Jodi's Backyard Bootcamp 993-3374

A sneak peek at the upcoming Health & Wellness Fair, AV Hospital's upcoming upgrade, An inside look at the new "Super Nutrient" and working out with your best friend!

Work Out with Fido
Jodi's Backyard Bootcamp recently announced that the next session of "Doggy Bootcamp" will begin in March. Featuring a "Yappy Hour Workout," "Dog Gone It Circuits" and fun '80s moves like "The Hydrant," this is the perfect opportunity to get active while bonding with your pet; 993-3374 www.jodisbackyardbootcamp.com

Antelope Valley Hospital to Upgrade Catheterization Lab
Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) has begun expanding and updating its Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab) to meet the needs of the local community. Two new state-of-the-art Cath Lab suites will contain all-digital cardiovascular imaging systems, doubling the number of complex procedures performed, while greatly reducing wait times during emergencies. These systems assist skilled medical teams as they diagnose and treat life-threatening strokes, cardiovascular and trauma cases, hemorrhages, blood clots and much more. The new suites will be designed to function as hybrid operating rooms for insertion of pacemakers, defibrillators and other devices. Adding this equipment and expanding the Cath Lab suite will respond to the urgent, around-the-clock needs of the ever-growing community.

To help fund the expansion, the AVH Foundation is hosting an elegant gala on March 12 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum. Gala tickets include free museum tours from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., a sunset reception and silent auction near the Berlin Wall and South Lawn at 5:30 p.m., plus elegant dining, an exciting live auction, program and dancing to a live band. Tickets and auction donation opportunities are still available. (Views and opinions expressed by Antelope Valley Hospital are not necessarily shared by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation.); 949-5810 www.avhospital.org/events

Vitamin D3 is the Super Nutrient
Vitamin D is one of the few nutrients that the body needs that is not found in many foods. The best natural sources of it are found in fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, cod and tuna. In a serving of these fish you will get about 200 IU of vitamin D. However, the RDA recommends 1,000 IU to 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily to prevent deficiency and rickets.

In our diets we find fortified vitamin D2 mostly in dairy products. Vitamin D2 does not function in the same way as vitamin D3 does, though. Vitamin D3 can be three times as effective as D2; it will raise and maintain your blood levels better.

The body was designed to manufacture a sufficient amount of vitamin D simply by skin exposure to sunlight. Sadly, we as a nation do not spend much time in sunlight and, when we do, our skin is usually covered. This is why we are seeing such a problem with low levels of vitamin D and increases in some diseases.
The best thing to do is have a blood test for your 25-hydroxyvitamin D to see where your levels are. If low, then 3,000 IU to 5,000 IU can be taken daily for eight to 12 weeks. Then be re-tested every three months until you get into normal range.

Vitamin D is vital for immunity; we see populations that have high sunlight exposure have stronger immune function than those with restricted sunlight. Vitamin D3 receptors are known to exist on most immune cells and play a role in maintaining healthy immune cell function. It also plays a role in the cells of the breasts, lungs, colon, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bladder, prostate, female organs, and kidneys. Bone strength is also affected by vitamin D3; it is essential for healthy calcium metabolism. Vitamin D supports healthy mood, mental function and it can help with high blood pressure. High levels of end-chain vitamin D3 were associated with nerve and myelin health in a study of 7 million published in JANA in 2006.

As you can see, vitamin D3 is a super hero. One of my favorite sites on vitamin D info is www.grassrootshealth.net; check it out for yourself. If you have any questions about vitamin D3 - or anything else - give us a call. One thing we focus on here is education; we love to share it!
Kim Wahl of the Valencia Wellness Center, located with the Valencia Pharmacy & Medical Equipment.

Visit a Good Neighbor Pharmacy
Saugus Drugs & Hallmark(with Postal Center)
27641 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus
296-3980 www.saugusdrugs.com

Valencia Pharmacy, Valencia Medical Equipment and Valencia Wellness Center
23550 Lyons Avenue, Newhall
255-7910 www.valenciarx.com

Valencia Town Center Pharmacy
26357 McBean Parkway, Valencia; 291-1800
www.valenciatowncenterpharmacy.com

Saturday, February 26
SCV Chamber of Commerce Hosts Health & Wellness Fair
Held at the College of the Canyons Student Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., this free fair is open to the family. Title sponsored by Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, the event will include nearly 100 health and wellness exhibitors. Nearly all forms of health screening will be available; free screenings include cholesterol screening; glucose screening; blood pressure screening; pulse/oxygen screening; balance screening; and hearing screenings. Education to the public will be available through Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and will include stroke education, tobacco cessation, breast cancer awareness education and diabetes information. Chair massages and the blood mobile will also be available; 702-6977

Visit over 100 exhibitors at the Health & Wellness Fair, including


Announcing Northeast Valley Health Corporation's Newest Facility
The Santa Clarita Health Center Provides Health Services to the Uninsured
Northeast Valley Health Corporation's newest facility, the Santa Clarita Health Center, has provided over 1,022 patient visits since opening last summer. NEVHC is a nonprofit, federally-qualified health center (FQHC) that provides comprehensive health services to the uninsured and residents of our communities. Services include dental, pharmacy, radiology, women's health and prenatal services, pediatric services, immunizations, case management and behavioral health. In addition, the WIC Supplemental Nutrition program is offered. As additional funding is identified, more programs and services will be added. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday; 705-2040

PinPointe™ Foot Laser Helps You get Ready for Summer
An estimated 23 million people in the United States struggle with onychomycosis, commonly known as toenail fungus. Once fungus gets under a toenail, it's difficult to treat. Topical treatments don't always work and oral medications carry a risk of side effects and can be hard on the body. Now there is a revolutionary laser treatment available at The Foot Care Center of Santa Clarita that is fast becoming the industry standard. For the first time, there is a solution to toenail fungus that does not require expensive medication or ointments, and there are no known side effects. This laser treatment has helped thousands of patients with great success. This amazing procedure can cure nail fungus with only one laser treatment. It doesn't hurt and anesthesia is never needed. Shoes and nail polish can be worn immediately after treatment; 253-3668

Don't Miss "Aging with Power" with Myles McNamara of Comfort Keepers
Tune into KHTS 1220AM on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. for "Aging with Power," hosted by Myles McNamara of Comfort Keepers.

March 1 The SCV Senior Center: A Community within a Community Jim Morgan from the Santa Clarita Senior Center will talk about the upcoming changes to the Senior Center that are planned for 2011, as well as some of the existing programs and services that are offered.

March 8 Money Matters: Making Sense of Your Medical Bills Linda Woolf of Woolf Management Services will help you through the daunting task of sorting through medical bills and insurance explanation benefits.

Comfort Keepers is a premier provider of in-home care, allowing seniors to remain comfortably and safely in their own home. They help with bathing/showering, Alzheimer's/Dementia care, medication reminders, transportation, meal preparation and much more. All caregivers are criminally background searched, are W-2 employees covered by Worker's Compensation, liability insurance, and bonded. Comfort Keepers is owned and operated by Myles McNamara, a certified senior advisor. The company is a silver sponsor of the SCV Chamber of Commerce Health & Wellness Fair; 287-4200