Health
US Army veteran starts successful barbecue business despite health challenges: ‘Very proud’
An Army veteran went from the battlefield to the barbecue.
Steven Rossler, owner and operator of Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue in Harker Heights, Texas, previously served in the Army for 20 years.
Before retiring in 2020, Rossler, 43, completed deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq and received a Bronze Star Medal for valor.
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In an interview with Fox News Digital, Rossler shared that he first wanted to be a cook in the military, but he joined as an infantryman and was stationed in Hawaii.
After experiencing the loss of some fellow soldiers, Rossler was in a “really bad spot” when he started cooking and barbecuing, which led to the start of his business in 2016.
Overcoming mental health obstacles
Rossler also struggled with the effects of active combat, including tinnitus, a traumatic brain injury, a lower back injury and mental health challenges like PTSD and alcohol abuse.
“For a long period of time, alcohol was something I used to [help me] cope,” he told Fox News Digital.
“When you see the things I’ve seen, when you see the devil face to face, those are things you can’t get out of your head.”
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Through those challenges, Rossler was kept afloat by his wife and two daughters – Paisley, 9, and Julianne, 6 – and his drive to pursue his barbecue business.
“I knew this was what I wanted to do,” he said. “It was just a matter of achieving that, a matter of getting there with the proper headspace.”
A much-needed boost
Rossler credited Semper Fi & America’s Fund – a California-based nonprofit that assists wounded veterans – for helping to get his business off the ground.
The Fund assisted with the technical aspects of running a small business, like budgeting and cost analysis.
“They’ve helped me, and they never treated me any differently,” Rossler said. “It’s been awesome.”
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He now runs Rossler’s Barbecue alongside his wife and daughters, who he considers the “backbone of our business.”
The company primarily operates out of a food trailer, which is open two days a week in Harker Heights, and handles large catering jobs and festivals on the remaining days.
“There’s nothing better than seeing [customers] take that first bite,” he said.
The business has been “constantly evolving” since its 2016 launch, Rossler said, as the family continually improves the menu offerings.
“It’s just cool to see all these people [and] soldiers from all over coming and eating,” he said. “And they’re just like, ‘Man, this is so good. We love what you’re doing. You’re a veteran. You’re thriving.’”
Rossler is already passing the entrepreneurial torch to his oldest daughter, who he described as a hard worker and “very selfless.”
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“She can outwork most men I’ve ever come across,” he said. “She has a heart of gold, but her work ethic she gets from her mom.”
Rossler urges other veterans to not rely on alcohol as a coping mechanism.
“Go seek help. Go see a therapist, see whoever you have to,” he advised. “There are so many different organizations out there that are willing to help out.”
“To all my brothers and sisters in arms out there who ever served, I really love you guys,” he added. “I really, truly mean that.”
Semper Fi & America’s Fund announced that through Dec. 31, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and PXG will match all donations made to the Fund up to $10 million.
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Health
How to live longer, plus bird flu outbreaks and kids' health warnings
Fox News’ Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in health care, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.
TOP 3:
– A doctor in Michigan reveals his wellness routine for a longer and healthier life
– As RFK Jr. sets out to improve nutrition for American children, Dr. Marc Siegel comments on the challenges ahead
– Bird flu is ‘getting worse’ across the country as cases rise, according to experts
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DOUBLE-DUTY DRUGS – Ozempic and other diabetes and weight-loss medications were found to have an unexpected benefit. Continue reading…
SICK AT SEA – Hot tubs on cruise ships were blamed for outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease. Continue reading…
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Health
'I'm a doctor — here's the wellness routine I follow for a longer, healthier life'
Humans may have reached their max life expectancy, according to a recent Harvard study — but that’s likely not going to stop them from trying to extend their years.
A recent poll found that 81% of respondents reported being “somewhat or very willing” to spend money to live longer — although many are unsure of where to start.
Dr. Sajad Zalzala, co-founder and chief medical officer of AgelessRx in Detroit, Michigan, is committed to helping people live not only their longest, but also their healthiest lives.
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As a physician with a background in functional medicine, Zalzala worked to find and treat the root causes of symptoms and illness — which led him into the longevity space.
In 2019, he launched AgelessRx to try to “solve the puzzle of aging.”
Zalzala spoke on camera with Fox News Digital about the hallmarks of aging and what he sees as the most important components of a longer, healthier life.
The hallmarks of aging
While the aging process can look different for different people, researchers have identified some “common denominators” of cellular and molecular aging, which Zalzala shared with Fox News Digital.
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1. Genomic instability: This occurs when damaged DNA leads to diseases like cancer and weakens the body’s ability to heal, according to the doctor.
2. Telomere attrition: Shorter telomeres (DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome) are what cause visible aging signs like wrinkles and slower cell regeneration.
3. Epigenetic alteration: This is when environmental factors alter gene function, accelerating skin aging and metabolic issues, Zalzala said.
4. Loss of proteostasis: “Misfolded proteins contribute to age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s,” the doctor said.
5. Mitochondrial dysfunction: Reduced energy production leads to fatigue and muscle weakness, according to Zalzala.
6. Deregulated nutrient sensing: “Dysfunction in regulating metabolism and controlling energy production is a cause of why we age,” the doctor said.
7. Cellular senescence: With this phenomenon, cells stop dividing, causing aging signs like thinning skin and age spots.
8. Stem cell exhaustion: “Fewer stem cells result in gray hair and slower tissue repair,” Zalzala noted.
9. Altered intercellular communication: Poor cell communication weakens tissue health and immune responses, according to the doctor.
10. Disabled macroautophagy: This is a slowdown of the process that provides metabolites and energy to cells, according to ScienceDirect.
11. Chronic inflammation: As people grow older, an increase in inflammation is directly linked to the development of many diseases and effects of aging, experts agree.
12. Dysbiosis: This condition causes an imbalance in the microscopic organisms within the body, which can have negative impacts on health, per Cleveland Clinic.
Many of these hallmarks can be addressed through behavioral changes, Zalzala said.
“A lot of things can be benefited by lifestyle,” he said. “For example, eating a highly processed diet, not exercising and being sedentary promotes inflammation, and that accelerates the aging process.”
5 cornerstones of health
The doctor shared some of his habits in each of the five “buckets” of healthy living.
1. Eating right
Zalzala follows a “Paleo-like” diet, which consists mainly of whole foods like vegetables, low-glycemic fruits and lean protein.
“I stay away from excessively processed foods, excessive sweets, and foods with too many starches or simple sugars,” he said.
“Eating a highly processed diet, not exercising and being sedentary promotes inflammation and accelerates the aging process.”
There’s a lot of debate about whether grains are healthy, Zalzala noted. He tends to avoid them.
“From a pure health perspective, I don’t think there’s much nutritional value in them,” he said.
When it comes to fruit, not all are created equal, according to Zalzala.
“Bananas and grapes are high-glycemic foods — you want to stick to low-glycemic fruits such as berries and cherries.”
The doctor also abstains from drinking alcohol.
“Alcohol is not very good for longevity, and I would recommend limiting it,” he said. “More studies seem to show that there’s really no good level of alcohol consumption.”
2. Staying active
While Zalzala said he’s “not a huge exercise guy,” he does recognize the importance of physical activity in slowing down aging.
He uses a walking desk in his office for a couple of hours each day, and he does martial arts classes with his teenage son.
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The doctor also spends 20 or 30 minutes per day doing a mix of exercises, including riding a stationary bike, using a rowing machine and lifting free weights.
“I try to get a little bit of cardio and a little bit of weight resistance training each day,” Zalzala said.
3. Choosing the right medications
While Zalzala said he is “very comfortable” with medications, they should be prescribed carefully based on each person’s individual health goals.
One medication he regularly takes is metformin, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
Some studies have shown that metformin could help to promote longevity and better health outcomes, the doctor said.
“I started taking it mostly for prevention, as I’ve always struggled with my weight,” Zalzala said.
The doctor has also recently started taking rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug that has been heralded for its potential longevity-boosting properties.
“Having some way to measure and monitor sleep is very important.”
Zalzala also sometimes takes acarbose, an anti-diabetic medication that helps to regulate blood sugar.
“When I do eat starches and carbs, I try to take acarbose to limit some of the blood sugar spikes that can occur — and it also helps improve the microbiome,” he said.
Most recently, Zalzala started taking atorvastatin (Lipitor) to help keep his cholesterol at a healthy level.
“I have a family history of heart disease, and I just couldn’t get my LDL cholesterol down with diet and exercise,” he said.
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The doctor occasionally takes NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which is a coenzyme that helps to regulate metabolism.
“Aging or certain disease conditions can drain the body of NAD+, so I take it here and there when I feel drained and need an energy boost,” he said.
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“There’s been more and more data showing that keeping youthful energy levels can help with all sorts of things, so I take it as needed for mitochondrial support and also for general longevity.”
4. Supplementing for health
Zalzala has always been an advocate of supplements to promote healthier living.
“Over the years, I’ve tried a bunch of different supplements — I always like to try things on myself, see how I feel, see how it moves the marker.”
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Vitamin D is among the most important supplements, he said.
Studies have shown that vitamin D supplements can help to improve bone health, brain health and immune function, among other benefits.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone produced in the adrenal gland, is another of his top picks. Some studies have shown that DHEA helps to reduce abdominal fat, improve insulin resistance and reduce inflammation in the arteries.
The doctor also takes Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant supplement, to counter the potential downsides of his heart medication.
“As long as somebody is free of any major diseases, I think most supplements won’t do any harm and could have benefit if taken intelligently,” he said.
It’s important to talk with a doctor before starting a new medication, supplement or exercise program, the doctor emphasized.
5. Improving sleep hygiene
One of the most important and overlooked aspects of health, according to Zalzala, is sleep.
“If you can’t get your sleep right, very few things matter, because it will throw off your metabolism and all your hormones,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“So having some way to measure and monitor sleep is very important.”
If someone suffers from sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, it’s essential to talk to a doctor about ways to improve sleep, the doctor advised.
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