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Oct Newsletter

October Newsletter 2020

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“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

The days are growing shorter and there’s a chill in the air. Fall is the perfect time to take a few moments and reflect on the changes you would like to make to your daily routines. What are your personal health and wellness goals? Schedule a video visit with Dr. V if you haven’t seen him in a while and learn more about what you can do to assess your health and wellness needs.

If you’ve already seen Dr. V recently, our team at Los Gatos Doc is glad that you’re taking advantage of our video visit option. Thank you for being a member of the practice and we hope are staying safe and well. Read on to learn more about the importance of physical therapy, Halloween safety, and much more!

Healthcare Quality Week

Dr. V, Adriana, and Jessica care deeply about Los Gatos Doc’s patients and are always thinking of ways to provide the highest quality of care. Here’s Dr. V sharing his thoughts on partnership, prevention, and performance. Thank you for choosing Los Gatos Doc!

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Please take a look at our Facebook page. Like, Share, Comment and enjoy the wealth of articles and information on interesting, helpful and current health topics.

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Voting Safely During a Pandemic

The more you know about how to vote safely during a pandemic, the more prepared you’ll be! According to the CDC, here are six steps you can take before you vote to protect yourself from COVID-19:

  1. Check your voter registration status.
  2. Learn about how you can vote.
  3. Determine possible voting locations and the best times to vote.
  4. Figure out the safest mode of transportation.
  5. Make a plan for anyone you care for at home to reduce their risk of exposure.
  6. Do your best to be at the voting location for the shortest possible time.

For more details on the above guidelines AND the 6 steps to take on the day you vote, please review the CDC guidelines.

Monthly Health Observance: National Physical Therapy Month

October is National Physical Therapy Month, an opportunity to learn about the benefits of physical therapy. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, “The key role physical activity plays in just about every facet of health is well-known — yet an estimated 80% of U.S. adults and adolescents don’t get enough.” You can participate by sharing this newsletter with a family member or friend. Spreading awareness about the importance of physical therapy (PT) is a great first step. Help your friends and family ChoosePT.

Share this important information with your friends and family members.

In Case You Missed It / Reading Corner:

This Month’s Blog Posts

Fall is the cold and flu season. And this year with COVID-19, makes it the year of the ‘twindemic,’ as people battle the flu and coronavirus pandemic this autumn. So, those with respiratory illnesses have to be extra cautious this autumn and winter. In this article, we focus on the prevention tips to keep respiratory diseases at bay so you can enjoy the season even during the twindemic

Warm and Cozy Meals

Looking for a change of pace with your go-to weeknight recipes? Here are a few that will warm you up this October!

Tomato Basil Soup

Yields: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. roma tomatoes
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 c. low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • Small Parmesan rind
  • 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 c. packed basil leaves, plus more for serving
  • Heavy cream, for serving

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°.
  • Use a paring knife to cut stem out of tomatoes, then quarter tomatoes.
  • On a large baking sheet, toss tomatoes, garlic, and 2 tablespoons oil. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  • Roast until tomatoes are very soft and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • In a large pot over medium heat, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil.
  • Add onion and cook until soft. Add roasted tomatoes and garlic and any juice on the pan, then add broth and bring to a simmer.
  • Use an immersion blender to blend tomatoes until smooth.
  • Add parmesan rind, basil, red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Let soup simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove rind from soup.
  • Serve with more basil and drizzle with a little cream or olive oil.
Sweet Potatoes

Yields: 6 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed clean
  • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/2 c. milk
  • 1/4 c. sour cream
  • 4 tbsp. melted butter
  • 1 1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack, divided
  • 1 c. black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 c. quartered grape tomatoes
  • 1 avocado, cubed
  • 1 small jalapeño, sliced into rounds
  • 1/4 c. crumbled queso fresco

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°.
  • Pat potatoes completely dry with paper towels.
  • Poke potatoes all over with a fork, then rub with oil and sprinkle with salt.
  • Place potatoes directly on oven racks and bake until pierced easily with a fork, about 1 hour. Place on a large baking sheet and let cool until cool enough to handle.
  • Cut a thin layer off the top of each potato lengthwise. Scoop out insides of each potato, leaving a ½” border. Place insides in a large bowl. (You can keep the potato tops and roast them on the tray as a snack!)
  • Into the bowl with the potatoes, add milk, sour cream, and butter. Mash until all ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is mostly smooth.
  • Fold in 1 cup Monterey Jack, black beans, green onions, and garlic and season with salt.
  • Fill baked potatoes with mixture and place on a large baking sheet. Top with remaining ½ cup of Monterey Jack. Bake until the cheese is melty and outside is crispy, 15 minutes.
  • Top with tomatoes, avocado, jalapeño, and queso fresco before serving.
Spincah Artichoke Shells

Yields: 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 c. baby spinach, chopped
  • 1 15-oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 2 c. ricotta
  • 1 c. shredded mozzarella
  • 3/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/2 c. heavy cream
  • 1 lb. cooked jumbo shells

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350º.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine spinach, artichoke, ricotta, mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan and garlic and stir until combined. Stir in egg, then season with salt and pepper.
  3. Make Alfredo: In a skillet or saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add heavy cream and bring to a boil, then stir in remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan until creamy. Season with pepper. [Editor’s note: You can also skip making your own Alfredo sauce by using a jarred Alfredo sauce.]
  4. Spoon a thin layer of Alfredo sauce onto the bottom of the baking dish.
  5. Stuff cooked shells with spinach-artichoke mixture and place in a baking dish. Spoon more sauce on top of shells.
  6. Bake until warmed through and cheese is melty, 18 to 20 minutes. Serve.
Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it’s about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves.” – Elvis Duran

Using our imagination is a must this year with concerns about COVID-19 and the flu taking center stage. There are still ways to enjoy the occasion but it will require some planning to have a safe and socially distant Halloween celebration. Purchase individually wrapped snacks and drinks. Think ahead about the number of attendees invited, the event location, and the duration of the celebration. Additional guidelines can be found on healthchildren.org (from the American Academy of Pediatrics).

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule your next visit!

Warmly,

Dr. V, Adriana, & Jessica

P.S. Don’t forget to share this newsletter with 3 friends, family, and co-workers. Spread the New Year Cheer by helping them achieve their health goals in 2020!

Dr. V and his staff would love to hear from you! Do you have questions, comments, or concerns? Contact your primary care team by phone at 408.502.6040. Please note that any replies to this newsletter will not be forwarded to your primary care team in an effort to protect patient privacy.

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