Dear Members,

Now that our newly refurbished outdoor pools are nearing completion, the investment we’ve made in the enhanced offering will begin to pay dividends for membership.

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen weather delays our pools will not be open in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

It was our intent that the pools be completed by the end of May, but severe cold and storms throughout the winter plus uncooperative spring weather (snow in May – who knew!?) have delayed construction deadlines.

After conversations with our contractors yesterday, they are now confident in the June 7 weekend for the pool opening. Though please keep in mind that further weather issues will result in further delays.

We know that the pool is an important amenity to you and as such, we’ve made a commitment to making it the best in the city.

Beyond the spectacular enhancements to the pools themselves, the furniture, landscaping, and food and drink amenities, we are excited to bring you:

• Weekly acoustic entertainment every Friday night
• Daily Happy Hour specials at the poolside bar
• Sunday brunch
• Special events for adults and families

We do sincerely apologize for this delay, but hope that as you watch the completion, you will agree that the results have been worth the wait.

Swim Team Update: Due to the delay in the pool opening, we have been researching alternative practice sites for the first week of practice. We hope to have an alternate site selected before the end of next week. An email will go out to swim team families as soon as a site is secured.

Christopher Bell
General Manager
913.831.0034 x115
cbell@clubwoodside.com

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining normal biological functions. It can be found in many dietary sources, and is also produced by exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D deficiencies can occur when the body doesn’t get enough of this essential vitamin, which can cause several health issues:

1.) The flu – In a study published in the Cambridge Journals, it was discovered that vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to respiratory diseases. An intervention study conducted showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in children.

2.) Muscle weakness – According to Michael F. Holick, a leading vitamin D expert, muscle weakness is usually caused by vitamin D deficiency because for skeletal muscles to function properly, their vitamin D receptors must be sustained by vitamin D.

3.) Psoriasis – In a study published by the UK PubMed central, it was discovered that synthetic vitamin D analogues were found useful in the treatment of psoriasis.

4.) Chronic kidney disease – According to Holick, patients with advanced chronic kidney diseases (especially those requiring dialysis) are unable to make the active form of vitamin D.

5.) Diabetes – A study conducted in Finland was featured in Lancet.com in which 10,366 children were given 2000 international units (IU)/day of vitamin D3 per day during their first day of life. The children were monitored for 31 years and in all of them, the risk of type 1 diabetes was reduced by 80 percent.

6.) Asthma – Vitamin D may reduce the severity of asthma attacks. Research conducted in Japan revealed that asthma attacks in school children were significantly lowered in those subjects taking a daily vitamin D supplement of 1200 IU a day.

7.) Periodontal disease – Those suffering from this chronic gum disease that causes swelling and bleeding gums should consider raising their vitamin D levels to produce defensins and cathelicidin, compounds that contain microbial properties and lower the number of bacteria in the mouth.

8.) Cardiovascular disease – Congestive heart failure is associated with vitamin D deficiency. Research conducted at Harvard University among nurses found that women with low vitamin D levels (17 ng/m [42 nmol/L]) had a 67 percent increased risk of developing hypertension.

9.) Schizophrenia and Depression – These disorders have been linked to vitamin D deficiency. In a study, it was discovered that maintaining sufficient vitamin D among pregnant women and during childhood was necessary to satisfy the vitamin D receptor in the brain integral for brain development and mental function maintenance in later life.

10.) Cancer – Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC discovered a connection between high vitamin D intake and reduced risk of breast cancer. These findings, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research, revealed that increased doses of the sunshine vitamin were linked to a 75 percent reduction in overall cancer growth and 50 percent reduction in tumor cases among those already having the disease. Of interest was the capacity of vitamin supplementation to help control the development and growth of breast cancer specially estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.

The best way to discover vitamin D deficiency is to take a blood test that will measure the level of the vitamin in your blood. You can consult with Dr. Chaney regarding your preventive, as well as curative, options by contacting achaney@clubwoodside.com.

DR. CHANEY’S NATURAL ALLERGY RELIEF

This time of year, many of us are looking for relief of allergy symptoms. Spring seasonal allergies can cause sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, itchy skin and other discomforts. There is a huge market for allergy symptom treatment in the form of antihistamines and allergy shots, but there are several natural therapies available too.

Dr. Chaney, Woodside’s Wellness Director and Naturopathic Doctor has put together some suggestions for natural allergy symptom prevention and remedy:

Earthbar’s “Cold & Sinus Blaster”:
The herbs in this formula taken 3 times daily will stabilize the mast cells which are responsible for releasing histamine. When histamine is prevented from being released the unwanted symptoms of itchy eyes, congestion, coughing, runny nose & sneezing can’t be manifested.

Neti Pot:
Rinsing your nasal passage is an effective and inexpensive way to relieve your allergy symptoms.

Butterbur and Spirulina:
Preliminary studies have shown that butterbur extract and spirulina may help treat hay fever symptoms, so look for remedies that include these ingredients. However, just because a supplement is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe. If you’re taking any medications, it’s best to check with a doctor about any potential contraindications before taking a herbal supplement for allergies.

Local Raw Honey:
There’s a commonly held hypothesis that the pollen content in local honey can inoculate you against allergic rhinitis. Raw honey has been shown to be as effective at soothing sore throats as over-the-counter cough drops, so if allergies have you coughing you may want to try a teaspoon.

Fish and Whole Vegetables:
More and more research is showing the advantages of eating whole foods, so it’s no surprise that a healthy diet may ease allergies. A study recently published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology found that children who eat a diet rich in fish and “fruity” vegetables are less likely to suffer from allergies. Fruity vegetables have seeds and come from flowering plants, such as zucchini, eggplant, green beans, butternut squash and tomatoes.

Follow a Low-Protein Diet:
Excessive protein can irritate the immune system, causing it to over-react. Eliminating milk and milk products may help; the protein in cow’s milk is a frequent offender.

Consider Buying an Air Filter:
I recommend a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which removes particles in the air by forcing it through screens containing microscopic pores. These devices work well and aren’t too expensive. Get one for the main rooms in your house, or move one from room to room regularly.

Renovation Update: This week (Monday-Friday) the yoga studio will be unavailable due to renovations. We are able to relocate many of the classes, but we will have to cancel others. Here are the changes for the week:

All 6:30am Sunrise Yoga classes are cancelled through Friday, plus Friday’s 10am Yoga Basics class.
All other morning classes will take place in the Southside basketball court.

All evening classes will be cancelled EXCEPT the following, which will take place in the main studio on the Southside:

Monday Moonlight Yoga 7pm
Wednesday Power Yoga 5:30pm
Friday Pop Yoga 4:45pm

Thanks for your patience while we get rid of that ugly tarp and make some really great changes. The schedule will return to normal by Saturday.

In inclement winter weather it might be impossible to get to the gym, but you can still get in a great workout! Woodside Personal Training Director Faron McNeal put together a simple home workout so you can feel a little better about staying in (and maybe earn yourself a hot chocolate!).

1 Minute: Pushups (from knees or toes)
1 Minute: Backwards Squats
1 Minute: Jumping Jacks
1 Minute: Reverse Crunches
1 Minute: Bicep Curls (if you don’t have hand weights at home, use canned goods in plastic bags)

Repeat 6 times for a quick and effective 30-minute workout!

If you would rather head outside to workout, here are some classic snow day activities with an added fitness twist:

Snowball throwing: 300 calories/hour

Who doesn’t love a good snowball fight? If you want to prevent bruised egos and melted ice down your back (brrr!!) target an object instead of your friends and loved ones. Packing and throwing makes a great workout. To get your heart rate up, challenge friends to a contest of how many you can make and throw in 60 seconds.

Build a Snowman: 275 calories/hour

The original winter yard art is also a great calorie burner! All that bending, rolling, packing and lifting can get your heart rate up and utilize several muscle groups. As you work to perfect your frosty creation, throw in some walking lunges to boost your snow day workout.

Making Snow Angels: 225 calories/hour

Ah, snow angels – iconic childhood winter nostalgia. Also a fun workout! Challenge yourself by jumping up after each snow angel and doing a set of 20 jumping jacks (you know, vertical snow angels). And please, resist the temptation to fall backwards from a standing position into your snow angel. You are grown up now, ease into it.

Snow Shoveling: 400 calories/hour

This activity isn’t nearly as much fun as the others; but it burns the most calories for sure! Be aware of your posture and take care not to strain your back. For an added challenge, switch sides periodically as most people prefer to shovel with one side, which can cause strain. Changing sides gives you a rest and provides a better overall workout.