SPECIAL: HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Text and photos: Maria Di Paola Blum y Veronica Venegas Muñoz

From the time of the florishing greeks who used to throw from a mountain the new born babies who did not survive the vinegar bath because they wanted strong warriors, and from the times of the Mayans who used to place a small obsidian stone between the eyes of the babies to provoque stravism, a sign of unparalel beauty, man has always tried to achieve physical strenght
and a nice appearance. Nowadays, physical strength is not so necessary: diplomacy in the best of cases or modern weapons in the worst have replaced it, but beauty and health have prevailed as important esthetic values since ancient times and within our culture.
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The average age of man and woman is growing and with it the care for their bodies and the quality of life. We inerviwed Doctor Carlos Garc¡a, of Cl¡nica Maskaras. He told us he started the clinic fifteen years ago mainly for the great need of medical services in the lake Chapala area. He stressed the importance of a healthy diet to achieve good health, as well as physical activity, higiene and preventive medicine. For this reason he offers his patients a staff of 22 certified specialists in the different areas of medicine as well as a "package" which allows whoever takes it to come for a check up regularly and to be able to cure on time any ailment that might show up, and which is not always caused by bad habits or lack of exercise, but by the genes. In other words: there are persons 70 years old who smoke and are not aflicted by cancer, and others much younger, who have not smoked or have done it very little and have that problem due to their genetic patrimony. The great majority of sicknesses are the result of the combination of the environment, the style of life and the genes. The secret to maintain oneself healthy and to look well lays on prevention. In order to promote the culture of prevention, Dr. Garc¡a designed the aforementioned "package" offered by cl¡nica M skaras. This package is meant for foreigners as well as mexicans and has no age nor preexisting condition restrictions. A 20% discount in laboratory analisis and a 10% in mamografies and X rays done in cl¡nica M skaras, as well as a free dental visit dental and 10% in dental services are included. This package is not a medical insurance, but a discount that Dr. Carlos Garc¡a offers his patients. The package is meant for twelve months and its cost is very accesible. It is for an individual and not transferable..

Good health is reflected in a good smile. This is how Dr. Angel Gustavo Medeles, from Odonto Clinik de Ajijic presentes himself. All the problems affecting teeth are caused by a wrong way of brushing teeth or by lack of massage to the gums, and a poor diet. Dental problems are divided in three phases: the first shows up through bad smell, the second by starting to loose a tooth and the third when the streptococo bactery goes from the mouth by means of food to the blood stream getting into all the organs and generating endles infirmities in the organism. For this reason his clinic is organized as integral care clinic in which every profesionist takes care of a specific problem, be it preventive odontology, rehabilitati¢n or esth‚tic, besides there is a general medicine doctor at the clinic because he has found out there are degenerative deceases like hypertension and diabetes, to mention a few, which affect the teeth and which requiere the intervention of a general medicine doctor. He recomends to visit the dentist for a periodic cleaning and a preventive check up to avoid having to visit him when the tooth is already lost. He explained us that all materials used in his clinic are disposable for the security of the patient. He uses english, german and suise products of first quality

In order to fight some illness homeopathy is a valid option. In some cases it is a valid alternative, Dr. Roberto µguila from the naturist sotore "La Abejita" in Ajijic, tells us. For instance, at a certain age decalcificati¢n, or rather, arthritic and reumatic troubles are very frequent. At this moment the most revolutionary product in the market is glucosamine complex, chich he advises not only for old people but also for the young population who due to an unbalanced diete are already suffering this problem He also advises the use of antioxidants because they help to eliminate toxins from the blood stream. The consuption of lecithine is also advised for vascular problems, including cholesterol and high levels of triglicerids. Gingseng should be taken as a natural energyser helping avoid pain and headaches To those who love coffe he recomends to drink a fair amount of water in order to avoid the inhibiting effect coffee has on vitamins and other suplements we take. In the same way he recomends to take linaza to those ho suffer from colitis, gastritis, and cholesterol. Sabila juice for gastrointestinal problems such as gastritis and ulcers You can get it in juice form or in tablets. If you are between 45 and 55 years old he advises you to reinforce your diete wiht alimentary supplements and vitamine. Dr. Roberto Aguila tries to have all these available for you in his "La Abejita" store in the plaza Ajijic and is there to give you a prescription if needed, by appointment..

Technological developments have brought to us a series of very efficient body treatments to reduce weight or reafirme m£scles, with ultrasound, or massage and body modelling. With 10 years of experience in this area, Karina Pantoja, cosmetologist, offers in her Beauty and esthetic clinic in Chapala, the service of deep cleaning and anti-acne treatments, hidratation and facial lifting, everything with top of the line equipment. She also offers weight loss treatments combining diet, massage and the use of modern equipment.