The King of Medicinal Mushrooms

The King of Medicinal Mushrooms

Chaga Mushroom is the reigning "King of Medicinal Mushrooms." Found on yellow and white birch trees in Siberia, Alaska and northern Canada, Chaga’s medicinal properties are documented back to the 16th century.

Otzi, the Ice Man, who lived 3,300 BCE, was discovered carrying Chaga along with his other tools and equipment.

The fungus extracts nutrients from its hosts and concentrates them into itself. It is the second most antioxidant-rich food in the world aside from chocolate. The Chaga mushroom’s incredible density of B vitamins and antioxidants has the highest ORAC score, a measure of antioxidant potency, of any known superfood, three times more than goji berries. High antioxidant levels support cellular regeneration, protecting against cellular damage and genetic mutation.

Chaga contains antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, and anti-cancer properties, helping to protect against food and asthma allergies, atopic dermatitis, inflammation (including autoimmune inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis), atherosclerosis, thrombosis, HIV, listeriosis, septic shock, and perhaps most prominently, cancer.

Chaga has been found in both in vivo (inside a living organism) and in vitro (in a laboratory model) to directly inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Chaga can help boost energy and promote mental clarity, but look out for impostors. As Chaga gains popularity, it’s being "farmed" by boring holes into birch trees and artificially implanting the spores. This is not wild-harvested Chaga, and does not possess the same healing properties.

I like Chaga Island Superbrew, http://www.chagaisland.com/, made in Long Island, but there are many reliable sources on line and at your local health food store.

As always, check with your health care provider before making any changes or additions to your health care regime.

Don't Shake It!

Don’t Shake It!

The human body is designed to eat food. Every time we eat is an opportunity to nourish and heal our bodies. Digestion starts before the food goes into our mouth. The production of saliva means there are digestive juices to chew, to use the muscles of our jaws and teeth to break down food so that we can absorb the nutrients and feel satisfied.

Now hear this: a shake is a processed food. A strawberry, fresh and fragrant is real food. Shakes and the like are just stimulating a dopamine reaction in the brain defying how we are meant to function, survive and thrive. 

Bone broth is a fancy word for soup. My grandmother made soup brimming with vegetables and fragrant herbs. Soup is fun and easy to make, share and eat. Remember talking at the dinner table? Today everyone is busy slogging back shakes and going back to their devices until its time for a manic spin class. Is that fitness? Is that living?

You don’t need a lot of time to make a beautiful delicious meal, it’s quick, easy and not expensive.

Oh go ahead, make a bone broth, or buy a bone broth. There are some great organic meat, chicken, and fish stocks available. Freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays. Take a few cubes, throw em into a pot, add some leftover meat, chicken, fish, or veg, or buy frozen veg and throw in a handful as your soup begins to boil and reduce to a simmer. Squeeze a lemon or lime, add some red pepper flakes, some fresh avocado on top, like the delicious Xochil of Mexico, sprinkle some fresh herbs And you have a beautiful healthy delicious meal. Now that’s living.

Protein

Protein

How much protein do we really need? High protein diets, like The Paleo diet, are popular because people are losing weight and feeling better on these regimens. 

Like carbohydrates and fat, protein is a “macronutrient.” We need relatively large amounts of it to stay healthy. Unlike carbohydrates and fat, the body does not store protein, so it has no reservoir to draw from when you’re running low. 

The body needs protein to build muscle mass. Your brain relies on protein. It is necessary for the proper function of the digestive tract and for our endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of hormones that regulate the immune, reproductive, and central nervous systems.

The best sources of protein are those that contain the essential amino acids we need to sustain growth, repair our muscles, bones, organs, cells, and gut.

The healthiest sources are meat from livestock and poultry that eat pesticide-free grass and bugs and roam chemical-free pastures. And wild caught fish.

Enjoying a surge in popularity is Bone Broth. Bone broth is easy to make and buy in liquid and powders, it can help heal the gut and boost the immune system.

Then there’s whey protein. A high-quality whey protein will contain 100 percent whey protein isolate derived from chemical-free, grass-fed milk. Whey contains the full spectrum of amino acids.

For vegetarians and vegans, nuts and seeds are a great source of protein. Two superfood choices are chia and hemp seeds. The shelled varieties of Hemp seeds contain 11 grams of complete protein per 30-gram serving.

We need about .8 grams for every kilo, that’s 2.2 pounds, of bodyweight. Thank heavens for calculate.net, where you will find out how much you need in a day. If you are moderately active, pregnant or a real steam engine, your needs will vary. 

Hungry is Good

Hungry is good

The key to maintaining our weight and our health starts by understanding our need for food.

Why we get hungry is a question I hear a lot. We get hungry for many reasons. The bottom line is, the human body is designed to get hungry so that we feed it. We need to eat so our bodies and minds can perform. 

The urge to eat, feel satisfied, get hungry, and eat again is controlled by ghrelin the "hunger hormone“and leptin, the "satiety hormone." Often our emotionscomplicate our food associations. 

Hunger triggers our hormones and jumpstarts our digestive system. So when a client who’s in good physical shape, and all seems right in his world, is constantly wondering why he’s never satisfied much less finding joy, I have to ask, ‘What are you eating?”

He starts his day with a smoothie and vitamins. Chia seeds, flax oil, a turnip, a beet, celery, green powder, turmeric, black pepper, garlic, ginger and stevia in a nut milk base. 

Yuck is what I’m thinking, but everyone’s palate is different. “Does it taste good?“ “Oh no it doesn’t taste good but I know its good for me. It fills me up and I make enough for three days so by the third day it’s like pudding.” Blech!

Juicing and smoothies are great, but those nutrients degrade for every hour we don’t consume them. 

In the time it takes to make a smoothie you could make a beautiful, fragrant bowl with fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, and avocado and spend 10 minutes eating it, you know, chewing, like why humans have teeth. Stimulate your digestive system by absorbing the scents, site and pleasure of eating something delicious and creating a greater connection to our planet by being in touch with your food.

Make friends with your food, find joy and feed your mind, body and soul and chances are, you will feel better.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are unique because they are rich in sulfur containing compounds called glucosinolates which support detoxification and indole-3-carbinol which greatly reduces the risk of breast, colon and lung cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, glucosinolates are powerhouse chemicals that break down during chewing and digestion into bioactive compounds that prevent cancer cells growth.

Glucosinolates stimulate the body’s natural antioxidant system, triggering the liver to produce detoxifying enzymes that block free-radical attacks on your DNA.

Glucosinolates are:

• Anti-inflammatory

• Contain antibacterial and antiviral properties

• Inactivate carcinogens

• Reprogram cancer cells to die-off

• Prevent tumor formation and metastasis

Your top twelve cruciferous vegetables are:

• Arugula

• Bok Choy

• Broccoli

• Brussels Sprouts

• Cabbage

• Cauliflower

• Collard Greens

• Kale

• Mustard greens

• Radish

• Turnip

• Watercress

 A common concern is can eating cruciferous vegetables cause thyroid problems?

Research shows it would take a lot of cruciferous veg to cause hypothyroidism and only if someone also has an iodine deficiency.

Studies show the consumption of 5oz a day of cooked Brussels sprouts for four weeks had no adverse effects on thyroid function.

So if you have a thyroid issue, eat cooked cruciferous vegetables and keep it to about 1-2 servings daily.

The all new Braun MQ777

I live by design and beautiful delicious food makes me happy. My first Braun Hand Mixer made a batch of hummus just before mother’s day, then lay down and died. I got that mixer as a wedding gift in 1993. It was part of my family. 

Braun had taken a rest from the US market. The De’Longhi Group acquired the perpetual license of the household division in fall 2012 and now….Braun is back! The New products are in keeping with the Braun tradition started in 1921 by Max Braun for product design founded on simplicity, purity and functionality that makes the user experience completely intuitive. 

After tasting an entire brunch from Eggs Onsen Style with hollandaise to the Viennese Iced Coffee created on site under the watchful eye of Chef Eduard Frauneder made with the new collection was so delicious I could hardly wait to test drive the MQ777 (So James Bond!!) myself.The only struggle to set up required two foodies with advanced college degrees to remove the paper and the rest was a breeze. Papaya, ginger, lime, jalapeno smoothie followed up with a fava bean and spring pea hummus to accompany a chopped chicken salad with shredded, beets, carrot, fennel, radicchio and endive, dressed with miso vinaigrette and topped with toasted slivered almonds was a dream to prepare. 

The new Braun hand blender is built to give the user more control, featuring a brand new Smart Speed variable control technology inspired by German automotive engineering – allowing you to intuitively change the speed and power of the hand blender using just your touch. The more you squeeze, the more power you get, making it easy to regulate speeds with just one hand. Braun also developed and applied an exclusive PowerBell Technology for the Multiquick hand blenders, combining durable stainless steel blades, super easy to use, change and clean, and a unique bell-shaped blending shaft for fast and finer results – pushing your mixture inside the bell instead of toward the edges of your mixing bowl. 

The Braun Multiquick 7 Hand Blender (model MQ777) comes complete with five attachments, along with the anti-splash shaft – including a whisk, masher, food processor and 20 fl. oz. beaker and the EasyClick system, ensures that all attachments can be removed in one simple click
The Multiquick Hand Blenders, PureMix Countertop Blenders and BrewSense Drip Coffee Makers are available at national retailers and online from 69.95 to 159.99

FDA Healthy Food Guidelines

Today, the FDA says its going to need a few more years to get a grip on what’s healthy and what’s not. Like Frosted flakes are ok but the jury is out on salmon, nuts and avocados. Really? How many times does the clue phone have to ring? We are responsible for our own bodies and everybody’s body is different. Now hear this: Frosted Flakes, much as I love them, and I do love them and Tony The Tiger too, are not healthy food. Corn, GMO Corn and sugar are going to make you fat, cranky and sick. That’s the real truth. Somebody has to tell you and that somebody is ME.

My private clients are well aware that we must take charge of our own health. National statistics declaring we are a sick society, and getting sicker, are skyrocketing and if you have been waiting for the US government to tell you what to eat, you will get, be or stay sick. Your brain wont function as it should, you will get fat, depressed and ultimately sick. We are talking obesity, heart disease, diabetes and Cancer, just for starters.  Then you will be subjected to the medical system of medications that mask your symptoms, don’t make you well and feeds the fatcat salaries of Big Pharma.

Come on, be your own person. Get your head out of the sand. Take charge of your health. The human body is designed to heal itself. Every time you put something in your mouth you have the opportunity to feed your body, mind and soul. That’s what makes and keeps you well.  Food is meant to stimulate your brain. Anticipation triggers your nervous system. Smelling and seeing a beautiful plate of food stimulates your digestive juices. Chewing your food well breaks down the fibers and allows your digestive juices to do their job, so your body can absorb the nutrients and process the wastes, giving you the proper amount of time to feel satiated and satisfied.

If you are waiting for the Government to tell you what’s right for your body, you could wait a very long time and given the state of our political system and the current election dog and pony show…. well, I think I’ve said enough!

Samsung Family Hub

On May 4, 2016 Samsung announced the arrival of the Samsung Family Hub™ refrigerator.  A 21.5 inch full HD LCD screen is the refrigerator’s digital command center connecting to your iOs or Android smart phone. Now you can share calendars, photos and notes; and see the inside of your fridge with your smartphone while grocery shopping. The Family Hub™ has speakers; you can listen to your favorite music and never miss a moment of Cookie Lyons on Empire again, just because you have to baste.

Freud suggests the kitchen is the womb and so the fridge becomes the center of our universe and food is a metaphor to fulfill and gratify our hunger for love and desires.  The Samsung Family Hub™takes our already complex relationship with food and comingles it with technology.

In the movie HER, Theodore Twombly/Joaquin Phoenix falls madly in love with his computer, Samantha/Scarlet Johanssen knowing that everything he loves about HER was made in a factory.
I get it. This fridge can keep track of schedules, photos, artwork, tap into the Internet, check news and weather and connect you to:
Instacart – The leading national online grocery delivery service, delivering groceries from your favorite stores straight to your door in as little as one hour. 
Groceries by MasterCard – Order groceries online from leading retailers like Fresh Direct and ShopRite and pay for them through a simple, single check-out with any U.S.-issued credit or debit cards
Allrecipes – Access recipes rated and reviewed by millions of cooks, as well as cooking advice tips and how-to videos.
Shopping List – Compile and keep track of your grocery lists, which seamlessly sync between fridge and smartphone.
Food Reminders – Use the Family Hub™ screen or your smartphone to drag and drop expiration dates to the image of items inside to know what needs to be used, and by when.
Fridge Manager – Easily control the refrigerator and freezer temperatures, and check the status of the water filter.

I’m feeling an attachment already. For my 6K and an Amazon Prime delivery of fingerprint cleaner for the stainless or black stainless finish, what I really want to know is, can someone hack my fridge and have it squeal on who took the last cupcake? Will my fridge support me in my latest diet regime?  Is this refrigerator really my friend?
What about privacy? Under the guise of when will the milk expire will I have to put a security lock on my notes and calendars? Have I gone too far? Never mind what could happen to our relationship if the power goes out. Who will I get to fix it? Only Theodore Twombly knows for sure.

Troll at Fairway - Broadway & 75th NYC

"Scraggly bits hung from the Carcass"

I am having 'a hate on' for Fairway on Broadway and 75th. The crowd is so aggressive, 'God Forbid' you forget something in the front and have to make your way back for a pound of coffee. They should have signs like at the toll booth “do not back up”.

The produce is of mediocre quality and the refrigeration is inconsistent rendering fragile greens spoiled well before their due date from the moisture content rising in the plastic tubs. The loose greens are over refrigerated and are thus tasteless and limp.

My experience with the butcher was so unpleasant it could put me off my feed all over again. After perusing the cases of organic chicken I politely asked the butcher for a bird under 3 lbs. He pointed to the case and told me to look again that’s all the organic chickens. After receiving no help from the masked and hooded worker arranging chicken parts I chose one and asked the butcher to please butterfly it for me. His head went back down and he continued trimming a rack of chops before grabbing my bird without so much as a nod. I said I would continue shopping and be back in 10 minutes. When I returned he slapped the loosely wrapped and hastily stickered package into my hand and did not reply to my thank you.

Back home I discovered the back was snapped but the bones had not been removed. Scraggly bits hung from the carcass and the neck was hastily stuffed inside, piercing the cavity. No giblets or liver. Where I come from, butterfly means to remove the bones. I had to do it myself which is what I was trying to avoid in the first place.

When I phoned the store it took several tries to speak to a manager and he couldn’t have been less interested.

Bklyn - Teak to Chocolate

Joan Horton - JHorton Store, Connecticut

Today was a Williamsburg adventure day with the intrepid Joan Horton from JHorton Store in Madison Connecticut. I love working with Joanie. Her never ending quest for the new and exciting has led her from being VP of Corporate Communications for Revlon to having her own Lifestyle store.

We started out navigating the streets of Williamsburg in search amazing organic teak bowls. They are so beautiful and capable of withstanding the punishment of the outdoors. We compared and contrasted several petrified wood stumps to act as cocktail tables, seating and pedestals. Finding elements of Pat Steir’s drip paintings and loving the simple yet distinct differences in each and every one.

After the bowls were dusted and polished we took our starved selves on a safari through Williamsburg. The now pristine hipster hood is home to countless shops and restaurants but we had bigger game in mind. Mast Brothers. That’s right, we needed chocolate. 

With our steady guide, Waze, we found ourselves at Mast Brothers Brew Bar. Furniture shopping on an empty stomach is never a good idea and so the perfectly broken squares of dark chocolate imbedded with pepitas, cranberries, almonds and did I detect a hint of bitter orange?, was gobbled up in about 30 seconds as we were schooled on the latest brew from The Brothers who brought chocolate back to Brooklyn. We chose the salted caramel and watched as the cacao nibs were ground in a special grinder so as not to disrupt the healthful butters and then the grinds were prepared in what looks like a tea bag, covered  in boiling water and steeped like tea. Add some simple syrup and it was truly a new taste sensation. So new it propelled us down the street to the factory to snatch up an assortment of truffles and bonbons to take back to the prisoners on Manhattan island.