What's in your mind?

More than ever, people are looking to maintain a healthy mind through botanicals and nutraceuticals.By Dr. Martha Gonzalez-Gaitan, MD/Pediatrics/Anti-aging/Anti-inflammation
Sep 10, 2010 10:09 AM • Topic: Science • Issue: 2010-09

Most people have general expectations associated with aging. As our parents age, those expectations become confirmed and our basic assumption that “something will go wrong” comes true.
It is a fact that the process of normal aging contributes to the decline in several bodily systems and organs. One organ that is in focus now more than ever, at any age, is the brain. While aging is inevitable, there is a way to stay healthier, stronger and vital longer.
Recent research shows that cognitive health is on a decline due to aging, but the research also suggest that our lifestyle, nutrition, stress and imbalances in the body also contribute to this decline at any age. Cognitive dysfunction seems to be occurring with increasing frequency earlier in life. Whether this is due to normal aging, or dementia associated with Alzheimer’s, or a general bad health in the whole body, statistics undoubtedly point to the significant increase at which this will be occurring at an earlier age...

According to World Alzheimer’s Report, released by Alzheimer’s Disease International, 35.6 million people worldwide are living with some form of dementia. By the way, population for the State of California: 36 million. This is expected to double by 2030, to 65.7 million people.
Of these, 5.3 million live in the USA. Alarming? Of this number the vast majority are over 65. However, half a million peoplein the USA are UNDER 65 and suffer from dementia. San
Diego population 1.2 million. Children can’t process information and learn as effectively, ADD, HADD, confusion, lack of concentration, adolescents are dealing with depression/anxiety and attention deficit, young adults in their 20s and 30s are tired and losing vitality, depressed and anxious, adults in the 40s, memory loss and + 50s, dementia, lethargy, memory loss, lack of concentration, severe depression, insomnia, anxiety etc..

While everyone should seek out a professional medical evaluation before seeking any form of alternative supplementation, especially in the presence of illness, people are looking to find alternatives that are inexpensive and effective at preventing any disease. Lately, everyone has Brain Health on their mind. The trend highlights the highest demand ever for nutritional ingredients that have been studied and are found to have cognitive support properties. Thousands of independent research shows over and over again that certain properties of botanical effectively support brain health. Of these botanical, specific mechanisms within include antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects, improved circulation to brain tissues and neural regenerative effects, which support the integrity of brain cells. These a few of the top performers:
Resveritrol: Resveratrol is a flavonoid found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine. Natural sources of flavonoids are grape extract, red wine, flowers, teas, trees shrubs, apples, berries, citrus fruits, onions, pomegranate and green leafy spices. According to studies by the Salk Institute demonstrated that in order to obtain neuroprotective effects, one should consume about 50-150mg/day. This means that one would have to consume, daily, 10-30 apples, 200 to 400 onions, or 300 to 500 strawberries. The typical diet worldwide consists of maybe 1 fruit and 1 vegetable per day.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and the wells studied compound curcumin are renowned for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that support overall health and wellness. Recent studies suggest that this "miracle plant", (spice in powder form) also promotes learning and memory abilities. Other research suggests that curcumin’s ability to support the function of brain insulin receptors, which in some people with dementia, is found to be defective. You may need to consume about half a pound of the yellow powder daily.
Pharmaceutical Grade DHA/Omega 3: Current independent research significantly shows that Omega 3 may improve memory and learning in older adults, with a huge range of benefits that include anti-aging, weight loss and anti-inflammatory properties. The recommended dose varies significantly based on many factors, but it ranges from 250 mg to up to 10 grams per day.
Consult your health care professional for a complete evaluation. In the majority of cases, most people can’t either afford or digest the huge amounts of fruits, vegetables, spices, botanicals or herbs that it would take to significantly impact general health, much less cognitive health, so from a practical perspective, investing in the potential of natural neutraceutical products and their active, pure and concentrated compounds to optimize quality of life is a worthy cause, one that is finally gaining it’s well deserved recognition among health professionals all over the world.
By the way… where’s my car keys?
Martha Gonzalez Gaitan is a Medical Doctor who practices and resides with her family in Tijuana, Mexico. Her passion is helping people live stronger, healthier, beautiful and fulfilled lives. She enjoys sharing her education through personal con- sultation in Tijuana and educational seminars in the US and Mexico. References for this article are available upon request.
Contact her at:
USA 619-646-9420 or www.saludinc.net
Mention Frontier Doctors and receive a 20% discount on consultation fee.

So what is Dia de Los Muertos anyway?

Oct 27, 2010 4:35 PM • Topic: Culture • Issue: 2010-10

Dia de Los Muertos is not just another spooky, get the sheets out, rip the two holes and say “boo!” kind of holiday, this is very serious stuff to us Latinos, and yes it is a “Holy Day”, let me explain.
Halloween is not what is celebrated by the the ancient peoples of South and Central America in old rituals. Our day is Dia De Los Muertos or The Day of The Dead. The ritual, Dia De Los Muertos, dates back thousands of years and has since been adapted by the Catholic Church and celebrated in almost every South and Central American Countries. Skulls are prominently used to celebrate and honor the dead.
Dia de Los Muertos, like the day of the hollowed eve to the Celtic, or Feralia to the Roman it has its roots in the belief that the dead continuing to live in another plain. It also adopts the belief that during a certain times of the year communication is more favorable between the living and the dead.
More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they met with Aztecs who practiced a ritual that seemed to mock the death. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years back. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate. This ritual known today as Día De los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This was a celebration to honor and celebrate the family members who has passed onto the other side of existence.

Today, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in certain parts of the United States and Central America. People wear wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. These wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend.
In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate grave sites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to grave sites and eat the favorite food of their beloved. Laughing, joking and sometime crying, friends and family gather to say “I love and miss you” one more time and reminisce.
As time has gone by and commercialism has set in, this day now marks the evening of fun, costume and yes… tricks and treats. For Tijuana, since the beginning has been characterized for being a very peculiar city and with its proximity to the boarder, the trans-cultural acceptance of something between Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos is inevitable.  During the first half of the 20th century, communication with the Capital was very difficult, so Tijuana met its needs through its relationship with the United States. There a kind of union emerged. In spite of the economic, political, and social changes and differences that were once and have risen now and again between the two towns and two countries, there is unique kind of brotherhood that has been created in both San Diego and Tijuana.  An example of this is that now, here in Tijuana, we follow many of the Anglo-American festivities, including Halloween, or “night of witches” as we call it.  We plan the day and its activities around the children and their costumes. In October, we share about the shopping centers scenes in San Diego, the upcoming scary movies and most especially about the costumes we will buy and wear. Trans-cultural ”ism” is a reality that cannot be ignored.  It is a celebration and in the purest form, a demonstration that two countries, of two apparently different races and ways of thinking, can be united by a few regional customs. With or without the “boo!”.

What should I eat?

By By Dr. Martha Gonzalez, MD/Pediatrics/Anti-aging/ Anti-inflammation, Complementary Medicine.
Oct 27, 2010 4:23 PM • Topic: Health • Issue: 2010-10

what should I eat?

It’s overwhelming…what should I eat? What should I avoid? What is good? What is bad? This is the question we all ask ourselves at some point during the day, but when you have Breast Cancer… it rules your world. The fear of something doing more damage or the hope that something may help is high.
Here is an example: Everyone knows that French Fries are BAD!!! But how bad can they be? Turns out…possibly, really bad. “In a new study, women were more likely to get breast cancer if they had regularly eaten French Fries decades earlier as preschoolers. The report appears in the online edition of the International Journal of Cancer. It's based on the Nurses' Health Study, a long-term health study of a large group of nurses. The study focused on 582 nurses who had breast cancer and more than 1,500 who didn't have breast cancer in 1993. Their mothers were asked how often the nurses had eaten 30 different foods as preschoolers.” Fox News, WebMD, Miranda Hitti.
In this particular study, out of the 30 foods only French Fries were associated with Breast Cancer. “For every extra weekly serving of French Fries that the women reportedly ate as preschoolers, their risk of breast cancer as adults rose 27 percent, write Karin Michels, ScD, PhD, and colleagues.”
Being that I am not up for scandals and would never suggest you stop eating those wickedly delicious potato sticks, you may consider that if there IF are foods out there that help, there are definitely foods out there that damage.
If you were to ask any doctor “what should I eat?” he or she would say to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes/grains, nuts, fish, chicken, turkey, lots of water and maybe an antioxidants green tea, among some others. The problem lies here: most people don’t get more than 1 or maybe 2 servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day, (one serving being ONE CUP) and if you are on a budget, forget about organic fruits or veggies. The other problem is most people don’t consume the variety of foods in a day that is needed to keep the body healthy, much less from getting sick. USDA recommends any adult to consume anywhere between 9 and 13 fruits and veggies servings per day. Here is another dilemma, most people don’t know what foods to enjoy or avoid. Some foods don’t interact well with certain medication, some foods may actually help some medication work better. Either way, if you have Cancer or any other chronic illness, where do you start?
All foods are not equally good if we consider their antioxidant content. Some foods are better than the others. USDA recommends top 20 best sources of food antioxidants as measured by their total antioxidant capacity per serving size.
Here are some suggestions of what to eat:
Best Sources of High Antioxidant Foods
1. Fruits:
Berries (Cherry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, crowberry, blueberry, bilberry/wild blueberry, black currant), pomegranate, grape, orange, plum, pineapple, kiwi fruit, grapefruit.
2. Vegetables
Kale, chili pepper, red cabbage, peppers, parsley, artichoke, Brussels sprouts, spinach, lemon, ginger, red beets, olives.
3. Dry Fruits high in antioxidants
Apricots, prunes, dates.
4. Legumes
Broad beans, pinto beans, soybeans.
5. Nuts and seeds
Pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, ground nut or peanuts, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds.
(Peanuts contain high concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols, roasting boosts its overall antioxidant content by as much as 22 per cent. Roasted peanuts are far richer in antioxidants than apples, beets and carrots and comparable to the antioxidant content of strawberries and blackberries).
6. Cereals
Barley, millet, oats, corn, flax.
7. Spices
Cloves, cinnamon, oregano, turmeric.
Scientists at the USDA have developed a rating scale that measures the antioxidant content of various natural plant foods. The scale is called ORAC, which stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. In other words, how fast does it get into our blood and how much protection for the DNA? Antioxidants such as these help to reduce the damage from free radicals.
Fruits Antioxidant Value: ORAC units per 100 grams
Fruit & Vegetables Antioxidant Value ORAC units per 100 grams
Prunes 5570 Kale 1770 Raisins 2830 Spinach 1260 Blueberries 2400 Brussels sprouts 980 Blackberries 2036 Alfalfa sprouts 930 Strawberries 1540 Broccoli flowers 890 Raspberries 1220 Beets 840 Plums 949 Red bell pepper 710 Oranges 750 Onion 450 Red grapes 739 Corn 400 Cherries 670 Eggplant 390 Kiwi fruit 602    Grapefruit 483
USDA recommends people should eat foods containing at least 3,000 ORAC units a day. As for people with Cancer, studies strongly suggest to double or even triple that amounts. Again, the issue is that most people that are sick can’t eat that much food either because of intolerance or loss of appetite. Then there is the economic factor of purchasing all that food. The other problem, many studies suggest that consuming high amounts of any sugar, whether naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables, or artificially added to foods, can cause cancer cells to reproduce at a faster rate.
So what is the solution? Many experts agree that supplementation along with a balanced diet, should help tremendously. But not all supplements are the alike. An antioxidant is not an antioxidant. What I do I mean, make sure that you are investing your money and time in a supplement that is Pharmaceutical Grade, that has the science to back up the bioavailability and has the mix of other ingredients that actually boost the function of the supplement you are looking for. Example: Turmeric helps decrease inflammation in the body and our cells and it is well known as an antioxidant as well, so if you blend it with an antioxidant Aloe Vera formula, it may actually allow the antioxidants to work at maximum capacity.
Some foods to avoid:
1. Foods containing acrylamide, such as french fries and potato chips.  Acrylamide, a chemical formed when starchy foods are heated, was labeled a probable human carcinogen in 2005.  A list of acrylamide content in various foods can be found at www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/acrylamideintakefdaappendix.pdf.
2.  Grapefruit. It saddens me to list a forbidden fruit, but those trying to lower their risk of breast cancer should moderate their grapefruit consumption.  Women, who consume a quarter of a grapefruit on a daily basis, are 30 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.  Grapefruit interferes with an enzyme in the liver - allowing the gut to reabsorb more of the body's natural estrogen - resulting in a higher level of estrogen in the body.
3.  Trans fats.  As New York City set out to eliminate trans fats from restaurants, and food labels began listing trans fats in 2006, the world became aware that saturated fats alone were not the problem.  For those who think New York went to the extreme, check out a study that has me reading food labels.  The amount of trans fats in a woman's buttocks is directly proportional to her risk for breast cancer.  A word of caution.  As products begin eliminating trans fats, what are they substituting?  Many times, sugars to make the food taste better or some other thing that may not be healthy. Note though that in general, products containing, or that contained, trans fats, should be minimized.
4.  Soda.  While soda alone has not been linked with cancer, it has been shown to increase the risk of obesity - both the regular variety and diet.  Currently obesity is responsible for 20 percent of cancer deaths in women and 14 percent in men.  If that doesn't make that 12-pack less appealing, remember soda is often substituted for other drinks such as water, which lowers the risk of certain cancers, and the cancer-fighting phytochemicals in vegetable and fruit juices.
5.  Processed meats.  Regular consumption of processed meats is associated with cancers of the lung, colon, liver, and esophagus.  Esophageal cancer is the most rapidly growing cancer in the USA.
6.  Fried foods.  And not simply because of the calories and acrylamide.  When oil is heated and reheated, more free radicals are produced.  Most importantly, avoid fried foods when eating out - where restaurants frequently reheat the oil they use, or "top-off" the old oil rather than starting fresh.
7.  Foods containing the preservatives BHT, BHA.  BHT has been shown to cause cancer in animals.  BHA is considered a possible human carcinogen.
8.  Orange peel.  That is - orange peel from non-organic Florida oranges. The food dye citrus red #2, known to cause cancer in animals, is used to make the greenish appearance of Florida oranges resemble the deep orange of California oranges.
9.  Refined sugar.  A high intake of refined sugar, also known as a high glycemic load, is associated with cancer of the breast and upper digestive tract.
10. Smoked and pickled foods.  Both smoked and pickled foods are associated with cancers of the digestive tract.
While we all should keep in mind what we eat and don’t eat while we are healthy, woman with breast cancer specially should take a look at the foods they consume and their past and see what habits need to be eliminated and which habits need to be added. Healthy eating is always a win-win, now more than ever, health professionals worldwide agree that proper supplementation along with a good diet while sick or healthy is a sound investment in our health and our lives. When searching for the right supplement, always ask your doctor what is right for you. Everybody is different and needs a complete evaluation before making drastic changes in their diet.
Martha Gonzalez is a Medical Doctor who practices and resides with her family in Tijuana, Mexico. Her passion is helping people live stronger, healthier, beautiful and fulfilled lives. She enjoys sharing her education through personal consultation in Tijuana and educational seminars in the US and Mexico. References for this article are available upon request. Contact her at: USA 619-646-9420 or www.saludinc.net 

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One Journalist´s View of Mexico

By By Linda Ellerbee
Oct 27, 2010 3:59 PM • Topic: Culture • Issue: 2010-10

Untitled

Sometimes I’ve been called a maverick because I don’t always agree with my colleagues, but then, only dead fish swim with the stream all the time. The stream here is Mexico.
You would have to be living on another planet to avoid hearing how dangerous Mexico has become, and, yes, it´s true drug wars have escalated violence in Mexico, causing collateral damage, a phrase I hate. Collateral damage is a cheap way of saying that innocent people, some of them tourists, have been robbed, hurt or killed.
But that’s not the whole story. Neither is this. This is my story.

I’m a journalist who lives in New York City, but has spent considerable time in Mexico, specifically Puerto Vallarta, for the last four years. I’m in Vallarta now. And despite what I’m getting from the U.S. media, the 24-hour news networks in particular, I feel as safe here as I do at home in New York, possibly safer. I walk the streets of my Vallarta neighborhood alone day or night. And I don’t live in a gated community, or any other All-Gringo neighborhood. I live in Mexico. Among Mexicans. I go where I want –which does not happen to include bars where prostitution and drugs are the basic products–, and take no more precautions than I would at home in New York ; which is to say I don’t wave money around, I don’t act the Ugly American, I do keep my eyes open, I’m aware of my surroundings, and I try not to behave like a fool.
I’ve not always been successful at that last one. One evening a friend left the house I was renting in Vallarta at that time, and, unbeknownst to me, did not slam the automatically-locking door on her way out. Sure enough, less than an hour later a stranger did come into
my house. A burglar? Robber? Kidnapper? Killer? Drug lord?
No, it was a local police officer, the beat cop for our neighborhood, who, on seeing my unlatched door, entered to make sure everything (including me) was okay. He insisted on walking with me around the house, opening closets, looking behind doors and, yes, even under beds, to be certain no one else had wandered in, and that nothing was missing. He was polite, smart and kind, but before he left, he lectured me on having not checked to see that my friend had locked the door behind her. In other words, he told me to use my common sense.
Do bad things happen here? Of course they do. Bad things happen everywhere, but the murder rate here is much lower than, say, New Orleans, and if there are bars on many of the ground floor windows of houses here, well, the same is true where I live, in Greenwich
Village, which is considered a swell neighborhood — house prices start at about $4 million –including the bars on the ground floor windows.
There are good reasons thousands of people from the United States are moving to Mexico every month, and it’s not just the lower cost of living, a hefty tax break and less snow to shovel.. Mexico is a beautiful country, a special place. The climate varies, but is plentifully mild, the culture is ancient and revered, the young are loved unconditionally, the old are respected, and I have yet to hear anyone mention Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, or Madonna´s attempt to adopt a second African child, even though, with such a late start, she cannot possibly begin to keep up with Angelina Jolie.
And then there are the people. Generalization is risky, but— in general — Mexicans are warm, friendly, generous and welcoming. If you smile at them, they smile back. If you greet a passing stranger on the street, they greet you back. If you try to speak even a little Spanish, they tend to treat you as though you were fluent. Or at least not an idiot. I have had taxi drivers track me down after leaving my wallet or cell phone in their cab. I have had someone run out of a store to catch me because I have overpaid by twenty cents. I have been introduced to and come to love a people who celebrate a day dedicated to the dead as a recognition of the cycles of birth and death and birth — and the 15th birthday of a girl, an important rite in becoming a woman — with the same joy.
Too much of the noise you´re hearing about how dangerous it is to come to Mexico is just that — noise. But the media love noise, and too many journalists currently making it don´t live here. Some have never even been here. They just like to be photographed at night, standing near a spotlighted border crossing, pointing across the line to some imaginary country from hell. It looks good on TV.

Another thing. The U.S. media tend to lump all of Mexico into one big bad bowl. Talking about drug violence in Mexico without naming a state or city and the area of that city where this is taking place is rather like looking at the horror of Katrina and saying, damn did you know the entire U.S. is under water? Or reporting on the shootings at Columbine or the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City by saying that kids all over the U.S. are shooting their classmates and all the grownups in the US are blowing up buildings. The recent rise in violence in Mexico has mostly occurred in a few states, and especially along the border in areas where few if any US citizens would even consider being. It is real, but it does not describe an entire country.
It would be nice if we could put what´s going on in Mexico in perspective, geographically and emotionally. It would be nice if we could remember that, as has been noted more than once, these drug wars wouldn´t be going on if people in the United States didn´t want the drugs, or if other people in the United States weren´t selling Mexican drug lords the guns. Most of all, it would be nice if more people in the United States actually came to this part of America – Mexico is also North America (you will recall) to see for themselves what a fine place Mexico really is, and how good a vacation –or a life– here can be.
So come on down and get to know your southern neighbors. I think you´ll like it here.
Especially the people.
LINDA ELLERBEE

(Linda Jane Smith). Born in Bryan, Texas, U.S.A., 15 August 1944. Educated at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, 1962-64. Married: 1) Mac Smith, 1964 (divorced, 1966); 2) Van Veselka, 1968 (divorced, 1971), children: Vanessa and Joshua; 3) Tom Ellerbee, 1973 (divorced, 1974). Disc jockey at WSOM Chicago, 1964-65; program director, KSJO San Francisco, 1967-68; reporter, KJNO Juneau, Alaska, 1969-72; news writer, Associated Press in Dallas, 1972; television reporter, KHOU in Houston, Texas, 1972-73; general assignment reporter, WCBS-TV in New York City, 1973-76; reporter, the Washington bureau of NBC News, 1976-78; co-anchor, network news magazine Weekend, 1978-79; correspondent, NBC Nightly News, 1979-82; co-anchor, NBC News Overnight, 1982-84; co-anchor, Summer Sunday, 1984; reporter, Today, 1984-86; reporter, Good Morning America, 1986; anchor, ABC show Our World, 1986-87; commentator, CNN, 1989; president, Lucky Duck Productions, since 1987; producer, writer, and host, Nick News since 1993; writer, host, On the Record, on-line production with Microsoft, since 1996. Recipient: Peabody Award, 1991. Address: Lucky Duck Productions, 96 Morton St., New York, New York 10014.

Hospital with an Ocean View

Oct 27, 2010 3:56 PM • Topic: History • Issue: 2010-10

Chipsa is a multidisciplinary hospital located in playas de Tijuana and specializing in providing excellence in service to American patients. Due to its strategic location and bilingual staff, this American model approach to medicine is just at a fraction of its price in the USA.
If you visit the installations of the hospital you would find comfortable ambiance and a professional setting that is reassuring while you can get the help for which you are looking. Of course, the most valued component of any hospital is the people who collaborate to provide health services. These individuals sacrifice hours of their day to provide the best care possible. I had the opportunity to talk to several of the individuals who contribute to the great services provided in Chipsa.
The hospital has eight specialties plus other medical specialists who are asked to collaborate externally as needed. The most needed services are usually for heart attacks or injuries while urgent care is also available. They provide insurance that covers students, as well as for families.
I interviewed Dr. Mauricio Mora Flores who works in urgent care. He speaks about his experience as a physician and life in Chipsa and mentions he loves his job. What he loves the most about being a doctor is the opportunity to help those who are disadvantaged, or in community outreach programs. Dr. Flores loves to see the gratitude in people’s faces after they feel better. The least favorite part of his job is when patients don’t follow treatment and don’t return for check-ups so he tends to worry about them. Dr. Mora is a humanitarian at heart and you can tell this by the way he speaks to his patients and by the passion he has for his job.
Dr. Cabrera specializes in digestive and endocrine medicine and has two years of laparoscopic surgery at IMSS and Angeles Hospital. He has multiple recognitions and certifications and he is eminent in his field.
Dr. Cabrera performs bariatric surgery which is the surgical treatment for obesity. The good doctor affirms that 95% of diets and diet pills alone fail long term for people who are 100 pounds overweight. Surgery is required in order to get lasting results. There are different types of surgery which depend on the needs of the patients and the possible risk factors of lap band surgery or gastric bypass.
The best candidates for bariatric surgery are individuals who have a body mass index of over 40 or are over 100 pounds overweight. A rigorous evaluation is needed in order to determine if a person is eligible, as well as a battery of tests.
In order to work with patients who are possible candidates for any bariatric surgery, it’s necessary to work in a multi-disciplinary team. A nutritionist, psychologist, internist and an anesthesiologist collaborate in order to provide integral treatment and follow up to the patient. These things can be obtained at Chipsa. 

What is Medical Tourism?

By Kim Wherley
Oct 27, 2010 3:53 PM • Topic: Science • Issue: 2010-10

Medical tourism is when patients choose to travel to another country to acquire more affordable, quality health and dental care. A rapidly advancing industry, although not new by any means, medical tourism is the solution to dental and health challenges that many patients face, worldwide. There is an array of terms used for this industry: global healthcare, heath travel, medical travel, cross-border healthcare, heath care abroad and medical vacations just to name a few. Currently, India, Thailand and Malaysia are of the most popular destinations within this industry. In Europe many will cross borders to enjoy the benefits of alternative and less expensive health and dental care offered by their neighboring country. However, few people know that Mexico has fantastic health and dental care for a fraction of the price and without the long flights and expensive tickets! Why travel to Mexico for dental and health care? The answers are simple: Cost of care, quality of care, proven alternative medical and dental treatments not available in the U.S. as well as many other countries and proximity to the United States and Canada.
The cost of dental and health care can be as low as 10 -60% of the price for a treatment or procedure in Mexico compared to prices in the United States. Patients can also take advantage of the affordable accommodations including hotels, resorts, vacation homes, RV parks and more. In addition, Mexico offers amazing cuisine, fresh organic fruits and vegetables and if by the ocean or sea will offer a whole slew of freshly caught seafood daily at a fraction of U.S. prices.
The dental and health care offered to patients in Mexico is of the highest quality. The service and “beside manners” provided by the physicians, nurses and staff are above and beyond the average American’s standard experience. House calls 24hrs a day are still in good fashion and a long conversation with your Doctor is not at all out of the question.
Mexico, like many other countries involved in medical tourism, is a destination for many progressive, alternative treatments and procedures. Doctors are able to customize treatments and procedures to each patient. For example, in Tijuana on the Baja California Penninsula (about 20 minutes directly south of San Diego) there are many excellent doctors that have extended the lifespan, increased the quality of life and in some cases cured the terminally ill using a holistic or alternative approach. Surgeries, whether cosmetic, orthopedic, cardiac, optical, dental and more are at world-class standards. There are excellent, high-quality hospitals and clinics within the metropolitan of Tijuana, as well as a number of great private clinics and hospitals just down the road in the beautiful beach towns of Rosarito (10 minutes south of Tijuana) and Ensenada (45 minutes south). Many physicians, surgeons, nurses, dentists, etc. are bi-lingual and have partial, if not, a complete education and training in the United States and Europe. In addition, in many cases, Mexico will have access to new technologies and are able to perform proven, safe, extensively researched procedures and treatments anywhere from 1-5 years prior to the U.S. introducing these to the public.
And finally, Mexico’s convenient location in proximity to the U.S. and Canada can allow for a much cheaper travel ticket than those other alternative locations of India, Thailand and Malaysia, saving patients even more money! If flying to receive treatment in Tijuana, there is no need to fly internationally as many patients will fly to San Diego and travel just 20 minutes south to Baja California home of Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada. It is safe to say that ticket prices for traveling to Cancun, Puerto Vallarte, Los Cabos, Monterrey, Mexico City, La Paz and many more cities of Mexico will not cost near what it would to travel to Asia. Lastly, travel time is significantly less.
“Now, wait a minute… you mean to tell me that one can travel to Mexico (which is way closer than Asia) to get high-quality, affordable, progressive and alternative health and dental care, as well as take a vacation, AND pay less than what it would have for the procedure alone in the U.S.?” you ask. Yes, that’s right. Mexico has the answers to the currently increasing economic and medical needs for the average U.S. citizen. With its easy access, gorgeous scenery, caring medical and dental professionals, as well as an unbreakable spirit, Mexico offers hope and solutions to patients worldwide.

Art in Rosarito

Muralist Morrie Diego Baker

By Kim Wherley 

A true humanitarian and the driving force behind the: “A Happy Day at the Beach” mural project, Morrie Diego Baker, volunteered his artistic talents and time for the greater good of his beloved, “adopted” city of Rosarito in Baja California. Baker has successfully completed 5 murals around the San Francisco Bay area where he flourished as an artist in stain glass, custom lamps and windows for over 15 years. Now retired, Baker has been a resident of Rosarito for 6 years, and felt it was time to “give back” to Rosarito Beach and it’s people.
We asked Baker why he chose to do the mural:“The purpose of my mural this summer,
“A Happy Day at the Beach”, was to do several things: First, to expose art to as many
children in Rosarito as possible; to let them get involved in painting, designing, exploring color; and, to open their eyes to a whole new world of creativity and thought, etc. Second, to get as many retirees as I could to participate in the process as well; to help the youngsters and to give something back to their “adopted” city [of Rosarito Beach].Third, to build community... working together, understanding that we are all on the same small planet and that our differences,including but not limited to age, culture,language, background, ability level of art,color, and race are not reasons we can’t all get along and do something wonderful together! Lastly, to turn a graffiti-covered eyesore into a gorgeous work of art that makes people smile as they walk or drive by it; that will cheer all of us up, that will make us want to say to each other, “that looks like so much fun....let’s go to the beach today!” Rosarito has so much to offer, and the beach is one major item that we all love.
Baker’s mural was supported and honored Mayor Hugo Torres and Artes por Todas Partes. In addition, donated paint from Comex and Baker’s added efforts in providing extra brushes and materials to the mix welcomed everyone and anyone to participate in the completion of the mural. With the additional help of two young, aspiring artists from Rosarito, over 30 local kids and about 25 retired expatriates of the community, the mural was completed on August 15th, 2010. The mural project was not only a fun, intercultural event, but the mural it self symbolizes the spirit and beauty of the Rosarito beach. “A Happy Day at the Beach” mural is located on the outside wall of the sports field “Ejido Mazatlan Shopping Center”,
just one block north of Waldo’s along Benito Juarez Boulevard.