Well Being

The health and well being of our members is very important to us and, as such, we strive to be an informational resource for our members and the entire dental family.  By providing helpful articles and supporting the ADA’s Health and Wellness programs, we aim to help our members to become proactive in their own health and well being.

When you are a member of the AADA, you belong to our family. Let us help you to enrich the life of you and your family.

WELLNESS MATTERS

    from Mary Ellen Psaltis, BPH

             Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant

MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS

Last year I went on my first dental mission to Mexico. I was able to work knee to knee with my pediatric dentist husband. It had been years since I had done any assisting, and I was amazed and delighted to watch blackened, deteriorated permanent molars transform into whole teeth again. These were teeth that are intended to last the children the rest of their lives.

 As soon as we got home I was already looking forward to returning the following November. After all, now I owned my own scrubs. About three weeks before we were scheduled to depart to Zihuatanejo, we received an email from the dentist with whom we work with down there. She was pulling the plug on the project this year, because she had information that she felt threatened our safety. Word had it that downtown businesses were being extorted by a drug cartel. Pay up or move out. She herself had not been threatened, but she was worried for us and for her own future. We became concerned as well and thought we should change our plans. 

Of course, at this late date we had already paid for flight and accommodations. We contacted the owner of the condo where we had planned to stay (in neighboring Ixtapa). Not only would he not refund any of our money, he said he was leaving to go down in a few days. Also, he said he was in contact with many owners at the condominium and he had heard absolutely nothing of any problem. He suggested we come anyway for a vacation. 

We decided we needed a little more information to help us with our decision. We contacted a friend who lives in Ixtapa. I talked with him on the phone for a half hour about life in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. Yes, there had been some trouble. It had involved the drug business. It had not involved other nationals or tourists. Without going into every detail, I felt confident that coming down was a reasonable idea. Our friend did recommend not walking around the outskirts of town at 2 a.m. or waltzing around in expensive jewelry. He suggested not buying drugs. This is good advice no matter where you are! 

How has the trip been? Sunny, lovely and quiet. There are few visitors from the US or Canada but quite a few from around Mexico. We have spoken with taxi drivers, restaurant owners and other business people and have found that it is pretty much business as usual. We also spoke with the dentist. She said, in fact, that the government sent in help and that things were again peaceful. 

A view from our condo on the 11th floor of the Bay View Grande in Ixtapa

What does all this have to do with well-being? For me, it’s about making my choices based not on fear but on as real information as I can obtain.  You already know you cannot believe everything you read on the internet or in the newspaper or hear on the news.

Finally, I find I do the best when I am living as close to the source as possible. This can take on many meanings. For the trip to Mexico, it meant getting information from those as close to the situations as possible. When it comes to eating,

I like to eat food that is still recognizable from its source. For me it is better to eat an apple from Washington (where I live) than applesauce in a jar from across the country. And there is a spiritual element, too, living close to the source, but that’s another story. 

                                                                             A stack of fresh, grilled vegetables drizzled

                                                                             with balsamic vinegar and olive oil crowned

                                                                            with goat cheese from La Gula in Zihuatanejo   

Have your own well-being idea for story? Send me a line.

You  may reach Mary Ellen Psaltis, AADA Well Being Chair, at TheRecipeWriter@hotmail.com.