Sunday, March 11, 2012 1F

MIKE BROWNLEEMBROWNLEE@NONPAREILONLINE.COM

When it comes to exercise,swimming is the full package:

A total body workout thatincludes strength conditioningand cardiovascular benefits,aerobic and anaerobic benefits.And there’s little impact onjoints.

“Swimming is one of the bestexercises you can do,” said LizPayne, an assistant coach withthe Council Bluffs Swim Club.

And, she said, you can swimforever.

“It can be difficult to playbasketball or some other sportsas people get older,” she said.“But swimming you can con-tinue to enjoy throughout oldage.”

The club offers swim les-sons along with programs thatteach members the four com-petitive strokes – freestyle,backstroke, butterfly andbreast. Those programsinclude beginners, intermedi-ate and advanced groups.

The swim club works to cul-tivate a love for swimming atan early age, with members asyoung as 5 and 6 years old, allthe way through high-schoolage.

“We like to start ‘em young,”

Payne said. “Swimming is verytechnique-oriented. It’s best tolearn skills at a young age,rather than at 16 or 17 yearsold. It can be done whenthey’re that old, but it’s easierwhen younger. When swim-mers are older, you have to getrid of bad habits.

“Also, younger kids get com-fortable in the water at anearly age. We like to start themas early as possible.”

Based at the Titan HillIntermediate School pool, theclub competes predominantlyin the Council Bluffs andOmaha area, Payne said, alongwith meets outside the area inNebraska and Iowa. There aretwo seasons, the short-course –September through March –and the long-course – Maythrough August.

For adults who want to con-tinue swimming competitively,the YMCA offers the MastersSwimming Program. Affiliatedwith U.S. Masters Swimming,the program is an opportunityto promote adult fitnessthrough swimming, accordingto Melissa Dean, coordinatorfor competitive and fitnessswimming at the Y.

Practices/education ses-sions are held from 5:30 to 7

a.m. Monday, Wednesday andFriday, she said, which are freefor Y members or $30 permonth for non-members. Tocompete in U.S. Masters Swim-ming meets, participants mustpay $35 yearly dues to theorganization.

All ages are welcome.“If you go to a Masters swim

meet, you’ll get people in theirearly 20s, fit and fast, upthrough people in their 80sand 90s,” Dean said.

And many people don’t com-

pete, but still go to practice toimprove their health, she said,including runners who needswim training for a triathlon.

The Y offers an adult swimstroke improvement class onWednesday nights as well.

Dean echoed Payne’sthoughts on the total-bodyworkout of swimming, alongwith the ability to do itthroughout life.

She also pointed to studiesshowing swimming lowersblood pressure and heart rates.

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The Council Bluffs Swim Club works to cultivate a love for swimming at an early age. “Swimming is one of the best exercises you can do,” said Liz Payne, an assistant coach withthe Council Bluffs Swim Club. “It can be difficult to play basketball or some other sports as people get older. But swimming you can continue to enjoy throughout old age.”

Swimming for your life

Reduce work-related aches and painsSTATEPOINT MEDIA

No matter where you work,chances are you’ve comehome after a long day withsome aches and pains – evenif you spend most of yourtime at a desk, work stationor behind the wheel.

While most jobs thesedays aren’t hazardous, repet-itive stress injuries are com-mon amongst even the mostsedentary of workers.

While your day at work isunavoidable, the resultingaches and pains in your neck,back or hands are not.Changing your telephoneand computer habits, givingyour work station anergonomic tune-up, and tak-ing breaks for stretching cango a long way to preventinjury and reduce discomfort.

“Our bodies are made tomove – not to maintain the

same position or posture forlong periods of time or torepeat the same motionsendlessly,” said Dr. RickMcMichael, president of theAmerican Chiropractic Asso-ciation.

By following these tipsfrom the experts at the ACAyou can keep your days rela-tively pain-free:

At Your ComputerDo you slouch when you

read? Don’t break your backwhen you can break a badhabit instead. Work on main-taining proper posture atyour desk and remember toget up and move around reg-ularly.

If your wrist is sore, youmay be relying on it too muchto move your mouse. Useyour entire arm and shoulderinstead. When typing, keepyour wrists straight, your

shoulders perpendicular tothe floor and your forearmsparallel to the floor.

Using Your Mobile Device

Your texting addictioncould be the cause of majorpain, as our thumbs werenot made for constant tap-ping, flicking and clicking.Damaged soft tissue in yourthumbs is nothing to LOLabout.

Abbreviate where possi-ble, and learn to take a dayoff from checking messages.If you must text, alternateusing your thumb, index fin-ger and a stylus, if available.

Even talkers can fall intobad habits, such as pinchingthe phone between the earand shoulder, and leaning ona flexed elbow. Invest in aheadset and be mindful ofyour telephone posture.

Get CheckedIf you’re experiencing any

painful symptoms, get help.Doctors of chiropractic cancounsel you on modificationsto your work station thatimprove your posture andwork habits. DCs also use avariety of non-drug, non-sur-gical approaches to help withcommon aches and pains.

Keep an eye on your kids,as well. At least 70 percent ofAmerica’s 30 million elemen-tary school students now usecomputers. As a result, doc-tors of chiropractic are treat-ing more young patients suf-fering from the effects ofworking at computer stationsthat are either designed foradults or poorly designed forchildren.

For more tips on usingtechnology safely, visit tech-nohealthy.com.

Sunday, March 11, 2012 3FThe Daily Nonpareil HEALTH & FITNESS

Cultivate a love of healthy food

DENNIS FRIENDDFRIEND@NONPAREILONLINE.COM

Sometimes, getting young childrento eat vegetables and fruits can turn amealtime into a power struggle. Thekids want french fries and you’repushing broccoli.

Dieticians at Hy-Vee have focusedon the same issue.

“You can make it easier,” Hy-Veedietitian Stacey Loftus said.

Nutrition experts have establishedguidelines that suggest people eat fiveor more servings of fruits and vegeta-bles every day.

“Variety is the key,” Loftus said.Start early by offering your toddler

different types of foods and let yourchildren see you eating a variety offruits and vegetables.

Familiarity another key, Loftussaid.

“They can watch you prepare food.Include them in food preparation.Include them in shopping,” Loftussaid.

What you eat will be a big influenceon what your children like to eat. Ifyou rarely eat fruit or serve vegetableswith meals, your kids will resist theunfamiliar.

“Even adults are like that,” Loftussaid.

Persistence will be another key toestablishing healthy eating habits.Loftus said the child may initiallyreject the unfamiliar vegetable orfruit.

“Get them to at least try it. Some-times it can be 21 times before theytry it,” Loftus said. Even if he or sherejects the new food initially, the childwill learn to like a variety of foods,because repeated opportunities tosample new foods increases the oddsthat some of them will be accepted.

Loftus has personal experience toback up her advice.

“My 2-and-a-half year old some-times likes broccoli and sometimeshates it,” Loftus said, but that childwill get broccoli if it’s part of the fam-ily meal. She cautions against a com-mon practice of giving the child some-thing different from the adultsbecause the child claims to hate what-ever’s being served.

“Parents should decide what’sserved, but the child can decide how

much to eat. They know when they’refull,” Loftus said, adding the young-ster should be encouraged to “at leasteat a couple of bites.”

Other tips:■ Chop up and mix vegetables with

pasta sauces, lasagna, casseroles,soup, chili or omelets.

■ Offer chopped veggies with a dip,like ranch dressing.

■ Serve vegetables as a stir-fry.

■ Let the child help prepare themeal.

■ Start a vegetable garden so yourchildren can eat the vegetables theygrow.

■ Switch from soft drinks to 100percent fruit juice.

■ Let your kids choose the fruitsand vegetable they want to eat whenyou go shopping.

■ Mix fruit pieces with yogurt or

serve them with a dip.■ Offer a fruit salad, with a mix of

watermelon, grapes, strawberries, etc.as a dessert or snack.

■ Make a snack mix with raisins,nuts and cereal.

■ Add chopped berries or bananasto your child’s breakfast cereal.

Loftus advised against bribingwith food, so don’t say things like “Eatyour vegetables and you can have acookie.”

“Keep the meal positive,” Loftussaid.

Loftus also offered suggestions tomake healthy snacks fun. Theyinclude making banana dogs, mooselips, ants on a log and tie-dyed apples.

“Have the kids prepare them withyou,” Loftus said.

To make a banana dog, spreadpeanut butter on a tortilla and wrap itaround a banana.

Moose lips are two apple wedgesfilled with peanut butter to holdraisins or marshmallows.

To make ants on a log put peanutbutter on celery and sprinkle it withraisins.

Tie-died apples are simply appleslices dipped in Jello powder.

“I’ve totally done them for myself,”Loftus admitted.

Other Hy-Vee ideas:■ Nacho sundae: In a dish, top cin-

namon pita chips with fresh slicedstrawberries, a dollop of vanilla orstrawberry yogurt and coconutshreds.

■ Fruity Porcupine: Halve a can-taloupe and remove seeds. Place onehalf cut-side-down on plate. Threadgrapes, pineapple chunks, cantaloupechunks, strawberries and maraschinocherries on wooden kabob sticks.Starting at the bottom of the can-taloupe half, insert skewers into can-taloupe half to make a “spiky porcu-pine.”

■ Rainbow Bright: Arrange fruitand vegetables on a plate of all the col-ors of the rainbow, in the shape of arainbow. Include strawberries, cherrytomatoes, cantaloupe, carrots,bananas, yellow bell pepper, kiwi, cel-ery, blueberries and grapes. Add a lit-tle pot of gold at the end of the rain-bow made of vegetable dip.

Hy-Vee stores offer cooking classesfor kids. Find your local Hy-Vee dietit-ian’s schedule at Hy-Vee.com.

Staff photo/Erin Duerr

Hy-Vee dietician Stacey Loftus holds up the ingredients for tied-dyed apples, a creative way to make healthyeating more fun for kids.

Variety andfamiliarity are

key to nurturingyoung fruit andvegetable lovers

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

For many years the classic food pyramid has been the method by which many peopleplan their healthy eating goals. Recently the U.S. Department of Agriculture modifiedthe food pyramid, transforming it into a different symbol altogether – a dinner plate.

The general basis of the “MyPlate” model generated by the USDA is to give individu-als a better understanding of the ratios of food that should fill their plates. While theaverage guidelines for the total amount of each food group that should be eaten variesaccording to age and sex, the overall messages of how much to fill a plate serve as agood indicator for healthier eating.

Taking a small dinner plate, half of the plate should be filled with fruits and vegeta-bles, which a greater emphasis on vegetables. Slightly less than one-fourth of the otherside of the plate should consist of lean protein. The remaining open portion of the plateshould be made up of grains – with at least half of those grains whole grains. A cup oflow- or nonfat milk should be an accompaniment to the meal for dairy consumption.

Most people get their recommended amount of oils through many of the foods thatthey eat, including fish and nuts. The USDA advises anywhere from 3 to 7 teaspoons of

total oil consumptiondaily, depending onage and sex. Other-wise, caloric need issurpassed andweight gain mayoccur.

In addition to therecommendations onfood groups and por-tion sizes, theMyPlate programhas a series of cus-tomizable onlineinformation oneverything fromlearning about calo-rie intake to person-alized eating plansto physical activitytrackers, all free ofcharge at ChooseMy-Plate.gov.

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Don’t be surprised if you golooking for a weight loss prod-uct or supplement recom-mended on television and youfind that there is a waiting listto purchase it.

Apparently, it is not unusualthese days in the wake of Dr. Oztaking over the airwaves.

But before you line up topurchase one for yourself, findout if you really need it.

Bambi Wilson, owner ofGreen Acres Natural Foods,805 S. Main St., said the “Dr. Ozcraze” is bringing a lot of firsttime supplement users into herstore, which she said is a both ablessing and a curse.

It brings in new business,but a lot of the new people aredazzled by the newness of theirnutritional find and just jump-ing on the bandwagon for ashort ride.

“There is a growing nutri-tional awareness, but maybenot as much follow through,”Wilson said.

However, her regular cus-tomers are also seeing the newproducts talked about on theDr. Oz show and inquiringabout them as well.

The combination of supple-ment veterans and newbiessearching out the products hasresulted in waiting lists forsome merchandise.

But the waiting lists are

actually good, according to Wil-son, because it shows that Dr.Oz is not working in conjunc-tion with a certain distributoror brand.

“I think he is trying to reachpeople so he doesn’t have onename brand that he recom-mends,” Wilson said. “He’s notpushing a company he is affili-ated with so when manufac-tures are running out, and wehave to wait.”

Wilson said when customersask her for advice on products,she has to be careful becauseshe does not have a medicaldegree. But she often usesknowledge she has gleanedfrom other customers.

“I usually can say, ‘I have acustomer who had this result,’”she said. “We try to fulfill theirneeds and put ourselves intheir place.”

And if Wilson doesn’t knowan answer, she finds out.

“Our customers expect thatfrom us, and it doesn’t alwayshappen in bigger retail stores,”she said.

Mary Stuhr, a clinical dieti-cian at Alegent Health MercyHospital, said vitamins andsupplements could usually beavoided by eating a healthydiet.

“Most of the time, it shouldbe no surprise, that we wouldrecommend striving to eat ahealthy diet,” Stuhr said. “It isusually better to go to foods to

meet your nutrient needs.”In addition to getting more

than enough vitamins and min-erals from food, people also getphytochemicals, which aresmall compounds that preventcertain diseases and help dorepair work the body needs.And they can only be found infood, not in vitamin pills.

A healthy diet also providesthe right amount of fiber. Stuhrsaid researchers are learningmore about the benefits of fibereach day.

“There is probably no reasonfor a healthy 35-year-old manto take (supplements) if he iseating a healthy diet,” she said.

But that healthy diet shouldinclude three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt; atleast two cups of vegetables;one-and-a-half to two cups of

fruit; 3 ounces of whole grainfoods; and lean meat or alterna-tives such as beans, tofu andeggs, each day.

“Some vitamins also haveimproved absorption (whenconsumed with) fats and oils atthe same time of meal,” Stuhrsaid. “Healthy fats and oils insmall amounts include nuts,

olive oil, canola oil and productsthat would contain these.”

While a 35-year-old maleeating a healthy diet might notneed supplements or vitamins,there are cases where a multi-vitamin or specific vitaminmight be called for, Stuhr said.

A person taking in less than1,600 calories a day or on

another weight loss diet, mightfind it hard to get vitamins andminerals from the food eaten;the same goes for an elderlyperson who is not eating well.

Strict vegans would likelyneed to make some specialeffort to get in certain vita-mins, and pregnant or womenof childbearing age should lookat taking folic acid supple-ment.

“There is a lot of research(into folic acid) as far as pre-venting birth defects to spinalchord area,” she said.

A medical condition thatlimits food intake – an examplewould be a person having hada bariatric surgery such asLap-Band – can affect absorp-tion of vitamins as well, andStuhr said patients should dis-cuss supplements with theirdoctor.

As far as diet supplements,Stuhr said each product is dif-ferent and needs to be scruti-nized before use.

“Closely look at them. Regu-lations in the Dietary Supple-ment Act say they have to con-tain what the label states,” shesaid. “There is still a lot ofresearch being done on herbalsupplements and largeramounts of vitamins and min-erals and how they interactwith other medications.”

The Daily NonpareilHEALTH & FITNESS4F Sunday, March 11, 2012

Staff photos/Erin Duerr

Bambi Wilson, owner of Green Acres Natural Foods, 805 S. Main St., said the combination of supplement veterans and newbies searching out the products has resulted in waitinglists for some merchandise.

Navigating the world of vitamin supplements

Vitamin supplements from Green Acres Natural Foods on South Main Street in CouncilBluffs.

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METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Just as the body changeswith age, so do the needs of theskin. While acne and break-outs may have been the baneof existence as an adolescent,wrinkles and dark spots areconcerns as we age.

The U.S. National Libraryof Medicine says that skinchanges are one of the mostnoticeable signs of aging. Sag-ging skin and wrinkles aretwo of the more common prob-lems men and womenencounter as they age.

As people get older, connec-tive tissues in the skin thatpromote strength and elastic-ity have a tendency of break-ing down. Furthermore, theblood vessels of the dermisbecome more fragile, whichcan lead to bruising. Also,sebaceous glands may pro-duce less oil, making the skinless able to moisturize itself.As a result, the skin thinsout.

It is important to notethese changes so that peoplecan be proactive in theirapproach to skincare as theyage. There are certain strate-gies to put in place that canmake the difference in theappearance and health of theskin. While none of these arethe magic “fountain of youth,”they go a long way to promot-ing a more youthful appear-ance.

■ Address dryness. If theskin is itchy or uncomfort-able, or if you find that thereis extra flaking, lack of mois-ture could be a problem.Moisturizer should be thestaple of a skincare regimen.Experiment with moisturiz-ers until you find the one thatis the best match for yourskin.

■ Use sun protection. Thesun is one of the singlebiggest contributors tounhealthy skin and prema-ture signs of aging. Alwayswear sun protection productswhen going out in the sun,even on overcast days.

■ Don’t tug or be rough onthe skin. The skin becomesmore delicate and prone toinjury as a person ages.Therefore, unnecessaryroughness while washingand drying can break capil-

laries or mar the skin in otherways. Be delicate, using cottonto wipe away makeup andavoid cleansers that haverough excoriators or othersubstances that can be roughon the skin.

■ Revise makeup shadesand products as needed. Asskincare needs change, it paysto go with the flow in terms ofthe products you use and buy.What may have been flatter-ing a few years ago may not be

flattering now. Think aboutneutral or rosy shades in thetypes of foundations andblushers you select. Avoid any-thing that is too dramatic ordrastic.

■ Drink plenty of water.Dehydration can increase therisk of injury with regards tothe skin, making it more sus-ceptible to dryness and otherissues. Be sure to always stayhydrated by consumingenough water to ward off feel-ings of thirst.

■ Experiment with a facial.Facials can help promote bloodflow to the skin and improvethe appearance of youth andvitality. In addition, a facialmassage can feel invigorating.Check with a spa near you tosee if they offer facial services.Talk with the staff about yourskincare needs and ask forrecommendations on the prod-ucts that may work for you.

The Daily Nonpareil HEALTH & FITNESS Sunday, March 11, 2012 5F

Submitted photo

A facial may be just the thing to moisturize skin and promote the appearance of youth.

Protecting skin through the yearsSaving face

Address drynessUse sun protectionDon’t tug or be rough on

the skinRevise makeup shades

and products as neededDrink plenty of waterExperiment with a facial

Listen up guys: Tips tostay healthy as you age

STATEPOINT MEDIA

With age comes wisdom.Unfortunately, it also comeswith an increased threat ofdeveloping certain healthproblems.

Prostate cancer and otherdiseases affect a dispropor-tionately large amount ofAmerican men. According tothe Prostate Cancer Founda-tion, more than 16 millionmen are affected by the dis-ease globally, and Americanmen represent nearly 2.5 mil-lion of that figure.

Given these statistics,American men should beespecially vigilant about theirhealth. With a few lifestyletweaks and attitude adjust-ments, you can help stayhealthy as you age.

Eat RightIf you’ve eaten a particular

way your whole life, you mightfind it difficult to change. Butcutting out the junk in favor offruits, vegetables and wholegrains is well worth the effort.Not only will you look and feelbetter, certain foods have evenbeen proven to reduce yourrisk of developing diseaseslike prostate cancer, coronaryheart disease and diabetes.

Opt for fish over red meat.Evidence from several studiessuggests that fish can helpprotect against prostate can-cer because it contains “goodfat,” particularly omega-3fatty acids. Choose olive oilover margarine. Whilemonounsaturated fat found inolive oil is beneficial to health,

trans-fatty acids contained inmargarine contribute toclogged arteries, high choles-terol and an increased risk ofstroke and heart attack.

A free nutrition guide andtasty recipes are available atpcf.org/nutrition .

Stay ActiveA sedentary lifestyle con-

tributes to your risk of obesity,heart disease and cancer. You

don’t need to become amarathon runner, however, toexperience benefits from amore active lifestyle. Startwith what you can handle,like a 20 minute walk once aday. If you have bad joints,consider a low impact activitylike swimming.

Get CheckedWhile it’s always impor-

tant to be open with yourphysician about your healthand your family’s health his-tory, starting at age 40 itbecomes crucial. The olderyou are, the more likely youare to be diagnosed withprostate cancer and other dis-eases. In fact, more than 65percent of all prostate cancersare diagnosed in men over theage of 65, according to PCF.

Your doctor can help youdetermine your risk of devel-oping various diseases, andmake recommendationsaccordingly. Regular doctor’svisits are also an importantcomponent of early diagnosis.While these tests may not befun, they can save your life. Ifyou have a history of prostatecancer in your family, considera yearly rectal examinationand a Prostate-Specific Anti-gen test starting in your for-ties, or even earlier if yourdoctor recommends it.

Broader awareness andunderstanding of the healthrisks associated with agingcan save lives. So don’t shyaway from talking to yourfriends and family about yourhealth, and theirs.

Submitted photo

A sedentary lifestyle con-tributes to your risk ofobesity, heart disease andcancer. You don’t need tobecome a marathon run-ner, however, to experi-ence benefits from a moreactive lifestyle.

Start now to combat memory lossSTATEPOINT MEDIA

You may not realize it, butyou can take steps to keepyour brain fit and flexible asyou age. In fact, some expertsnow say that through properdiet and routine mentalhealth exercises, you even candelay the onset of Alzheimer’sdisease long enough to avoidexperiencing the symptoms.

“The sooner you start toprotect your brain againstAlzheimer’s, the sooner youwill notice improvement – notonly in recall and mentalfocus, but also in energy level,mood, general health, andsense of well-being,” said Dr.Gary Small, M.D., professor atUCLA, and author of the newbook “The Alzheimer’s Preven-tion Program” (Workman Pub-lishers).

Small offers these stay-sharp tips to help you getstarted:

■ Eat brain food: Stock upon food filled with antioxi-dants like berries, avocados,and raw vegetables; omega-3

rich, anti-inflammatory foodchoices, like fish, whole grains,and legumes; and memory-boosting spices like turmericand cumin. Alcohol in modera-tion can be beneficial too, sodon’t shy away from a glass ofwine or beer at dinner.

■ Train your brain:You cancross-train your brain, byjumping from right-brain toleft-brain workouts. “TheAlzheimer’s Prevention Pro-gram,” offers great daily men-tal workouts that combinewordplay, letter scrambles, 3-D drawings, tricky equations,logic challenges, and numbersequences. For more informa-tion, visit drgarysmall.com.

■ Be flexible: Try simpletasks like writing and eatingwith your non-dominanthand. By engaging neural cir-cuits in ways that are differentfrom their usual patterns, youwill provide your brain a goodmental stretch.

■ Make discoveries: Likeany muscle you’d work out atthe gym, your brain needs

variety and stimulation tostay in shape. Find new chal-lenging mental activities thatyou also enjoy, so that engag-ing your brain is never achore.

■ Get moving: Hopefullyyou are already exercising foroptimum physical health. Ifyou aren’t, consider this: Phys-ical activity increases bloodflow, oxygenating the brain.

■ Reduce your stress: Prac-tice yoga, meditate; take avacation or even just a bubblebath.

“Stress can temporarilyimpair one’s learning andrecall,” said Small. “By takingaway sources of stress, orreacting to stress differently,you can improve your mem-ory.”

Alzheimer’s is alreadyaffecting 5 million people inthe U.S. alone. But a memorylapse today doesn’t need tobecome a bigger problemtomorrow. Take charge andhelp sharpen your memorynow.

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Omni Dental has ayounger side.

Melissa Nensel, D.D.S.,moved to the area in Juneand joined the practice inAugust – not too long afterthe clinic moved to 1026Woodbury Ave.

She’s enjoying the work.“I just like seeing all the

different people,” she said.“The challenges everypatient presents are differ-ent.”

Omni Dental is up todate, with digital X-raymachines, digital camerassuitable for taking picturesof people’s teeth and lasersthat can be used in someperiodontal therapy andtooth restorations, Nenselsaid. The practice uses pri-marily tooth-colored resinto fill teeth but can still useamalgam on request.

“We have found that wehave to remove less of thetooth with resin, so thatallows us to preserve moreof the healthy tissue – andthat’s just less stress on thetooth,” she said.

The dentists at Omni usea technique that reducespain for patients who needto have their teeth filled,she said.

Omni also has electronicmedical records and moni-tors that allow patients towatch TV while they’re inthe chair or see images oftheir teeth, Nensel said.

She practices generaldentistry, but she does havea weakness for youngerpatients.

“I like working with thekids,” she said. “Sometimesthe other dentists let me seethe kids, because they knowI like working with them.”

Nensel spends 1 ½ days aweek at Omni Dental-Tri-City at 3004 N. 13th St. inCarter Lake, which com-bined with Omni Dental

June 1, 2011, and the rest ofthe week at the CouncilBluffs office.

Nensel grew up inSpencer and earned a bach-

elor’s degree in chemistry atCreighton University. Shereceived her dental degreeat the University of IowaSchool of Dentistry.

She got interested in den-tistry during high school.

“I did quite a lot of jobshadowing in the medicalfield and also a dental stu-dio,” she said. “It helped mea lot to job shadow to seeexactly what I was gettinginto before I committed toall the schooling.

“Dental work is a lotmore hands-on,” Nenselsaid. “You’re working everyday on healthy patients. Ihad always been interestedin the medical field and in

science.”In her spare time, Nensel

likes to spend time withfamily and friends; bakeand cook; play tennis, soft-ball and volleyball; andattend Blue Jay and Hawk-eye athletic events with herfiancé.

“We really like to watchCreighton basketballgames,” she said.

Nensel and her fiancégrew up about 15 milesapart but didn’t meet untila mutual friend got mar-ried.

Her parents continue toreside in Spencer, and shehas older brothers inChicago and Denver.

The Daily NonpareilHEALTH & FITNESS6F Sunday, March 11, 2012

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Office Hours:Monday: 9am - 7pm

Tuesday & Thursday: 8am - 6pmWednesday & Friday: 9am - 6pm

801 Harmony StreetSuite 202

Council Bluffs, IA

712.308.1563www.sadrmd.com

Victoria Tomanek,PA-C

Dr. Farid Sadr

Accepting patientsOf All Ages!

Nensel brings youth to Omni Dental crew

The human body is made up of many complex parts working

together to keep you active. And if what moves you hurts, GIKK

Ortho Specialists can get you moving again.

Each of our physicans focus solely on one area of the body so

there is a specialist for each of your moving parts.

So, trust the experts at GIKK Ortho Specialists to help you

get back to the healthy and active lifestyle you deserve, today.

We’re Experts in These Parts

Caring for what moves you.

Foot & Ankle | Hand & Wrist | Hip & Knee | Shoulder & Elbow | Sports Medicine

17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza | 7710 Mercy Road

402.399.8550 | www.GIKK.com877.570.2211

Stuntz Family DentistryACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Tony Stuntz,D.D.S.

Dentistry for the Entire Family including:• Cleaning & Exams• Complete Dental Care• Children Welcome

www.stuntzfamilydentistry.com • 712-256-6263 • 1860 Madison Ave., Ste. #4

New Hi-Tech FacilityConvenient Location

Staff photo/Tim Johnson

Melissa Nensel, D.D.S., takes a turn in the hot seat at Omni Dental-Council Bluffs. Nenselsees patients at the Council Bluffs office most of the week and at Omni Dental-Tri-City inCarter Lake 1 ½ days a week.

The newestdentist onstaff enjoys

working withchildren