY
accomplished so much. She’d attended West Point, was a championship diver on a men’s college team, trained as a mechanical engineer, and even had a number of patents! “Wow," I thought. "Amy is amazing.” That first impression struck home. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, we’ve grown together and shared many joy-filled moments. This year, we are focusing on our health and learning how to promote a healthy lifestyle together. Amy is in remission after beating cancer, which has caused her to rethink her lifestyle. I just got her a peloton bike — the type with an interactive screen that allows you to take classes — and she’s been riding it 1–2 times a day. She’s already done over 100 rides since her birthday. Inspired by Amy, we’ve started a program called Forks Over Knives. It focuses on a plant-based diet, for optimal health. The movement gets its name from choosing foods you’d eat with a fork, like vegetables, over foods that require a knife, primarily meat. Studies show powerful findings about the positive effects of a plant-based diet for addressing problems like obesity, heart disease and diabetes. I recommend you watch the film by the same name on Netflix — it’s persuasive. Since making this shift, I’ve already seen immediate changes in my blood sugar and energy levels. It’s been eye-opening to see the health benefits of a plant-based diet. I think we‘ll still eat meat sometimes, and I still plan to eat fish, but overall this shift has been very positive for us. I’m learning a lot, and it's helped me connect with our son, who lives in North Carolina. He has been vegan for a long time but recently switched to being vegetarian. He's very healthy, and now we can share recipe ideas. It’s an interesting journey we’re embarking on, and we’re just getting started! What healthy habits are you adding this year? I’d love to hear your suggestions for how you stay healthy! —Dr. Demas
With Valentine’s Day approaching, I think about the lucky circumstances that led me to meet my amazing wife, Amy. Our story goes to show that you never know where — or how— you're going to meet the person you fall in love with. I was taking a personal development course and found the information fascinating. Knowing it would be beneficial to my team, I wanted to learn more. The facilitator of the course referred me to a life coach based out of North Carolina named Nicole Greer. Nicole was gracious enough to travel to Connecticut to work with me. We spent a couple of days going over the material, and I had an excellent experience. I really liked Nicole’s approach, and it was a joy to learn from her. Afterward, Nicole had an idea unrelated to the course. “I’d like to introduce you to someone,” she said.
That person was Amy, who lived in North Carolina.
Nicole coordinated a blind double date for Amy and I to meet over dinner with Nicole and her husband. I clearly remember meeting Amy for the first time — there she was, this beautiful person who had
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3 TIPS TO PREVENT RAISING A PICKY EATER When you’re trying to feed your child, keep them healthy, and prevent them from becoming one of those weird adults with the stunted palate of a 2-year-old, it may feel like you’re faced with an uphill climb. Research shows that fussy eating may be as linked to genetics as it is to upbringing, not to mention the tangle of other psychosocial factors that can fuel a child’s inscrutable food preferences. 1. KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN CHECK. When a child first encounters a new food, they’re going to give it the side-eye. That’s natural. In fact, according to a 2003 study, it may take as many as 12 “exposures” to a new food for it to become familiar, much less something they want to eat. If you put too much pressure on them to eat every last bit of the new food, that particular food won’t fare well in their memories and you’ll have to fight those negative associations from then on. Instead, talk about the new food as you’re preparing it, involve your child in the preparation, and have them check it out on their own terms. Normalizing those Brussels sprouts is half the battle. That said, there are ways to help your child foster a healthy relationship with food and encourage them to be adventurous eaters.
2. AVOID TURNING VEGETABLES INTO CHORES. You might think that offering your child a reward in return for finishing their green beans is a good way to make sure your child gets their nutrients, but it causes more problems than it’s worth. It just reinforces your child’s perception that the green beans are the “bad” food they have to choke down before getting to the good stuff. 3. MAKE A VARIETY OF DISHES. The more monotonous your nightly menu is, the fewer new foods your child will be exposed to, and the harder it will become to introduce healthy newcomers to the table. If your kids like green beans, great, but don’t start serving green beans with every meal just because you know those are the only veggies they’ll eat. Keep it varied and fun, and your kid’s palate will follow. You shouldn’t force your kid to eat food they don’t want to eat, but you shouldn’t cater too closely to their fussy habits either. Present them with a wide variety of the healthy options you want them to eat, and let them discover the joys of taste and texture as they grow.
BRINGING SMILES TO SOUTHINGTON
... ONE PATIENT AT A TIME
We LOVE hearing from happy patients. We could tell you some of their stories, but we think our patients say it best. Here are a few of the things they’ve said about their time at Team Demas. “Dr. Demas took over my case from another orthodontist, and I could not be happier with my new smile. He was able to fix mistakes that had been made by the previous orthodontist, and I truly feel that my teeth are better than they were originally. Everyone in the office is wonderful and makes you feel welcome and comfortable. I highly recommend Team Demas!” —Heather “My son had an accident in February. He broke the alveolar ridge (his skull) that holds his front teeth in place. This all happened right after he had his braces removed. Unfortunately, his bone had to be set at Yale on an emergency basis, and all his teeth shifted. Today, he had braces put back on to move his teeth back. I just wanted to thank Team Demas Orthodontics for doing such a great job! They have a beautiful office in Southington, and they were so professional and welcoming. They made a horrible situation a great experience for us. If anyone is looking for an orthodontist, this is the place to go!” —Melissa
"Team Demas! We absolutely love coming to this office in Southington. The girls are amazing, and it’s all laughs and always super friendly. It’s more like a visit than a doctor’s appointment. We couldn’t be any happier choosing Team Demas for an orthodontist office and would highly recommend Team Demas to anyone looking for the perfect smile!" —Lisa Heather, Melissa, and Lisa, we can’t thank YOU enough for sharing these kind words about us. Thank you for taking the time to leave reviews. We’re so happy we helped bring more smiles to Southington!
MORE FRUITS AND VEGGIES, PLEASE
3 STRATEGIES FOR HEALTHY EATING
Could eating more fruits, veggies, and whole grains while limiting meat, cheese, and processed foods be the key to good health? This is the premise of the Netflix documentary “Forks Over Knives,” and there’s plenty of research to support the benefits of a diet rich in whole foods. You probably already know this, but if you’re still hesitant to make a change or are feeling overwhelmed about where to start, here are a few strategies and tools to help kickstart your journey to healthy eating. LEARN TO RECOGNIZE WHOLE FOODS First, learn to recognize and stick to whole foods, which are not heavily processed and are either less refined or unrefined. A general rule of thumb is that if you find it in the produce section — greens, potatoes, fruits, etc. — it gets the green light. Many bulk foods like beans, lentils, rice, quinoa, nuts, and seeds are also great additions to a whole foods menu. FIND RECIPES THAT EXCITE YOU What holds many people up when it comes to eating healthier is the idea that healthy food doesn’t taste good. This myth gets busted when you take a look at any plant-based food blog or Instagram feed — the color, texture, and variety of the foods is clear to see. You can find plenty of tasty plant-based ingredients and recipes at forksoverknives.com. My New Roots (mynewroots.org) is a blog run by a certified holistic nutritionist that has many crave-worthy plant-based recipes. Search
around a bit on the internet and at bookstores to find recipes that look good and align with your intentions.
PLAN A DAY EACHWEEK FOR FOOD PREP. This might be one of the most important strategies for keeping your healthy intentions. Having delicious meals and snacks on hand that you can eat during busy days will help you stay on track and prevent you from succumbing to a Happy Meal at the first sign of hunger. Plan for 4–5 meals a week that can be used for lunch and dinner, with an additional grab-and- go option for breakfast. Make a shopping list and plan to spend the day assembling and preparing as many of your meals as you can to start your week off on a healthy note. Remember, eating healthy isn’t the enemy of eating well. A healthy diet doesn’t have to be hard, either, and it will become easier the more you practice it. What are you waiting for?
A N D Y O U C O U L D W I N REFER A FRIEND A VACATION GIVEAWAY TO
TIRAMISU
INGREDIENTS
Inspired by foodnetwork.com
• • •
2 teaspoons dark rum
• • • •
6 egg yolks
24 packaged ladyfingers
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish
1 pound mascarpone cheese
1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large mixing bowl, use a whisk to beat together egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. 2. Add mascarpone cheese and beat until smooth. 3. Fold in 1 tablespoon of espresso. 4. In a small, shallow dish, combine remaining espresso with rum. Dip each ladyfinger into mixture for 5 seconds. Place soaked ladyfingers at the bottom of a walled baking dish. 5. Spread half of the mascarpone mixture on top of the first layer of ladyfingers. Top with another layer of ladyfingers and another layer of mascarpone. 6. Cover and refrigerate 2–8 hours. 7. Remove from fridge, sprinkle with chocolate shavings, and serve.
Si mply r efe r a p a t ie nt to our o ffice to e nt e r to WIN! The mor e r efe rr a ls you s e n d t he mor e cha n ce s to WIN!
(Contest runs June 21, 2018 thru June 21, 2019)
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WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CHOCOLATE FUN FACTS TO WOW YOUR LOVED ONES THIS VALENTINE’S DAY
German chocolate actually has nothing to do with the country of Germany, either. It used to be called “German’s chocolate,” named after its inventor, Sam German, an American who made sweet chocolate for baking. Adding sugar to the chocolate made it a go-to option for bakers around the world, and the base for German chocolate cake was born. For chocolate to be classified as Swiss, it has to be made in Switzerland, as chocolate-making is considered an art form in the country. Known for its “melt in your mouth” quality, Swiss chocolate uses condensed milk to add a velvety texture. Many chocolate makers outside of Switzerland will refer to their interpretations of Swiss chocolate as milk chocolate instead.
Chocolate is a treat savored by people all over the world. What we know as the sweet, creamy decadence that sustains Valentine’s Day actually has greater historical and cultural significance. Fermented chocolate drinks have been dated back to as early as 350 B.C. The Aztecs believed it was the beverage of wisdom, and the Mayans saw it as something to be worshipped. While the history of chocolate is as rich as its flavor, there are some common misconceptions about the treat. Dutch chocolate doesn’t necessarily refer to chocolate made in the Netherlands; the name refers to a specific chocolate-making process that uses the cocoa press. Before Dutch chemist and chocolate-maker C.J. van Houten invented the machine in 1828, chocolate was only used in beverages. Dutch chocolate is chocolate that has modified with an alkalizing agent in order to produce a milder flavor, making it a fantastic option for use in baked goods, candy, and ice cream.
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