By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Belle Vie Photography

Dr. Catherine Foote, a Lower Merion high school grad who boasts an undergraduate and medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, is a third generation dentist.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. So, there is no better time to catch up with one of the Main Line’s most beloved orthodontists—Bryn Mawr’s Dr. Catherine Foote. Foote, an Ardmore native, Lower Merion grad and third generation dentist holds an undergraduate degree from The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Foote dedicated ten years to higher education at the University of Pennsylvania where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology followed by a DMD degree and Certificate of Orthodontics. In her state of the art, newly renovated office across from Bryn Mawr Hospital, Dr. Foote treats both children and adults, offering traditional braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign, and take-home whitening.

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country. According to the ADA, developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
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By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Todd Zimmerman

The area’s top culinary talent will be on hand at the Wachovia Center for Appetite for Awareness on September 30th.

You’ve probably heard the term ‘gluten-free’ by now, or, most likely know someone who is not able to include gluten in their daily diet. Celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that involves intolerance for the protein found in wheat (known as gluten), affects 1 in 133 Americans. And through their annual event, an Ambler-based nonprofit is working to make Philadelphia one of the top cities in America dedicated to raising awareness and education about celiac disease.

Tonight, September 30th, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness will hold its annual Appetite for Awareness: A Gluten-Free Cooking Spree. Top chefs and doctors will be assembled into teams at the Wachovia Center in a challenge to create the best gluten-free dish. Guests will enjoy sampling gluten-free creations from over twenty-five of the area’s preeminent restaurants, gluten-free beer, wine, and products from over fifty of the nation’s finest gluten-free vendors.
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By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson

Grand Opening: A Capacity Crowd Filled the Bakery Anxious to Test the Gluten-Free Treats.

Christine Ruggio had suffered for twenty-five years with debilitating stomach ailments, making hundreds of visits to her doctor complaining of severe pain and digestive issues. And, for twenty-five years, Ruggio was given the same diagnosis. “’You are hyper, you are in high school, so it’s stress-related. You are about to get married, you need to calm down, it is all about stress. You have IBS, you need to calm down and relax, look what you are doing to yourself! You have children now, you are getting too wound up,’” Ruggio explains. So, Ruggio’s doctor placed her on medication for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and strictly advised her to take it easy—ensuring her the symptoms would eventually subside if she followed her prescriptions and cut back on her busy lifestyle.

But Ruggio felt that there was something more to her body’s rejection of some of the food she consumed – and finally she confronted her doctor again. “I said to him, ‘Let’s get real here. Aren’t we masking the problem and not trying to solve it? This is not going away and I’m getting worse,’” she said.

But the doctor visits continued and Ruggio’s health continued to worsen. Then, a few years ago she took a family trip to Italy, where her Italian cousin happened to be on a gluten-free diet. Everywhere they went the whole family dined on gluten-free meals, and educated Ruggio about the intolerance to wheat that had made her cousin very ill. This was the first time she had heard about a medical condition called Celiac Disease, an autoimmune intestinal disorder that affects people for life.

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By Stephanie Churchill, AML Contributing Writer
Photos Courtesy of Keven E. McPherson

Stephanie Churchill of TotallyZen.com prepares for class

What better way to start a perfect fall day than by practicing yoga? As I pulled up to Wayne’s Verge Power Studio a few weeks ago, the leaves were rustling in the wind and the air was brisk. I’m greeted by a lovely staff that welcomed me into their studio with warmth and smoothly introduced me to the process of unblocking, unfolding and unleashing the body. Yoga is a discipline and at Verge they have their structure and methodology down to a science. Verge operates under the philosophy that each and every one of us has the capacity to realize our greatest potential. Their vision is to support their student’s well being and to empower them to embrace change, to strive for optimal health and to awaken to conscious living.

I wanted the full “Verge” experience. So, I began the day with a stationary class. This requires taking the time to set body, breath and mind into alignment by clearing the mind and centering your thoughts. The form is structured and the pace is slow and controlled. It is a static form of yoga, focused on holding each posture and deepening the form, adjusting and realigning as necessary. As you continue your practice in this way, you will see your body strengthen and become more toned, flexible and supple; joints and bones will also be strengthened. This class is good for all ages and body types because it keeps the yoga bold but basic. You start at a point that works for you and follow your own path, guided by a trained and in-tune teacher.

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From the AML Publisher:

Look for more gluten-free recipes and our own exciting Gluten-Free Chef Event coming soon hosted by AroundMainLine.com (That’s right, you read it right here first. The Main Line’s inaugural gluten free cook off and event is in the works by AroundMainLine.com—the region’s first online magazine!)

Philadelphia’s Rouge was one of 35 participants at Appetite for Awareness 2008
(Photo Courtesy of Pictures by Todd)

AroundMainLine.com was in attendance along with more than 1,400 Philadelphians and Main Liners at the exciting Appetite for Awareness event at the Wachovia Center on Tuesday September 23rd. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) raised $340,000 at its 5th annual chef cooking contest. The event’s purpose is to help raise funds to combat celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by consumption of the gluten protein, which is found in wheat, rye and barley. This was the largest fundraiser the organization has held to date and it was a fantastic evening filled with delicious food!

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