coverartist
healthbriefs
Acupuncture’s Growing Acceptance O
ne in 10 American adults has received acupuncture at least once and nearly half
of them say they are “extremely” or “very” satis- fied with their treatment, according to a survey
sponsored by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Sixty percent of survey respondents readily accepted the idea of acu- puncture as a treatment option, and 20 percent have used other forms of Oriental medicine, including herbs and Chinese bodywork.
Rainbow Sea Kathleen Kelly Thompson
Artist Kathleen Kelly Thompson recalls, “When I was a child, my mother took a correspondence course from the Famous Artists School, so I grew up drawing with my nose planted in her course books.” Surprisingly, she admits disliking her high school art courses and even failing a few. This self-taught artist works mostly
in pencil, while also enjoying a variety of media that includes acrylic, ink and pastel. Her featured cover art, Rainbow Sea, is an acrylic painting on canvas. “I think I’m a little different than most,” she believes, “because my art spans many subjects and styles.” Thompson begins her creations
with flat line drawings and says, “When it starts to gain depth and come alive is when it gets exciting. I savor those mo- ments when I am painting.” Her work has been featured twice
in On the Water magazine and includ- ed in the recently published book, Im- portant World Artists. Two of her works will be used in the upcoming short film, Someday. She paints at her home studio in Brick, New Jersey, or in the peaceful- ness of the outdoors. “I find inspiration in many things, especially nature,” Thompson says. “Beauty is everywhere; I just try to capture it.”
View the artist’s portfolio at Kathleen-
Kelly-Thompson.ArtistWebsites.com.
8 NA Twin Cities Edition
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day is observed on Oct. 24. For more information, visit
aomday.org.
MORE PLASTICS, MORE OBESE KIDS A
causal link between the worldwide epidemic of childhood obesity and phthalates commonly used in soft plas- tics, packaging and many personal care products is becoming more evident. A Korean study from Sanggye Paik Hospital
at the Inje University College of Medicine, in Seoul, shows that the risk of child- hood obesity increases with the level of DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) in the bloodstream. The study indicates that phthalates may change gene expression associated with fat metabolism. DEHP in particular is a suspected endocrine disruptor, or hormone-altering agent. Children with the highest DEHP levels were nearly five times more likely of being obese than children with the lowest levels. The scien- tists studied 204 children ages 6 to 13, of whom 105 were obese. A chemical commonly used to soften plastics, DEHP is found in some chil-
dren’s toys, as well as myriad household items. Phthalates can be found in paci- fiers, plastic food packaging, medical equipment and building materials like vinyl flooring. Personal care products such as soap, shampoo and nail polish may also contain phthalates.
Dulse Seaweed a Heart Health Powerhouse D
ulse (palmaria palmata), a protein-rich red sea- weed, could become a new protein source to compete with current protein crops like soybeans, ac- cording to scientists at Ireland’s Teagasc Food Research Cen- tre. Dulse harvested from October to January usually has the highest protein content. This functional food also contributes levels of essential amino acids such as
leucine, valine and methionine, similar to those contained in legumes like peas or beans. It may even help protect against cardiovascular disease. The Agriculture and Food Development Authority reports that for the first time, researchers have identi- fied a renin-inhibitory peptide in dulse that helps to reduce high blood pressure, like ACE-1 inhibitors commonly used in drug therapy.
natwincities.com
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