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Monthly Archives: October 2016

#MCM Dr. Do Good

17 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by Coco Eco in Celebrity, Thrive

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#mcm, @doctor.mike, Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, Instagram, The Limitless Tomorrow Foundation

doctormike-2-webBy Star Noor, Features Editor

Hunky doctors with a great smile and a lovely disposition is well, the stuff dreams are made of for most of us gals, so it’s no wonder that when Dr. Mikhail Varshavski D.O. (aka Dr. Mike) started his Instagram account, we paid attention. His social media fame has brought him media attention, but it is his winning spirit and giving nature that has many of us wanting to know more.

He is tall, dark, and handsome – that is already established, but more importantly he is using his new found fame and skilled mind to do good for the rest of the human community, by volunteering his time and starting a foundation that helps people reach their goals and dreams as well. As the old adage goes, teaching a person to fish is after-all the greatest gift we can give to each other – time, skill, and belief are the ultimate forms of love bestowed upon others. Dr. Mike has no problem offering that to others as is evident both in his social media outreach and in his latest venture, The Limitless Tomorrow Foundation.

dr-mike-1For him, being a doctor was like being in the family business. He explains, “My family and I immigrated to the states when I was just 6 years old. My father was a physician back in Russia but in coming to America he had to start medical training from scratch and in a foreign language to boot. I watched him work his way through medical school and residency, an incredibly difficult feat for someone in their 40’s. Because of this I was exposed to medicine at an early age. I witnessed how he interacted with his patients. They were more than patients. They came to him for health advice, life advice, and even love advice at times. I grew enamored with the thought that I can go into a career where I didn’t have clients but instead had friends, friends who trust me with their lives and the lives of their loved ones.”

This way of thinking is indicative in all that Dr. Mike does. His life philosophy is a simple and noble notion as he states; “Know thyself.” In any endeavor that you set out upon the first step will always be to be able to understand who you are. You must know your strengths, your limitations, your likes and your dislikes.  I see people in horrible jobs or in horrible relationships all the time and it’s not because they aren’t smart, it’s because they forgot to know who they are as individuals first. There are so many people out there chasing dreams that aren’t their own. You have to step outside your comfort zone, explore the world around you, and only then can you have some sense about who you are and where you should be going. “

In knowing himself, he is a humble man who in regards to his popularity has this to say, “I’m still in awe of the term “Instagram-Fame”. I don’t understand how it came about that I am now recognizable on the street in countries all around the world. I’m so grateful for all the doors it has opened in my career. I’ve always been incredibly passionate about helping others and educating on medical topics. Now instead of teaching one patient in my office I’m able to reach over 2 million people right at home. I am a realist and understand that most follow me because they find me attractive. I don’t shy away from that kind of attention. I think that if I can catch a young girl’s attention with my looks and in the process convince her to come in for her cancer screening or teach her something about her health, my mission as a doctor has been accomplished. Being popular on social media allows an individual great amount of influence, and I intend on using mine to make everyone in the world healthier and excited about staying that way. ”

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Helping the world be healthier is a multi-faceted ordeal as being happy, as many of us have found, is directly correlated to being and staying healthy. As such, Dr. Mike and The Limitless Tomorrow Foundation are in fact helping people realize themselves and live happy, healthy lives, by making the playing ground a bit more leveled for those who might otherwise fall through the cracks despite their dreams, skills, and tireless efforts. “Ever since I gained my popularity on social media I’ve been trying to find a way to use my influence for the greater good. I looked at my own situation and saw a loophole in our system. I was always one of the top 20 or so students in my classes, I was involved in many extracurricular projects, but it was always the top 5 students who got the scholarships. I thought that was ludicrous. I do not believe that grades are the sole aspect that students should be based on when distributing scholarships. As a physician I treat my patients as a whole, so why wouldn’t I treat students the same? Now my foundation can gift scholarships and funding based on the whole student and not just their grades. The future world leaders will need to be well-rounded and that’s precisely the type of applicants we are looking for. We want to give money to those who have a great vision for the world ahead of them.”

He believes that education is the greatest obstacle of our time. He explains, “So many of our worldly conflicts are due to misunderstandings and poor communication. Education is lacking throughout the world. Most importantly the education of common sense. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredibly important to have kids learn the basics in the classic subjects (language, mathematics, sciences, etc.). But we often overlook the importance of teaching children how to think on their own. We give them the knowledge that 2+2=4 but never teach them how to question that 2+2=5.”

The awe-inspiring physician assures that unlike many others, he did not set out to become web-famous. “I started sharing my journey throughout medical school in the hopes of showing all the naysayers out there that it is possible to get a great medical education, while having fun at the same time. I always made sure my studies came first, but I never slacked off on my fitness or social activities. This shocked many. People thought I was just a model pretending to be a doctor on social media. I put myself out there to break that stigma that you do NOT have to give up your life to practice medicine.”

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When he’s not busy taking care of others, as his Instagram also indicates, he enjoys tennis and competitive training, and he loves to spend time with his dog Roxy. “Roxy, my husky holds a special place in my heart. My father and I had a terrible loss several years ago of my mother, and we were in a very negative place. With both of us being physicians it was hard to lose someone so close in our lives, especially so early in her life. My father and I needed a positive outlet. I decided that I would fulfill my father’s childhood dream of getting a husky. I still remember the tears rolling down his face when I brought her home as a puppy. Since Roxy came into our lives, we have had something to look forward to every evening coming home from work. She means everything to us and I really do believe she carries my mom’s spirit within her.”

What else can be said after that? Our hats off to you, Mikhail.

Images: Instagram – Dr. Mikhail Varshavski/@doctor.mike

 

 

Bust That Cold

14 Friday Oct 2016

Posted by Coco Eco in Thrive

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Apple Cider Vinegar, CAYENNE PEPPER, FLU SEASON, GINGER, GREEK YOGURT, GREEN SMOOTHIE, HEALTH & WELLNESS, NATURAL REMEDIES, ORANGES, Organic, Pineapple, SPINACH, TURMERIC

By Anna Griffin, Editor in Chief

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October 1st came and with it a noticeable difference in weather here in Southern California. Along with the drop in temperature and the warm autumn breeze, the changing season reminds us that we are entering cold and flu season. How to best get a jump on the inevitable influenza and virus’ pervading our daily lives? By building our immune systems and utilizing nature’s most powerful remedies, incorporating them into our daily diet.

You don’t have to have a smoothie everyday – there are plenty of ways to incorporate ingredients such as turmeric and apple cider vinegar into other meals – but I find starting my day by fueling my body with exactly what it needs sets a great habit that I can maintain no matter what life throws at me.

As with maintaining a good physical routine, a good diet is essential to long-term wellness. By starting a daily commitment that naturally becomes habitual, we set ourselves up for success, and ultimately great health.

In selecting the best infection-busting ingredients, this smoothie incorporates vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties, on a base of rich greens. I include either spinach or kale into every smoothie I make, and for this one I choose spinach as the foundation.

Ingredients:

Spinach

Spinach has an extremely high nutritional value and is rich in antioxidants. It is a good source of vitamins A, B2, C and K, and also contains magnesium, manganese, folate, iron, calcium and potassium.

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On top of this base, I layer in fruits high in Vitamin C:

Oranges

You may already know that oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, but do you know how important both are for good health? Vitamin C is the primary water-soluble antioxidant in the body, disarming free radicals and preventing damage to cells triggering inflammation, associated with reduced severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin C is vital for the proper function of a healthy immune system, good for preventing colds and helpful in preventing recurrent ear infections.

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Pineapples

Pineapples are a storehouse of huge health benefits due to their wealth of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, including potassium, bromaline, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, beta carotene, thiamin, B6, and folate, as well as soluble and insoluble fiber. Health benefits include improving respiratory health, aiding in the cure of coughs and colds, improving digestion, weight loss, bone strengthening, boosting oral and eye health, reducing inflammation, preventing cancer, increasing heart health, fighting off infections and parasites, improving the immune system, and increasing circulation.

Healthful, everyday staples in fighting inflammation and boosting the immune system are vital. Natural ingredients that challenge chronic inflammation are of importance in preventing diseases, from the common cold to cancer.

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Tumeric

Turmeric is a root herb related to ginger, known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Rich in vitamin B6, C, and minerals such as iron, calcium and potassium, a few grams of turmeric a day can provide enough nutrients to help you keep away from anemia, neuritis, memory disorders and offer protection against cancers, infectious diseases, high blood pressure, and strokes.

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Ginger

Ginger is closely related to turmeric and cardomon and has a long history of being used to help digestion, reduce nausea and morning sickness, and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few. A natural anti-inflammatory, its benefits include easing muscle pain and soreness, helping with osteoarthritis, gingivitis and periodontitis, and lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The active ingredient in ginger is gingerol, a bioactive substance that helps lower the risk of infections.

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Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne peppers are a health-benefiting spice item packed with minerals, vitamins and certain phyto-nutrients. Disease preventing and health promoting, full of vitamins A, C, B6, and minerals such as iron and potassium, cayenne boosts immunity, scavenges harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body, and contains anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties.

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Apple Cider Vinegar

A daily teaspoon of organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains proteins, friendly bacteria, and enzymes, making it a powerful tool in killing many different bacteria’s including upper respiratory infections. It also contributes to lowering blood sugars and fighting diabetes, aiding in weight loss and fat flushing, and lowers cholesterol thereby reducing risk of heart disease. Additionally, it helps in soothing sore muscles, boosts energy and strengthens the immune system.

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Greek Yoghurt

Greek yogurt is packed with probiotics. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that can help boost your immune system and decrease stomach issues, such as diarrhea and pain. Another benefit of Greek yogurt is that it’s high in calcium, key to building strong muscles and helping your vital organs function.

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When shopping for ingredients, always choose organic particularly the fruits and vegetables, which can be laden with nasty pesticides, thus undoing all your good work and the benefits to your body.

Cold-Busting Smoothie Recipe:

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 2 cups fresh spinach

1/2 cup coconut water, unsweetened (or regular water)

½ cup orange juice

1 cup pineapple

1 orange, peeled

½ tspn of ground turmeric powder

2 tspns of apple cider vinegar

1 tbspn of Greek yoghurt

1 pinch of cayenne pepper

Note: This smoothie contains the ultimate in stay-well ingredients, but you can modify as you choose. The tang from the apple cider vinegar and taste of the spices is soothed by the creaminess of the Greek yoghurt. You can add more to suit your taste if desired.

Directions:

  1. Blend spinach, coconut water and orange juice until smooth.
  2. Add remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth.
  3. Enjoy, and go out into the world feeling boosted and well!

 

 

 

#MCM The Truth Sayer

03 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by Coco Eco in Celebrity, Culture

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BEN SWANN, EDWARD R MURROW AWARD, TRUTH IN MEDIA

ben-swann

By Star Noor, Features Editor

Truth in media. A simple concept. One that we have long been led to believe is not only our Constitutional right in the United States, but an inherent truth about how our media organizations behave. But as reality would have it, truth is relative and trust is an illusion, and we are told that this is simply what we must accept.

In the media today, we have more entertainment than truth. Gone are the days of John Peter Zenger, Martha Gellhorn, Hunter S. Thompson, and Woodward and Bernstein. Journalism is no longer glorified as it once was, and is now more about sensationalism than the hard facts of the human condition. But as any good journalist or observer of whole knows, what is broken can be fixed. And there are many out there, willing to put their lives on the line to care. Willing to struggle, walk the unbeaten path, go against the grain – there are still good, decent men and women out there willing to fight for the public’s right to know the TRUTH.

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Ben Swann is one of these fearless and well-informed journalists who is going above and beyond with his outlet Truth in Media. Originally starting his career as a photojournalist in El Paso, Texas, he quickly moved to anchor and has during the course of his career, become a two-time Emmy Award journalist and the two-time recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award. He has challenged every topic in which he’s realized the truth was not being told by mainstream media including the “War on Drugs”, the Mexican drug war, the American electoral process, “the strangehold of the American two-party system and the suppression of voter’s choices by mainstream media.” He is the first journalist to confront President Obama about the Constitutionality of his “kill list” (which is not just a political myth), and is the only journalist to “confront Mitt Romney about the railroading of duly elected delegates during the 2012 Republican National Convention.”

Because of his fearless approach, Ben was able to move into creating his own independent platform and is now at the helm of the Truth in Media project, launched in June 2016. Through a crowdfunding startup process, Ben has been able to tackle such important and controversial issues as, “the truth behind Cannabis and CBD oil, safety of vaccines, the Root of Militarization of Police, and the Origins of ISIS.” He is arguably the most well received, successful, thoughtful, and respected independent journalist on the beat today, with Truth In Media’s mission statement reading, “The Truth in Media Project speaks truth to power. We are the source for breaking news, political analysis and topics the mainstream media refuses to cover.”

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In his Truth campaigns, Ben raises narrative worth discussing, and pulls no punches questioning the mainstream media’s lack of discussion in these areas in the process. He is brilliant in his address and informative to those willing to let the wool down from their eyes.

In lieu of yesterday’s “mass shooting, in the Cascade Mall in Washington, we should take time to wonder what this recurring and considerably modern phenomenon is and why despite eye witness testimony that events like the Sandy Hook Tragedy or the Colorado Theater Shooting were not a lone gunmen commitment, do we never hear about the possibility of this theory in the networks, nor is our law-enforcement compelled to provide evidence laying to rest such disturbing theory in the first place.”

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As Ben so boldly stated, “There is a good reason to question this narrative because there has been no evidence, no evidence provided by police, other than what they’ve told us, that there is only one shooter here. There’s an easy way to prove it. Police have not yet released the surveillance video outside the theater in Colorado, show the surveillance video, proving it was one person. Just as they have not released the video in the Sandy Hook Shooting, again, the video proving that there was only one person. You see, these questions are worth asking law enforcement until they provide evidence otherwise.” A statement that tragically rings true again, and for which he was thoroughly smeared for by his colleagues in the mainstream media machine.

maxresdefaultWe must ask ourselves, when did asking too many questions become a journalistic taboo; and when did journalists who dare ask the hard hitting questions become such liability that all independent journalists are now deemed unprofessional, untrustworthy, and possibly labeled as criminals? When did our First Amendment rights become a luxury in this country, censored and dumbed down by a system that was supposed to protect it? Is not the first and foremost job of the Federal Government to protect the Constitution of the United States of America, including the FIRST AMENDEMENT? We must ask these questions and keep asking them until we are given evidence to the contrary, as Ben so boldly and rightfully suggests.

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For his hard-hitting, thought provoking, unapologetic and truthful journalistic approach, we commend Ben Swann. Keep fighting the good fight and pulling no punches. The world needs it.

IMAGES COURTESY TRUTH IN MEDIA

 

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