Naturopathic Insights

Are Organic Eggs Really Healthier and Tastier and from Happier Chickens than Conventional Eggs? | | AlterNet

2010-10-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

Are Organic Eggs Really Healthier and Tastier and from Happier Chickens than Conventional Eggs? | | AlterNet

Fascinating read about organic eggs, chickens who lay them and the USDA!

Pease Pudding Please

2010-09-02T14:05:00.001-07:00

Who said that the traditional cuisine of Great Britain lacks tasty or vegetarian dishes? This Split Pea (Pease) Pudding recipe from Rose Elliot’s Vegetarian Dishes from Around the World is both yummy and veggie. In fact, it would be a great dish to bring to a pot luck gathering, make as a main dish to serve with roasted root veggies and sauteed brussel sprouts, or to use as a filling in a crepe.

Ingredients:

1 large onion, diced
1 cup of dried yellow split peas, rinsed (soaking for several hours or overnight is optional)
4 tablespoons butter or olive oil
salt and pepper
2oz frozen spinach, diced (optional)
dry thyme or dill

Directions:

In a saucepan with a lid cook the yellow split peas until soft but not mushy. This step may take 30-60 minutes.
While the split peas are cooking, on medium heat saute onion until golden and soft in butter or olive oil.
When the onions are golden, add frozen spinach, sea salt, ground black pepper and thyme. Mix well.
When the split peas are finished cooking, drain and add to the onions. Mix well and enjoy hot or at room temperature.

Simple and Amazing Fig Jam

2010-09-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

I have a very prolific fig tree and, during this time of the year, can not keep up with the daily fig production. In the Roth household, we eat figs fresh with goat cheese, freeze them to use in smoothies throughout the rest of the year, dry in the dehydrator, and give away to family, neighbors, coworkers and friends. Despite all these efforts, there are still a ton of figs on the tree. So I am making fig jam that pairs nicely with plain greek yogurt, spread over french baguette or the russian way with my morning tea:)

Ideally I would love to find a way to preserve figs without using sugar. But my freezer is at capacity. While comparing recipes, I found that this particular version uses the least amount amount of sugar. It would make my home grown figs unhappy to share a jar with Splenda or gelatin:)

Ingredients:

3lbs of ripe washed figs, stems removed, and cut in halves or quarters
2 cups of sugar
juice and grated zest of 1 large lemon

3 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Directions:

In a large stainless steel pot, combine all four ingredients.
Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour stirring occasionally. Consider using a kitchen timer to avoid scorching the bottom of the pan.
Remove cover, turn the heat to medium high and continue simmering while stirring constantly until the jam thickens.
Let cool and keep refrigerated in tightly covered glass jars.
Enjoy!

http://yourdailythread.com/2010/08/17/natural-solutions-for-people-and-planet/

2010-08-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

http://yourdailythread.com/2010/08/17/natural-solutions-for-people-and-planet/

Connect to nature, and to your health!

This is the second in a series by L.A. Naturopathic Doctor, Maya Roth, who shares with YDT how our own well-being and environmental health are connected–and what we can do to act on behalf of both.

Part Two: CONNECTING TO THE EARTH

Creating positive changes in your lifestyle will affect your health and the health of the environment. For example, we enhance our health by connecting with nature and reducing our participation in activities like watching TV and using the computer that put a strain on the planet’s energy.

Here are some tips to boost your well-being as you conserve resources while reconnecting to the earth:

Fitness

Implement an outdoor fitness routine 30-60 minutes most days like walking, hiking or bicycling. Exercise has been shown to improve brain function, reduce heart disease risk and high blood pressure, reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance physical appearance, build self-esteem and increase energy.

Vitamin G

Spend at least 20 minutes each day in green environments—gardening, bird-watching, or simply strolling through neighborhoods with abundant green space. Looking out on and being in green elements of the landscape around us affects health and well-being so much that scientists have dubbed it “vitamin G.” Vitamin G is associated with stress relief, improved attention, better self-perceived health and lower mortality risk.

Grounding

Strengthen your body’s connection to the earth by walking barefoot on the beach, lying or sitting on the ground, playing barefoot or camping. Grounding, the act of touching the earth’s negatively-charged surface to restore the body’s electrical balance, has been shown to fight inflammation and free-radical stress, which are at the root of diabetes, heart and degenerative joint disease. Daily grounding improves sleep and energy, speeds healing, and helps to manage stress.

Bio: Maya Roth, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor. She practices preventative medicine with emphasis on risk modification, lifestyle optimization and hormone balance. She is in practice at the Chiropractic Center of Los Angeles and specializes in natural family medicine, as well as subspecialties of women’s health, children’s health and environmental medicine. Dr. Roth encourages her patients to take responsibility for their own health and for the environment. She is the creator of Naturopathic Insights. Contact: Tel: (323) 935-9777 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (323) 935-9777 end_of_the_skype_highlighting; www.DrMayaRoth.com.

Images via Sydigill @ flickr

Safe and Eco-friendly Cookware

2010-07-23T10:46:00.001-07:00

While observing the weekly family dinner prep and execution in my mother in law’s kitchen, I learned that in order to make the perfect meal, I not only need perfect (read local, seasonal, better than USDA organic) ingredients I also need the right equipment.

Since moving to LA, my kitchen armamentarium has definitely expanded - I am a proud owner of swiss peelers and serrated knives. No more peeling potatoes with a knife a la Minsk for me or slip-sliding tomatoes a la Trumbull on the cutting board. The right tools make vegetable prep easy peasy!

But the category of tools I really want to talk about is cookware. While most cooks enjoy working with cast iron and enameled (Creuset type) cast iron pots and pans, I refuse to buy cookware that I can’t easily lift from the cupboard with one hand. Cast iron is great for many reasons - it heats and cooks beautifully, it doesn’t leach toxic chemicals, it’s time tested, it is stove top and oven safe, it can even help your iron deficiency anemia. But in my kitchen cast iron doesn’t pass the “can I lift this empty pot or pan with one hand” test.

Let’s talk about cast iron alternatives! You already know that stainless steel is a safe cookware choice. That leaves three lesser known but adored by me cookware alternatives: stone, ceramic and clay.( I know that none of you would consider baking with toxic teflon, acidifying aluminum or non-biodegradable silicone. ) Since I am still on the lookout for the perfect stone pot, I will discuss my favorite clay and ceramic cookware.
La Chamba
I love Columbian clay La Chamba brand cookware. These traditional casseroles, pots and pans are hand made, light to lift and easy to clean, can be used on the stove top or in the oven, do not leach toxic chemicals, and distribute heat so well that soups and stews simply don’t taste as good when cooked sans clay pots.

Natural Elements
I am also enamored with Natural Elements ceramic muffin pans. Unlike their non-stick or aluminum counterparts, ceramic cupcake pans do not leach toxic chemicals and are easier to clean than stainless steel. I use them for bakingand for freezing individualized portions of risotto or polenta.

Le Flame
Recently I came across Danish Le Flame brand ceramics. These pots are super light and durable, chip and crack resistant, can be used on the stove top, in the oven or in the broiler, do not react with food and do not leach chemicals into food.

What are your go to eco-friendly and safe cookware choices?

Stay tune for next week’s review of my new ice cube trays!

The Story of Cosmetics

2010-07-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Story of Cosmetics

Annie Leonard of the Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities and Our Health has made a new video called the Story of Cosmetics. This is a must watch for everyone!

http://yourdailythread.com/2010/07/13/food-solutions-for-people-planet/

2010-07-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

http://yourdailythread.com/2010/07/13/food-solutions-for-people-planet/

Food Solutions for People & Planet

July 13, 2010 Written by Your Daily Thread Team

This is the first in a series by L.A. Naturopathic Doctor, Maya Roth, who shares with YDT how our own well-being and environmental health are connected–and what we can do to act on behalf of both.

Part One: FOOD

Frequently, the chemicals manufactured to ease our lives and increase our convenience actually harm our health and the health of the planet. But in our daily consumer decisions we can influence how many man-made toxins enter the environment and make their way into our bodies at the same time via our air, water and food.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I teach my patients that by making good eating decisions to safeguard the planet, we as its inhabitants are rewarded with more vibrant health.

Here are some examples of choices we can make where meals are concerned:

Begin on the periphery

Select foods found on the periphery of the supermarket including produce, dairy, poultry, meat and fish. Avoid shopping the inner aisles that contain processed products and artificial ingredients. Not sure? Ask yourself, “Could I buy this product 100 years ago?” If not, then the product in question is not real food. (By shopping at your farmers’ market it’s even easier to guarantee you’re buying honest to goodness edibles.)

Zoom in on the source

Your kitchen is the source of most chemicals in your household. A water filter for the kitchen sink and a reusable stainless steel water bottle will help avoid exposure to toxic chemicals that leach from plastic and polycarbonate water bottles. Also, use glass, cast iron, ceramic and stainless steel cookware and storage containers in lieu of plastic, aluminum and nonstick-coated products. Replace your traditional toxic household dishwashing, cleaning, and laundry products with natural or homemade alternatives.

Focus on purity

Consume fruits and vegetables grown without toxic pesticides. Research shows that people who consume the “dirty dozen,” the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables, on average, eat 10 types of pesticides per day! Replace large and farmedfish that are high in mercury and other contaminants with small, wild alternatives. For example, consider substituting traditional tuna with canned wild salmon which has undetectable levels of mercury.

To learn more about naturopathic medicine for personal and planetary health and Dr. Roth, visit www.DrMayaRoth.com.

Bio: Maya Roth, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor. Dr. Roth practices preventative medicine with emphasis on risk modification, lifestyle optimization and hormone balance. She is in practice at the Chiropractic Center of Los Angeles and specializes in natural family medicine, as well as subspecialties of women’s health, children’s health and environmental medicine. Dr. Roth encourages her patients to take responsibility for their own health and for the environment. She is the creator ofNaturopathic Insights. Contact: Tel: (323) 935-9777;http://www.DrMayaRoth.com.

Images via Dr. Maya Roth, RGBclicks @ Flickr and The White Mole @ Flickr

Raised tomato planter update

2010-07-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Remember this project? In May, we gave a heavy wooden bookshelf a new life as a raised tomato planter. Six Pole Black Krim heirloom tomato plants planted from seed in a 15oz cans made their home in the organic soil in the tomato planter. I think it’s time for an update....

Where To Find Really Healthy Eggs and Poultry (It's Not at Whole Foods)

2010-06-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

Where To Find Really Healthy Eggs and Poultry (It's Not at Whole Foods)

Most labels on eggs and poultry sold in the supermarkets are misleading, as they are written by producers who are primarily interested in selling eggs and poultry and not in the providing the healthiest food options to the consumer. In this amazing article, Ari LeVaux teaches the consumer how to choose eggs and chicken meat. He also provides definitions of common eggs and chicken meat labels.

For instance, "Free-range applies only to meat birds, and means they have an unspecified amount of access to an outdoor area of unspecified size and quality. In the context of eggs, "free-range" has no meaning."

How many times at the supermarket did you choose eggs with the "free-range" label in lieu of the regular egg carton? The best decision is an informed decision, and this articles helps the consumer decipher between truthful and misleading claims.

Leona Valley is for cherry lovers!

2010-06-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

What can be better than farmer's market bounty? Pick your own fruit!

For one short month of June, beautiful Leona Valley is bursting with sweet cherries! There is absolutely nothing like picking a firm and lustrous cherry off the tree and letting the flavor explode in your mouth.

Copeland's orchard organic Utah variety ... small and sweet!

Copeland's orchard organic Bing variety ... dark and sweet!

Copeland's orchard cherries!

Mr Stein of the Stein ranch in Leona Valley informed us that July is apricot month!

Allergies be gone! morning smoothie recipe

2010-06-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Anti-inflammatory antioxidants:

•

1 cup of frozen organic berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, currants, cranberries and strawberries)
2000 mg of vitamin C powder

Fluid to keep mucus membranes and tissues hydrated:

•

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, rice milk, coconut or hazelnut milk or water

Source of anti-inflammatory easily digestible protein:

•

1-2 tablespoons or scoops protein powder (undenatured whey, rice or hemp)

Essential fatty acids to educate the body’s immune system to be more tolerant and less reactive:

•

1-2 Tbsp of fish, cod liver or flax oil
2 teaspoons ground flax seeds
1 tablespoon almond, pumpkin seed, cashew, or sunflower seed butter
1/4 -1/2 of an avocado

Source of minerals, and trace elements:

•

1 teaspoon spirulina, powdered greens or chlorella

Directions:

Blend until smooth adjusting nut milk as needed

Enjoy every morning before, during and after allergies season

Neither paper nor plastic!

2010-06-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

Two Californian cities, San Francisco and Malibu, have completely banned plastic grocery bags of which only 5% are reused. Some other cities are considering similar measures, while the CA legislature is reviewing bill AB 1998, which would ban all carry out plastic bags and make only paper bags available at grocery stores. Opponents of the bill argue that paper bags are much worse for the environment than plastic bags because manufacturing and distributing paper bags releases three times the greenhouse gases of plastic bags.

Both the "ban plastic" and "ban paper" contingencies make compelling arguments for doing away with carry out one-time use bags. Which leaves us with the only logical solution - ban paper and plastic to make way for reusable cloth bags!

My husband took this picture at Balboa Park aka Sepulveda flood basin on a Sunday morning after heavy rains ... the white specs hanging on tree branches are plastic bags .... this is where they end up after the basin floods. I hope this picture will give you the impetus to dig up or DIY some reusible canvas bags to carry out your groceries!

Elections

2010-06-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

Today is June 8th - CA statewide direct primary election!

As I was poking holes in the primaries ballot at the nearly empty polling station, I thought about elections as a means for reform. Specifically, I questioned my ballot number (which was number 4) and why, despite high level of dissatisfaction with the current state of things in CA, don't more of us get out to vote? I did not find a satisfactory answer.

But my internal dialog turned to everyday voting, the kind that is done with dollar bills and takes place every time we choose to walk in lieu of driving, go hiking in lieu of watching TV, and buy better-than-organic pesticide-free local produce at the neighborhood farmer's market. We do not need an annual election day to vote for reform. On a daily basis everyone of us makes a choice or votes for a policy when we open our wallets.

So next time you take out and swipe your card, make your vote count and choose reform! Choose policies that benefit your family's health and the planet by voting with dollars for organizations and producers who are committed to making safest products and providing health-enhancing services!

Solid versus liquid

2010-06-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Next time you find yourselves in the personal care isle of your healthfood store, consider buying a solid bar of soap in lieu of liquid body wash.

If you are already using solid soap, you probably already know that a lot less packaging goes into wrapping a bar or a two-pack of bar soap than bottling a liquid bath gel or body wash. And we all know that less packaging = happier planet.

But did you know that solid personal care items may also be healthier for you? A solid bar of soap has no water and, therefore, doesn't need toxic preservatives to guard its freshness and extend its shelf-life the way liquid soap does.

Healthy-ish chocolate chip cookies

2010-05-25T16:13:00.001-07:00

I looked over what seems like hundreds of chocolate chip cookie recipes and their corresponding reviews online to create this healthy-ish version. Why? Because you asked for an alternative to the traditional crisco-laden sugar-drenched chocolate chip cookie. This healthy-ish alternative is flourless and dairy-free. Please note, it contains oats and, therefore, is not gluten-free.

Ingredients:

1 cup of coconut oil or butter (same thing)

1/2 cup of organic sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup of almond meal

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 cups oats

1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, cashews, macadamias, or almonds)

1 cup polyphenol rich chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 F

Heat coconut oil to liquefy it (it is already liquid in the summer).

In a large bowl cream together coconut oil and sugar. Beat in eggs and add vanilla.

Stir in almond meal, baking soda, salt until the mixture is creamy.

Mix in the oats, chocolate chips and nuts.

Roll the cookie dough into balls in your hands and drop onto a non-greased stainless steel cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Raised Tomato Planter

2010-05-19T13:31:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday I worked on a super amazing project that I am excited to share with you - a 6'x1'x1' tomato planter. This project began with an old solid wood bookshelf that was sitting in the garage. We tipped it on its side, added a bottom and two ends from scrap wood that was also found in our garage.

We drilled holes in the bottom of each section for water drainage and added three planks along the bottom to raise the planter a couple of inches off the ground.

We put the planter in the middle of the yard to maximize sun exposure. Then picked up 4 bags of organic soil and distributed them evenly along the six planter squares.

And finally, we planted tomatoes that I started 4-6 weeks ago from seeds in cans.

This tomato plant looks pretty happy in her new home:)

The cost of this project was about $25 which is what it cost us to buy 4 bags of organic soil. We had tape measure, scrap wood, wood screws, electric drill and electric saw on hand.

We spent the rest of the morning decorating the planter with positive messages:)

Allium

2010-05-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

Allium sativum, which in most homes goes by plain old garlic, has so many culinary and medicinal properties. Today's post will be a showcase of my home-grown-supremely-pungent-freshly-picked-and-hung-to-dry garlic! Oh, also I am going to discuss those culinary and medicinal properties.

Back in the fall I bought a head of garlic at my local farmer's market, divided it into individual cloves and planted the cloves 6 inches apart in my home garden. In the early spring each clove produced lots and lots of garlic greens. I used these aromatic scallion-like garlic tops in everything from soups to salads.

Over the last couple of week, the greens began to wilt and dry. This was my sign to harvest the garlic. Over the course of the winter with only a weekly watering, each little clove turned into a full head of garlic. After washing and drying the garlic bulbs, I braided and hung them to dry as my grandmother used to do. And voila ... Allium sativum in a braid!

Let's talk about the culinary properties of this lovely and supremely aromatic member of the onion mishpocha. Soups, stews, and roasted goodies just don't taste the same without a hint of garlic. Did you know that you can place a bulb of garlic in the oven while baking bread; then squeeze the bulb and spread the softened garlic on the freshly baked bread?

Allium's medicinal properties range from antibiotic, stimulation of perspiration, lowering of blood pressure, easing of tension, speeding up healing, balancing blood sugar and reducing cholesterol. Did you know that a clove of fresh pressed garlic can be mixed in an ounce of warmed olive oil to be used as drops for ear infections?

What is your favorite use of garlic?

My Alma mater - University of Bridgeport!

2010-05-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

Garment Dyeing

2010-04-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

Over-dyeing is a great way to recycle and reuse a garment that you are not ready to part with. The garment in question may be a perfect but worn-out skirt that you've had since college. Or maybe you can't find just the right color cami in the store and would like to create a custom shade. Or you would like to give a whole new life to your wedding dress. The possibilities are as numerous as the contents of your closet.

There are many garment dyeing techniques and brands of dye on the market. There are just as many fabric dyeing recipes and variations. It seems to me that most people never follow a recipe perfectly. Last week when looking at a highly rated oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe, I read through hundreds of comments that read something like this: "Great recipe! I added less sugar and substituted butter with margarine. The cookies came out just as perfect as the recipe said they would." or " I used less oats and more flour and the cookies turned out as awesome as all the other people said they would!" Just like the perfect oatmeal cookie, there is no one correct garment dyeing recipe. And like with the oatmeal cookie, there is a chance that the end product will come out lousy or fabulous despite incomplete adherence to the original recipe. The anticipation of the finished chewy chocolate chip cookie (or a perfect shade of green dress) is simply exhilarating. That's a chance I was willing to take! After some research and despite some protests, I dyed an ivory silk dress green. (It is worth mentioning that Chemistry was my favorite class in college!)

This is my version for water immersion method for a long ivory silk dress and is mostly here for me to remember what I did:

Ingredients:
1 2/3 oz. container of Procion MX teal powder dye (found at Blick Art Supply stores)
1 cup Soda ash aka sodium carbonate (also at Blick Art Supply stores)
6 cups Non-iodized salt (found at any supermarket)
6 gallons of lukewarm water (75-100 degrees)
12 gallon plastic storage bin (or a similar size glass, plastic, or stainless steel container that is not used for food)
2 large plastic yogurt containers (or similar containers that are not used for food)
2-3 plastic spoons
1 stirring stick (found at Home Depot or any paint store) or a wire hanger
2-3 old towels
a box of latex gloves

Directions:

Prewash the garment, if it has never been washed before, taking care to remove stains. Sadly, the dye will not cover up stains.
Fill the tub with lukewarm water and let your garment soak.
Line the bathroom floor with old towels and place the dye bath container on the towels
Fill the container with 6 gallons of lukewarm water
Dissolve 6 cups of non-ionized salt in the dye bath, taking care that all of the salt is in solution
Measure out 1 cup of soda ash and dissolve in hot water in one of the large yogurt containers, set aside
Put gloves on
Add 1 cup of lukewarm water to the second yogurt container, add the dye, and mix thoroughly making sure that there are no clumps
Add the dye water to the dye bath, taking care to stir constantly until all the dye is completely dissolved
Wring out your garment and add to the dye bath, leaving the water in the tub for rinsing
Stir with a wooden stick or your gloved hand constantly for 15-20 minutes to make sure that all garment surfaces are exposed to the dye.
Take the garment out of the dye bath and add soda ash taking care to dissolve the soda ash completely
Put your garment back into the dye bath and continue to agitate for 15-60 more minutes.
After 30-60 minutes in the dye bath, wring our your garment and rinse in the water used to soak it initially.
Continue to rinse until the water runs clear.
Hang your garment on the line to dry.

General recipe:

1 gallon water - 1 c of salt - 1/6 c soda ash - 1 Tbsp dye
Usually 3 gallons of water are used for 1 lb of dry fabric/garment

More garment dyeing resources:

http://fabricdyeing101.blogspot.com/
jacquardproducts.com
ritdye.com
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing.shtml

Gloomy Sunday Split Pea Soup

2010-04-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

While the weather on the east coast has been heating up, today was a gloomy sunday in Los Angeles. This day reminds me of Gloomy Sunday, a beautiful film set in lovely Budapest in the 1930's.

Ingredients:

2 small yellow onions, finely diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 large carrot, diced

1 zucchini, diced

1 large potato, diced

1 cup of dry green or yellow split peas, picked over and rinsed

1 lemon (zest and juice)

6 cups of water

olive oil

cumin

paprika

salt

pepper

2 Tbsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos (optiona)

1/4 cup quinoa (optional)

Directions:

Saute onions in a soup pot in plenty of olive oil on medium heat until golden brown.

Add lemon zest, cumin, garlic and lots of paprika and mix well with the onions.

Add carrot, zucchini, potato, split peas (and quinoa) and let saute until the veggies are well coated in olive oil.

Add water, cover and bring to boil; put the heat on low and cook for 30-60 more minutes until the split peas are soft.

Take off the heat.

Add lemon juice, salt, pepper, Bragg's liquid aminos.

Puree in a classic blender or use an immersion blender.

Enjoy with toast and avocado!

Nature Cure Cook Book

2010-04-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

At a local library book sale, I came across Nature Cure Cook Book, penned in 1918 by Henry Lindlahr, MD, one of the pioneers of the Nature Cure movement and of Naturopathic Medicine. In fact, Dr. Lindlahr's Philosophy of Natural Therapeutics is a required text in the first semester of naturopathic education.

Before delving into specific remedies, Lindlahr warns that "even the most wholesome foods, in the best possible combination, cannot be properly digested and assimilated if the digestive organs are in a sluggish, atrophic condition. In such cases these organs must be made alive and active through natural methods of treatment." This remains one of the most fundamental principles in naturopathic medicine.

The Nature Cure Cook Book divides all food elements into five categories: starches (St), sugars (S), fats/oils (F), proteins (P), and minerals (M). Each recipe denotes which food elements it contains. This type of notation enables the patient to remain on the prescribed diet. For example, the patient who is prescribed a low-carb diet will know to exclude recipes that have starches and sugars and go straight to the Dandelion and Orange Salad recipe which contains minerals, fat, and protein.

Nature Cure Cook Book: Dandelion and Orange Salad (M,F,P)

Wash the dandelion leaves in very cold water to make them crist; cut into shreds with scissors; peel and chip sweet oranges in proportions of 1 orange to each cup of shredded dandelion.

For a dressing, rub the salad bowl with a garlic, cut a stalk of leek into fine rings, add a little salt, a dash of cayenne pepper, and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Stir well, add the orange and dandelion, toss together with a wooden fork and spoon. Cover with sliced hard-boiled eggs. This salad should be served as soon as mixed.

Zuquinoa (Zucchini + quinoa)

2010-04-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

As a memeber of the squash family, Zucchini is not a well received vegetable in my household. However, thinly sliced and sauteed with onions in some good old olive oil, it is really tasty and flavorful. Quinoa is another common under-utilized staple that works really well with sauteed zucchini. For this recipe you can use the common solid green zucchini or its shorter speckled sister. You can substitute quinoa with red quinoa, brown rice or wild rice. You can add some kick with cayenne pepper, or sweeten it with extra paprika. It is all up to you. Give this easy-peasy recipe a try!

Ingredients:
4 zucchinis, peeled and cut into very thin rings
2 medium onions, peeled and cut into very thin slices
1 cup of dry quinoa
about 1/2 cup of olive oil
1/2 bunch of cilantro, finely chopped
2 Tbsp ground cumin
2 Tbsp paprika
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt
pepper

cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:
1. In a large cast iron pan, on medium heat, saute onions in plenty of olive oil until golden brown.
2. Add cumin, paprika, salt and pepper and mix well.
3. Add sliced zucchini and let saute until the zucchini is coated in olive oil and soft.
4. While the onions and zucchini are sauteing, rinse 1 cup of quinoa; cook in a rice cooker until fluffy.
5. Add quinoa to the onions and zucchini mixture and mix well.
6. Add lemon juice, cilantro and adjust salt and pepper.
7. Enjoy!

A Different View of Vinyl

2010-04-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

Last month, I began talking about environmental pollution and how in nature everything is connected (when we harm the environment, we harm our health). Let's go further by talking about indoor air pollution. Potential home owners are warned to check a home that they are considering buying for indoor pollutants such as mold, asbestos, and radon. However, as soon as the house is closed on, the new owners may unknowingly introduce new indoor pollutants. Because most Americans spent about 90% of their time indoors - indoor pollutants present a big health risk.

The topic of today's post is indoor air pollution or off-gassing created by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) found in vinyl shower curtains and mattress covers. If you who are not familiar with the term off-gassing, think back to the day you bought a new see-through shower curtain or a shower curtain liner and hung it up. The strong plastic smell is the off-gassing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These particles are neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors. Moreover, when vinyl is manufactured and destroyed, dioxins (chemicals that cause reproductive problems, cancer, and birth defects) are released into the air. Judith Helfand's documentary Blue Vinyl is a good examination of the toxic effects of PVCs used in production of vinyl siding, shower curtains and toys.

If you are in the market for a new shower curtain, consider these alternatives to the smelly vinyl version:

Hemp
Cotton
Polyester

After some research and price comparison, I picked up a basic washable polyester shower curtain. It has been over a year and this curtain looks as good as new. I wash it every few weeks in the washing machine and let dry on the line in the sun. No water soaks through and there is no evidence of water/soap build up.

Has anyone used a hemp or a cotton shower curtain?

Fluoride

2010-03-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

A while back a I received a question about the fluoride content of toothpaste. As a doctor and a consumer, my first concern is the safety of the product in question. When choosing toothpaste, I usually go with a fluoride-free version.

Why fluoride-free?

Research shows that fluoride strengthens the tooth enamel and helps to prevent dental cavities. However, in comparison to the health risks fluoride poses in all other areas of the body, cavity prevention is a minor benefit. Cavities are caused by sugar ingestion, which softens the enamel and allows for greater bacterial invasion into the tooth. Cavity prevention strategies should take dietary choices and mouth milieu into account. In other words, cavities are not a result of a fluoride deficiency in the body, but of a high-sugar diet and a loss of protective bacteria in the mouth.

Wholism is one of the basic principles of naturopathic medicine. If I examined the effects of fluoride on the tooth, and overlooked all the other body parts, I may agree with proponents of water fluoridation. However, when we examine the research on the effects of fluoride on the whole body, fluoridation looks risky. Fluoride has many adverse effects on the body including lower thyroid function and increased risk of bone fractures.

What should you do?

Because some people never develop cavities, while others find themselves regularly in the dentist's chair, talk to your wholistic dentist about the best toothpaste choice for you.
Familiarize yourselves with information for and against the use of fluoride (see links below).

More resources on fluoride:
The Fluoride Deception
FluorideAlert.org
American Dental Association

Brush and floss your teeth regularly, after every meal and before bed.
Eat a whole foods diet; eliminate sugar, juice, and soft drinks.

Go Further!

2010-03-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I watched Ron Mann's 2003 Documentary Go Further starring Woody Harrelson. Woody and his friends bicycled alongside a bio-diesel bus from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA with an important message. Their message is one of personal transformation and environmental responsibility, in a nutshell, to go further. The message of this project was really poignant, for me, and the images really nostalgic.

Last summer, I drove from LA to Seattle and back to attend the annual convention of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians which took place in Tacoma, WA. On my travels through Washington, I passed mile after mile of tree stumps, and truck after truck carrying lumber. (Clear-cutting was one of the concerns depicted in this movie). I spent hours on the pristine and completely deserted beaches of Oregon, also depicted in the documentary. And ever since moving to Los Angeles, I make a weekly trip to the local farmer's market for the no-spray, local, better-than-organic produce. Organic farming in California is another cause this movie touched on.

In Go Further, Woody and his friends show that everyone us of us can make a difference and that change begins with each one of us. The first step is the awareness of the connection between the food we consume, our health, and our environment. Once we understand this connection, we can change the way we eat and demand change in how our food is produced.

12 Mile

2010-03-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

The 25th Los Angeles Marathon was in full swing this morning as I made my way to yoga class. The 12 mile marker on Sunset Boulevard was a spectacular sight - as participants of all ages representing various causes were being cheered on by the public.

As I recover from my hour long yoga class, I am amazed and inspired by the endurance and perseverance of the LA Marathon participants, who took up to 12+ hours to finish the race. Congrats to all the participants and great job to the marathon staff!

A pantry

2010-03-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

The word "pantry" comes to us from the Middle English "paneterie", meaning bread room. A modern pantry contains bread-making remnants of the 13th century bread room such as flour and grains, along with non-perishables. Is today's pantry still the best place keep bread-making essentials such as flour and grains? Today's post will discuss the best way to store provisions such as grains, beans and pulses, nuts, and flours.

As the weather outdoors is heating up, so is the temperature inside the pantry and cabinets. This change in seasons is my queue to move some food staples out of the pantry and into a climate controlled refrigerator.

Tree and ground nuts and nut butters should be stored in a cool and dark place, ideally a refrigerator (even unopened). (Tree nuts are, just what they sound like, the ones that grow on trees - almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, pistachios. Ground nuts are peanuts.) The fats and oils in nuts become rancid and spoil in the presence of light and heat.

Flour should be stored in the freezer. Freezing will keep the flour fresh and free from exposure to light, heat, and oxygen, elements which can speed up the rancidification process.

Beans, lentils, and grains should be stored in a cool dark cabinet. The ideal storage container is made of glass or stainless steel (not chemical-leaching plastic) and seals tightly to minimize exposure to oxygen. Glass mayonnaise, tomato sauce, and nut butter jars can be reused for storing bulk grains, herbs, legumes and loose teas. Adding a whole clove of garlic to each grain or legume will keep the bugs away.

A Lovely Morning

2010-03-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely morning hike in Runyon Canyon! Along my hike, I snapped images that reminded me of the amazing things I am grateful for .... my husband

.... a beautiful sunrise

... gorgeous flowers growing on rocks

... living in California where recycling and composting is a way of life

What are you grateful for today?

Protein shake

2010-03-17T12:02:00.001-07:00

Protein shake makes a quick, nutritious and a convenient on-the-go breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack. All you need is a container with a tight fitting lid and some tasty protein powder. (If you are feeling adventurous you may experiment with adding optional dry ingredients such as powdered greens and ground flax seeds).

For my morning protein shake, I use a 16 oz glass [almond butter] jar, rice milk, chocolate undenatured whey protein powder or hemp protein, powdered greens, quercetin, matcha green tea, and multivitamin powder.

Here's a basic protein shake recipe!

Ingredients:

1-2 scoops of protein powder: undenatured whey, rice, or hemp

1 cup of water or non-dairy milk: rice, almond, or coconut

Optional ingredients:

1 tsp powdered greens, spirulina or matcha green tea power

1 tsp powdered reds or quercetin

1 Tbsp ground flax seeds, wheat germ, or oat bran

1 scoop of powdered multivitamin

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a glass jar with a lid, or a similar container with a lid.

Tighten the lid; make sure the lid is snug around the mouth of the jar.

Shake the jar in your hands until all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.

Enjoy!

Preparation time:

1-5 minutes

Huge Impact

2010-03-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched Collin Beavan's No Impact Man: The Documentary. Beavan's year long project into reducing his family's environmental impact, documented in this movie, had a profound impact on me. It reaffirmed for me that what is good for the environment is also good for me personally, or as Colin puts it, on his blog, "happier planet = happier people". And just like anything that is worthwhile watching - this documentary was not merely enjoyable and worthy of discussion, it propelled me to take immediate action.

Before I knew it, I had taken out my sewing machine, old cotton tablecloth and a tape measure and made drawstring bags for the greens and fresh herbs I pick up at the farmer's market every week. (Most weeks, I decline the plastic bag and just place the dill, parsley and cilantro directly into my shopping bag, often next to muddy beets, and later regret not having anything to shield them from the dirt. Also greens tend to last longer in the refrigerator when stored in a bag.)

As my reusable recycled cloth bags are drying on the line, I am inspired to completely do away with plastic bags. What are your thoughts about healthy and happy environment being inseparable from healthier and happy people? Have you seen No Impact Man or read Beavan's book by the same name?

Rawnessa

2010-03-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

I recently received a request for an organic skin product recommendation to rehydrate dry winter-damaged skin. I instantly thought of Rawnessa. Until Rawnessa, I could not find a product that was organic, safe and effective. I kept finding organic products that were not made of 100% organic, safe for you, and effective ingredients.

Rawnessa organic and raw skincare products are made by the expert and super soft hands of Vanessa Conte. I met Vanessa and began using Rawnessa products last summer. I could not pass up 100% raw organic food for my skin. My Rawnessa Clearnessa moisturizer is made of shea butter, tamanu oil, kukui nut oil, honey, and essential oil of grapefruit, lemon and orange. There are no parabens or lauryl sulfates that compel me to keep my distance from the personal care isle at most department and drug stores.

Here are some features of Vanessa's genius that should not be overlooked:

Quality: My skin feels supple and nourished all day.

Eco-friendly minimal packaging: My moisturizer and lip balm came in glass bottles that I can definitely sterilize and reuse, or recycle.

Local: Rawnessa products are made down the street from my house, and available at the Hollywood farmer's market and online.

*I did not receive any compensation to write this - I really like this product and believe in the power of the small women-owned businesses.

Greek Yogurt

2010-03-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

When embarking on a gluten-free diet, test-driving a whole foods diet, or just trying to eat before heading out the door, breakfast can be a tricky meal to change. When sugary cereal, toast and coffee, or bagels are no longer viable options, plain greek yogurt with some berries, nuts or seeds, and virtually any fruit is a convenient, tasty and simple solution. Yogurt is a good source of protein, something that we all need to start our day and to keep up with the day to day demands of our stressful lives. It is convenient to eat in the comfort of your own kitchen, on your commute to school, and to pack to eat at work.

You may dress up your morning yogurt any way you like - with fresh or frozen berries, raw honey or black strap molasses, nut or seed butter. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, feel free to add powdered greens, probiotic powder, and ground flax seeds. I buy seasonal produce from the local farmer's market - so blood orange slices are going into my yogurt concoction, along with frozen organic blueberries, raspberries, ground flax seeds and pecans.

A review of research on an ordinary supermarket mushroom

2010-03-12T17:40:00.001-08:00

Exotic mushrooms such as shitaki, maitaki, and cordyceps have long been known to have medicinal properties, ranging from immune system activation to cancer prevention. However, I was surprised to learn that an ordinary supermarket mushroom has been been shown to prevent cancer.

White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) was a subject of several studies by Dr Schiuan Chen at Beckman Research Institute at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, CA. Dr Chen's laboratory showed that white button mushroom contains cancer-preventing constituent called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA blocks estrogen production in the body, the hormone that feeds the growth of breast cancer cells.

Dr Chen's team estimated that 100 grams, or less than 4oz, of white button mushroom daily would help to prevent cancer.

Let your food be your medicine! I am off to make mushroom soup! How are you planning on incorporating mushrooms into your daily diet?

{this is a chicken on the woods mushroom as photographed on our last mushroom foraging trip to Temescal Canyon}

{this is an unidentified mushroom found in Temescal Canyon}

{California poppies, Temescal Canyon}

Adams LS, Phung S, Wu X, Ki L, Chen S.White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) exhibits antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties and inhibits prostate tumor growth in athymic mice.Nutr Cancer. 2008;60(6):744-56.

Chen S, Oh SR, Phung S, Hur G, Ye JJ, Kwok SL, Shrode GE, Belury M, Adams LS, Williams D.Anti-aromatase activity of phytochemicals in white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).Cancer Res. 2006 Dec 15;66(24):12026-34.

Garlicky Black Bean Soup

2010-03-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

This black bean soup was super easy to prepare and super tasty!

Ingredients:

1/2 yellow onion, finely diced

4 stalks of celery, finely diced

1 large bunch of garlic greens, chopped

1 large bunch of cilantro leaves and stalks, chopped

3 medium potatoes, diced

2 12oz cans or equivalent of black beans, with cooking fluid

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/2 Tbsp cumin

1/2 Tbsp paprika

1/2 Tbsp achiote (optional)

juice of 1/2 lemon

4-6 cups of water or vegetable broth

olive oil

salt

pepper

{Garlic greens in my home garden}

Directions:

Coat the bottom of a stainless steel or ceramic soup pot with olive oil

Add cayenne, cumin, paprika, and achiote and let cook on medium-low for 2 minutes

Add onion and saute until golden brown

Add celery and saute until it wilts and softens, about 3-5 minutes

Add potatoes, cilantro, and most of the garlic greens (reserve a little bit for garnish) and saute about 3-5 more minutes

De-glaze with 1 cup of broth or water, scraping the brown bits at the bottom of the pot

Add black beans with cooking fluid

Add the rest of the broth or water

Let simmer covered on low heat for 45-60 minutes

Before serving add lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with chopped garlic greens

Enjoy!

Indian Spinach Curry

2010-02-01T14:17:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:

2 medium yellow or red onions, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 14-oz can of coconut milk or light coconut milk
1 tablespoon of indian curry
1 inch of fresh ginger root, peeled and grated
16 oz bag of frozen organic spinach
3 tablespoons of coconut oil
juice of 1 small lemon
salt
pepper
optional ingredients: 1 12oz can of garbanzo beans or 3 small boiled and diced potatoes, or 12oz of diced paneer.

Directions:

Saute the onions in a heavy cast iron or stainless steel pot in coconut oil. Cover with a lid.
When the onions turn golden and translucent, add garlic, ginger and indian curry.
Continue to saute until the onions, garlic and curry begins to stick to the bottom of the pot
Deglaze with a 1/2 of the 14 oz can of coconut milk. This means that you pour the coconut oil into the pot and, using a wooden spatula, scrape the bottom of the pot.
Add the entire bag of frozen or thawed spinach. Cover and cook on low fire for 20 minutes or until the spinach is soft.
Add lemon juice, as well as salt and pepper to taste.
Using an immersion blender, puree the spinach mixture.
Now you can add garbanzo beans for a saag chana, or cubed poiled potatos for a saag aloo, or diced indian cheese for a saag paneer.
Enjoy over brown basmati rice!

Quintel (aka Quinoa Lentil) Salad

2010-01-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

1 cup of cooked french (or brown) lentils
1 cup of cooked quinoa
1/4 cup of garlic greens (or chives), chopped
1 cup of cooked artichoke hearts, cut lengthwise into quarters
1 small tomato, sliced
salt
ground pepper

{Garlic chives in my vegetables garden}

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a salad bowl
Enjoy hot or at room temperature with olive or flax oil

Golden Beet Salad

2010-01-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

3 large golden beets, scrubbed, greens on top removed
1/2 of a medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro, parsley or dill, finely chopped
juice of 1 lemon
olive oil
salt
pepper

Directions:

Boil beets in salted water with skin on. Remove beets from water when you are able to pierce them with a knife. Peel when they cool.
Cut beets in half lengthwise. Slice each half into thin half-moon shaped slices.
Combine beet slices with onions, cilantro (or parsley or dill), lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Enjoy!

Zeidy's Fish

2010-01-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

Fresh or thawed salmon or mahi mahi, filleted and rinsed
3 lemons, sliced into thin wheels
2 carrots, peeled and sliced into coins
3 stalks of celery, diced
1 onion, finely chopped

Marinade:

Juice of 2 lemons
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 bunch of dill, chopped
6 garlic cloves, peeled, minced or crushed
3 tablespoons of Braggs liquid aminos or tamari sauce

Directions:

Marinade your fish in a covered stainless steel or glass container for 15minutes - 24 hours ahead of cooking.
Put 1/2 of the lemon wheels, carrots, celery, and onions on the bottom of a flat ceramic or stainless steel baking dish.
Put your fish on top and cover with the second half of lemon wheels, onions, carrots, and celery.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 until the fish flakes. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the fish as well as on the type of oven. To avoid overcooking, use a timer and check on your fish every 10 minutes.

Zeidy's chickpea vegetable soup

2010-01-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

2 medium yellow onions, finely diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
3 stalks of celery, diced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 red or yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup of medium grain brown rice
1 bunch of parsley or cilantro, chopped
1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup of Bragg's liquid aminos or tamari sauce
8 cups of water
salt
pepper
paprika
cumin
olive oil

Directions:

In a large stainless steel covered soup pot, saute the onions in lots of olive oil until golden brown.
Add salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and mix well.
Add carrots, celery, bell pepper, potatoes and saute until the vegetables are soft.
Add brown rice, chickpeas and 1/2 bunch of parsley or cilantro (reserve the other 1/2 bunch for later). Mix well so that the rice is coated in olive oil.
Add 8 cups of water and bring to boil.
Reduce to low and simmer on low for 1 hour adjusting water as needed.
Add Braggs liquid aminos or tamari sauce and the rest of parsley or cilantro right before serving.
Adjust spices and enjoy!

Amazing Full of Gluten No Knead Bread

2009-12-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

I am in love with No-Knead Bread (NKB). I was introduced to NKB by The Minimalist, Mark Bittman from the NY Times. The recipe is super easy. All you need is flour, salt and a tiny amount of yeast. The trick is letting the dough rise for 18 hours and baking the bread in a covered soup pot. This bread comes out crusty on the outside and super soft on the inside. My adaptation includes green olives and red onions, but you can add whatever you desire. Give it a try!!!

Mushroom Polenta "Muffins"

2009-11-08T15:41:00.001-08:00

When I recommend taking a gluten holiday to my patients, I am often asked, "but what will I eat without bread and pasta? " While there are lots of gluten-free bread and pasta alternatives on the market these days, there are also LOTS of foods that are naturally gluten-free, really tasty and very inexpensive. Polenta is a great example - it is made from corn meal, tastes yummy, and costs pennies to make.

Gluten is a protein found in grains that some individuals can develop sensitivity to. Gluten containing grains include wheat, barley, rye, spelt, oats, triticale, and kamut. Why are some people sensitive to gluten in wheat? In the last 50 years, wheat has been bred to contain 50% more gluten protein. Farming and agriculture has been around for only 10,000 years which is nothing compared to human genome. Our genetics, which haven't changed as much, are not used to this large protein content in grain causing some individuals to develop sensitivities.

Ingredients:

1 cup of course corn gritts or corn meal (Bob's Red Mill brand works well)

3-4 cups water

2 medium portobello mushrooms finely diced

1/2 yellow onion finely diced (can also use shallots or leek)

olive oil

1-2 Tablespoons of butter (optional)

1-2 Feta cheese (optional)

salt

pepper

Directions:

Saute mushrooms and onions in olive oil in a medium size sauce pan with cover until they are golden brown

Add 3 cups of water and bring to boil

Add corn meal, cover, and turn hear on low

Stir occasionally to avoid burning the bottom

You may need to add another cup of water

When the corn meal reaches soft and slightly runny consistency, turn off the heat

Add salt and pepper to taste

Add butter and feta cheese. This is completely optional. I've made polenta completely vegan and with butter/feta and both versions tasted really good.

Ladle the mixture into a muffin pan that's been sprayed with olive oil. I use ceramic muffin pans in lieu of teflon or aluminum ones and have had no "sticking" issues. One cup of corn meal yields about 12 polenta muffins.

Let the polenta cool in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.

Heat in the oven before serving.

Serve with garlicky spinach and tomato sauce.

Enjoy!

Black bean soup with lemon balm

2009-11-04T15:23:00.001-08:00

My super sweet sister in law gave me a bag of dried lemon balm from her herb garden. Its proper latin name is melissa officinalis. It is a lemony smelling herb that is a member of the mint family. Dried lemon balm makes a great tea that can help with digestion, fighting viruses and is very calming. However instead of making a tea, I decided to incorporate it into a soup. While trying to decide which soup to make, I remembered that while living in Phoenix, I tried an amazing Persian lentil soup with ginseng. So, last night, I decided to make a variation on that recipe with my newly acquired lemon balm and a can of organic black beans. I bet this recipe would work well with mint or ginseng.

Ingredients:

2-3 stalks of celery washed and diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
1 large onion, peeled and diced
3-4 tablespoons of dried lemon balm with stems/twigs removed
1 can of organic black beans
1 handful of brown rice
2 tablespoons of braggs amino acids
olive oil
cumin
salt
pepper
3-4 cups of water

Directions:

Saute the onion in olive oil in a medium sized soup pot until it becomes translucent
Add lemon balm and cumin and continue to saute until the onions begin to brown
Add braggs amino acid, carrots and celery and continue to saute until the celery is soft
Add water, cover with a lid and let simmer until the water begins to boil
Add black beans and rice and let simmer on low heat until the rice is soft
Add salt and pepper
Puree with an immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender
Adjust salt and enjoy!

Garlicky greens with cannellini beans

2009-10-16T10:22:00.001-07:00

This recipe was remixed from One Bite At a Time cookbook by Rachel Katz, a gift from Fridy (Thank YOU). You can use any bunch of green leafy vegetables from your favorite farmer at your local market. I prefer to use red swiss chard because of the color and because it takes less time to cook than say kale or collard greens.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of swiss chard, roughly chopped with stems cut off (save the stems for veggie stock or soup)

1 yellow onion, finely diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 can of cannellini beans, rinsed

lemon juice

olive oil

salt

pepper

cayenne (if you like)

Saute the onion in plenty of olive oil until it is translucent with hints of golden brown. Add garlic and continue to saute for 30 more seconds. Reserve the onions with the oil. Deglaze the onion pan with some water. Add the swiss chard, salt, pepper and cayenne. Cover and let cook until all of the swiss chard has wilted. Drain the swiss chard. Combine the caramelized onions and the oil they were cooked in, swiss chard and cannellini beans. Mix and add lemon juice. Enjoy cold as a salad or warm as the main dish.

Rainbow roasted vegetable salad

2009-10-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while working in my garden, I noticed that the house next door has a lemon tree full of large ripe lemons. I convinced my husband to go next door. He came back with 3 really large lemons. When I cut one in half, I realized that it was not a lemon - it was a grapefruit. I went ahead and used grapefruit juice in lieu of the lemon juice for the dressing. So, if you don't have lemons, use grapefruit... and if you don't have grapefruit, use rice, apple cider or pomegranate vinegar. And if you don't have a butternut squash or don't want to go through the trouble of trying to cut it in half, substitute with 3 white potatoes or leave it out.

Ingredients:

3 Beets, washed and ends trimmed (wash the greens well, wrap with a paper towel and put into a plastic bag to use in soup or to saute with garlic and onions)

3 sweet potatoes, washed

1 small butternut squash, washed and cut in half lengthwise

1/4 bunch of fresh or 3 teaspoons dry dill

olive oil

lemon juice, or grapefruit juice or vinegar

salt

pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 or 400. Put all the veggies into a lasagna type ceramic or stainless steel pan. Cover the bottom with 1 inch of water. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake until you are able to pierce the veggies with a knife with no resistance. Take out of the oven and let cool. Peel and cut into 1/2 - 1 inch cubes. Add olive oil, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper and mix. Enjoy!

Water Conservation and LADWP

2009-10-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

Over this summer, I watched my lawn go from its spring shade of yellow thirst to a scorched and brown shade of a parched desert, as Southern California is experiencing its third year of drought. Each time I step barefoot outside and feel the sharp needles that used to be grass under my feet, I am reminded of just how bad the drought is.

Water conservation is on my mind in times of drought and in times of abundant water supply. These are some steps that I use to save water, our most precious resource:

Take shorter showers
Turn off the water while brushing my teeth
Fill my clothes washer completely
Wash and rinse my dishes in batches by filling the sink with water

I am always looking for new ways to conserve water and preserve the environment. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has delighted me with their water conservation programs. Over the summer, the LADWP has come up with amazing incentives to taking water conservation to another level. These are some of the elements of the program:

Rebates for purchasing high efficiency clothes washers and high efficiency toilets

Residential drought resistant landscape incentive program: the LADWP pays 1$/square foot for you to rip out the grass and replace it with drought tolerant plants. This will allow you to save substantial amounts of water in years to come and get paid to do it.

Tree planting programs: Online tutorials and guides with planting guidelines and tree species suitable to Southern California. It has everything you need to know – type of plant, shape, size, growth rate, climate, water use, tree care and other considerations.

For more information email: Tree program@ladwp.com or call 800.473.3652

Residential shade trees: The LADWP in partnership with million trees LA is also offering street trees to residents who complete an online workshop and fill out a online form.

Mulch or compost for your yard

6000 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
Monday – Sunday 7am-5pm
For more information call 818.834.5128

California friendly landscape workshops

For dates and locations and to RSVP call 800.544.4498

I am off to study the LADWP Home Tree Guide and RSVP for the October 17^th CA friendly landscape workshop! I am eager to hear from my fellow Angelinos who have participated in these programs. What did you learn at the workshops? Did you tear out your lawn and replant it with drought tolerant plants?

Lentil Salad

2009-09-08T17:34:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

16 oz bag of dry green, brown or French lentils

2-3 medium tomatoes finely diced

½ of a red onion finely minced

2-3 persian or pickling cucumbers finely diced

1 orange or yellow bell pepper finely diced

½ bunch parsley or cilantro

juice of 1 lemon or 2 tablespoons of pomegranate vinegar

2-3 tablespoons of olive oil

¼ teaspoon of cumin

salt

pepper

Directions:

Wash the lentils and pick out any stones.

Cook the lentils in 64 oz of water until soft.

Rinse the lentils with cold water and drain well.

Combine the cooked lentils with all the other ingredients in a bowl

Mix well

Adjust oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Labor Day Cole Slaw Salad

2009-09-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am calling this red slaw recipe “Labor Day Cole Slaw Salad” because I made this over the holiday weekend and got a lot of compliments and requests for the recipe. I prefer to use red cabbage because it has more antioxidants than its white/green sisters. You don’t have to use honey, agave or maple syrup but the sweet addition works really well with the tartness of the lemon juice.

Ingredients:

1 small head of very thinly shredded red cabbage

2 shredded carrots

2-3 Tablespoons of lemon juice or pomegranate vinegar

1-2 teaspoons of honey, agave or maple syrup

3-6 tablespoons of mayonnaise

½ bunch of fresh dill, parsley or cilantro

salt

pepper

Directions:

Add shredded cabbage to a stainless steel or glass bowl

Using a stainless steel ladle, meat hammer or a potato masher, “beat” the cabbage to soften it

Add all the other ingredients and mix well

Adjust the mayonnaise, salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy!

Faux Tuna Salad (Chickpea Salad)

2009-09-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Last time I ate at Pure Luck, the waiter talked me into ordering their chickpea salad. He described it as “a tuna salad without the tuna”. I really liked it, but never asked him for the exact recipe. So here’s Faux Tuna Salad - my take on Pure Luck chickpea salad. You can make your variation of this salad by substituting chickpeas for tuna in your favorite tuna fish salad recipe. You can make this salad vegan by substituting conventional mayonnaise with vegan mayo or olive oil.

Ingredients:

2- 15oz cans of garbanzo beans (or dried and cooked equivalent)

1 peeled and finely diced carrot

1 finely diced small red onion

2 stalks of finely diced celery

2-3 tablespoons of mayonnaise

salt

pepper

Directions:

Wash and drain the chickpeas

Using a fork, mash the chickpeas or pulse them in a food processor to a rough and chunky consistency (not a smooth hummus consistency)

Combine and mix all the ingredients in a bowl

Adjust the mayonnaise, salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy!

Pomegranate Vinegar

2009-09-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

My next door neighbor has a pomegranate tree, which means that I have access to lots of pomegranates this time of the year.

I decided to incorporate this yummy fruit into more recipes. I began with a home made pomegranate vinegar. It is great to use in salads which call for lemon juice or any type of vinegar (balsamic, apple cider etc). Here’s my recipe – give it a try! It makes a lovely DIY present for your dinner hosts in lieu of wine.

Ingredients:

1 fresh pomegranate

10 oz of white vinegar

12-16 oz glass bottle

Directions:

Open the pomegranate and take out the seeds; discard the skin and pulp

Add pomegranate seeds to the glass bottle

Pour the vinegar over the seeds and close lid very tightly

Store in a dark cool place for 2 weeks to develop flavor

Use in recipes calling for vinegar or lemon juice

Optional/alternative:

Instead of pomegranate, use cherries with pits and stems

Review of research on exercise and fitness

2009-06-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that exercise is good for you. We've been told that by our teachers, parents, magazines, and the media. In this post, I would like to take a look at what science and research has to tell us.

Research shows that exercise has been proven over and over again to improve alertness, attention and motivation. Aerobic exercise, like jogging, biking and swimming, has been shown to increase neurotransmitters, improve communication between brain cells and spur the developement of new brain cells. Does anyone know of any drug that can spur the developement of new brain cells? I sure don't. Anaerobic skill-based exercise like, tennis, basketball and dancing, improves synaptic connections in parts of the brain. Once improved, these connections can be recruited by other areas of the brain for thinking. This explains why children that play piano have an easier time learning math.

What we are not hearing from our teachers, parents, magazines and the media is that exercise improves learning and brain function by growing new brain cells and improving communication between existing brain cells. Why not? There is no financial gains to be made from exercise, the way there would be from a drug.

In addition, exercise:

Lowers heart disease risk
Reduces blood pressure
Increases strength of ligaments and tendons
Reduces stress and helps relieve depression
Improves sleep
Reduces risk of cancer (colon, prostate and breast)
Enhances physical appearance
Improves self esteem
Strengthens bones, reducing risk of osteoporosis
Increases energy

I am off to Runyon Canyon to build new brain cells! What are you doing today to improve your brain function???

Naturopathic Doctors Call For Real Health Care Reform

2009-05-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Naturopathic Medicine Supporters Advocate For realth Care System Based On Wellness, Disease Prevention, And Natural Medicine

"More than 100 naturopathic doctors and supporters will descend on Capitol Hill Monday, May 4, to advocate for an overhaul of the nation’s health care system. Advocates from across the country will ask their Members of Congress to support H.Con.Res.58, a resolution that would transform the health care system from one that manages disease to one rooted in prevention, health promotion, and wellness.

“The health care system must address the underlying factors that lead to chronic disease,” says Karen Howard, Executive Director of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. “Nearly forty percent of all U.S. deaths are from heart disease, and more than two thirds of Americans are overweight. Clearly, the current system doesn’t do enough to prevent these costly health conditions. We need to move past this broken model and create a system that focuses on overall health, wellness, and enabling the body’s natural healing process.”

Naturopathic medicine is based on the belief that the human body has an innate healing ability. Naturopathic doctors teach their patients to use lifestyle changes and cutting-edge natural therapies to enhance the body’s ability to ward off and combat disease. Naturopathic doctors craft comprehensive treatment plans that blend the best of modern medical science and traditional natural medical approaches to not only treat disease, but also to restore health.

“Today, our definition of ‘wellness’ is limited to drug screening, vaccinations, and other preventative strategies such as drug therapy,” continues Howard. “But we drastically undervalue how changing behavior can prevent disease. If the nation is to move past the current health care crisis, we must adopt a patient-centered health care model that will restore and maintain optimal health.”

Currently, 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, postgraduate naturopathic medical school and to pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license."

* * *

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians is a professional association strives to make naturopathic medicine available to every American, and to increase recognition of naturopathic physicians as the identified authorities on natural medicine. Our members include accredited schools of naturopathy, students, physicians, and individual and corporate supporters, participating independently or though 40 state-level affiliate organizations. Learn more at www.naturopathic.org

Jenna Huntsberger

Marketing and Communications Specialist

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

4435 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 403

Washington, D.C. 20016

Phone: (202) 237-8150

Toll-Free: (866) 538-2267

Fax: (202) 237-8152

jenna.huntsberger@naturopathic.org

Sweet Potato Stew

2009-04-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

When the weather gets cold, I love to prepare warm, mushy, and stewy foods. Last night I made a dinner in honor of my father in law's birthday. This sweet potatoe stew recipe "stole the show".

I love using organic root veggies for this recipe because organic produce tastes better (as we talked about in the past) and because organic produce eliminates the need for peeling and saves valuable prep time. I've also made this recipe with steamed tempeh in the past. If you are interested in using tempeh, you can add it in with the potatoes.

Ingredients:

1-2 yellow onions, peeled and diced

2-3 carrots, washed and diced

2-3 stalks of celery, washed and diced

3-5 sweet potatoes (preferably organic so that you can just wash and cube them without peeling to preserve all the goodness)

2-3 regular potatoes

2-3 bay leaves

1 12 oz can of black beans

1 14 0z can of diced tomatoes

1 tablespoon cumin (ground or whole)

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon turmeric

a pinch of cayenne or chili powder

some salt

some ground pepper

some olive oil

a handful of dried cranberries, currents, cherries or blueberries (if available)

1 bunch of parsley or cilantro

water as needed

Directions:

Sautee onions in olive oil until soft or golden.
Add celery and carrots and continue to sautee for another 5 min.
Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder or cayenne, salt and pepper and bay leaves. Mix all of the ingredients in the pot.
Add a can of diced tomatoes, regular and sweet potatoes, black beans, dried cranberries, cherries, blueberries or currants.
Add enough water to cook the potatoes without burning, but not to make this recipe it soupy
Cook on low simmer, stirring often, adjusting water as needed until the potatoes are soft.
Add cilantro or parsely at the end.
Enjoy!

Artichoke Lemon Pesto

2009-04-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

There is no need to ponder about the ingredients on the store-bought container of pesto or atichoke dip, when you can make your own using extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil from the farmer's market, and a newly picked lemon from your neighbor's tree. Leave the BGH laden cheese, canola oil mayonaise, and canned and preserved artichokes at the store, and prioritize your health today!

Ingredients:

1 12 oz bag of frozen artichoke hearts

1 bunch of fresh basil, washed

1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds (can substitute with walnuts, pine nuts or almonds)

juice of 1 small lemon

1 cup of extra virgin olive oil

salt

pepper

Directions:

1. Thaw frozen artichokes overnight

2. In a food processor, roughly chop pumpkin seeds

3. Add artichokes, basil (stems and leaves), lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper

4. Bring to a rough or a creamy consistency

5. Adjust salt and pepper

6. Store in an airtight container

7. Enjoy as a spread or a dip

Summer Butternut Squash Soup

2009-04-21T20:13:00.001-07:00

This week, the LA weather took a turn for the worse. And by worse, I mean, it turned ugly and reminiscent of an Arizona summer. I really enjoying making and tasting soups. In yesterday's 100 degree heat, I had to think of another way to enjoy my shapely organic butternut squash. I decided to make a chilled summer soup. I let my crock pot do the sweating, while I went to the beach. This soup came out really well and I am excited to share it with you!

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash cleaned, peeled, seeded and cut into 1.5 inch cubes

1 onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

4 stalks of celery, roughly chopped

1/2 bunch dill, roughly chopped

1 twig of fresh rosemary, or 1-2 teaspoons dried rosemary

1 inch section of ginger, peeled and finely minced

juice of 1 orange

olive oil

salt

pepper

6-8 cups of water

Directions:

1. In a pan, saute onion in olive oil until golden brown.

2. Add celery, carrot, salt, pepper, rosemary, ginger, orange juice and dill and continue to saute covered for 10 more minutes

4. Put butternut squash in a crock pot. Cover with water and cook on low setting for 6-8 hrs. (If you don't have a crock pot, you can also simmer it in a soup pot on low heat for an hour)

5. Adjust water, salt and pepper

6. Pure in a food processor, blender or using an immersion blender.

7. Chill in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours

8. Enjoy!

Matza Brie Breakfast

2009-04-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

I first learned about Matza Brie while visiting a friend in Paris during Passover 9 years ago. We made Matza Brie with Canadian Maple Syrup and French Matza. We also bid good bye to Passover at a Parisian bar with Belgian beer.

Made from flour and water, Matza is a Passover staple that looks and tastes like a cracker. It is a symbol of Jewish escape from Egypt. They could not weight for the bread to rise - hence we eat Matza, unleavened bread.

This Matza Brie recipe is accompanied by slices of avocado and cilantro dressing. The cilantro dressing is also great on any green or roasted root-veggetable salad. You can use maple syrup in lieu of this dressing and avocado for a sweet take on breakfast.

Ingredients:

Matza Brie:
1. 1 egg per 1 square of matza
2. 1 cup of boiling water per 1 square of matza
3. olive, coconut or grapeseed oil
4. salt and pepper
5. optional: avocado slices and cilantro dressing OR maple syrup

Cilantro dressing:
1. 1 bunch of washed cilantro
2. 1 clove of garlic
3. salt, pepper, cumin
4. 2 tablepoons of honey
5. 2 tablespoons of mustard
6. juice of 1 large lemon
7. optional: tahini

Directions:

Matza Brie
1. in a bowl, break up matza square into about 1 inch pieces
2. pour boiling water over the matza and let sit for a few minutes until matza is soft
3. in another bowl, beat the egg; add salt and pepper
4. drain the water from the matza
5. put matza in a skilet over low heat with some oil
6. add eggs and mix every few minutes until the eggs look scrambled
7. serve with avocado slices and cilantro dressing (see recipe below)
8. enjoy!

Cilantro dressing
1. mix all the ingredients in a blender
2. blend on high until you reach dressing consistency
3. pour into a glass container and store in the refrigerator
4. use within 7 days of making

Chinese Spinach Soup

2009-04-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

At last week's West Hollywood Farmer's Market, I bought a big bunch of Chinese spinach. It looks a bit like basil, but tastes like spinach. I wanted to make a soup out of it, but couldn't find any recipes with Chinese spinach. I didn't want to see this green beauty wilt in my refrigerator or go to the compost bucket untouched, so I created this recipe. Jacob tells me that this was the best soup he's tasted, and second only to his Bubby's. I tend to think that the love you put into the meal you make is what makes it tastes so good, but this time it was a complete accident. I put the soup on the stove and completely forgot about it. I was consumed by some phone calls for about 45 minutes, while the soup was bubbling on the stove. This soup tastes yum with bits of matza. I plan on buying a different bouquet of greens every week and making a soup around it. Next week will be sweet potato greens week.

Ingredients:

1. 1 leek, washed and thinly sliced; remember to discard the dark green parts
2. 4 stalks of celery, washed and diced
3. 2 medium potatoes, washed and diced
4. 1 large or 2 medium carrots, washed and diced
5. 1 bunch of Chinese spinach, washed and chopped roughly, including stems and leaves
6. 2 tablespoons of miso
7. olive oil
8. salt, pepper, cumin
9. bragg's liquid aminos
10. 8 cups of water

Directions:

1. saute leek in olive oil on low heat
2. add celery, carrot, and potato; mix well
3. cover and let sweat
4. add Chinese spinach, salt, pepper, cumin; mix well
5. continue to saute under the cover
6. add water; cover and cook on low heat for about 45 minutes
7. turn off the heat, add miso and mix well
8. adjust salt to taste or add bragg's liquid aminos
9. enjoy!

Mint Green Tea Iced Tea

2009-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

8 cups of filtered water

1 bunch of washed regular mint, pepper mint, or spear mint

1 tablespoon of loose green tea

2 tablespoons of honey or agave nectar

juice of 1 lemon

Directions:

1. boil 8 cups of water and set aside

2. put a whole bunch of mint into a glass container and bruise with a wooden spoon to release essential oils

3. add loose green tea

4. cover with hot (not boiling) water and set aside for 1-3 hrs

5. strain

6. add lemon juice

7. serve over ice with a sprig of mint

8. enjoy

Naturopathic Medicine Series Airs on April 8th, 2009 on KOCE PBS

2009-04-06T13:16:00.000-07:00

Naturopathic Medicine Series to Air April 8th, 2009
Program is the first to educate public on this powerful form of natural medicine

On April 8, 2009 the country's first series on naturopathic medicine will air on southern California's KOCE, the sixth-largest PBS station in the country. Produced by the award-winning American Health Journal in conjunction with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), the series will educate the public about the practices and philosophy of naturopathic medicine.

"The public is hungry for a system of health care that is patient-centered, wellness focused, cost-effective, and which uses natural remedies without side effects," said Karen Howard, AANP's Executive Director. "Naturopathic medicine is what the public wants and needs. We're excited about this opportunity to educate the public about naturopathic medicine."

The program will cover a broad range of topics, including the training and education of naturopathic physicians, environmental health and cancer, naturopathic approaches to chronic disease, family medicine, preventing heart disease and diabetes, mental health, allergies, and chronic pain. The six-part series (with a seventh "best of" episode) will begin airing April 8, 2009.

Naturopathic physicians combine the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science. Steeped in traditional healing methods, principles and practices, naturopathic medicine focuses on holistic, proactive prevention and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Naturopathic medicine embraces the medical oath "first do no harm." By using protocols that minimize the risk of harm, naturopathic physicians help facilitate the body's inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health. It is the naturopathic physician's role to identify and remove barriers to good health by helping to create a healing internal and external environment. Currently, 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, postgraduate naturopathic medical school and to pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license.

A View on Naturopathy

2009-03-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

Today's Naturopathic Insights guest contributor is Lena K. from Boston, MA with a policy statement on naturopathic medicine.

Identifying the Problem

In the United States, people rely heavily on conventional medicine, often resulting in the overuse of prescription drugs. While therapeutic drug treatments may be both effective tools of healthcare as well as being cost effective, often replacing the need for costly surgical procedures, people’s increasing reliance on them suggests an unhealthy dependency. Moreover, consumer’s increasing demand for quick fixes is increasingly being met by doctors who are overburdened with a growing waiting room of patients. The trend is such that people no longer care about safe-guarding their own health as much as alleviating their symptoms. The current healthcare approach has therefore placed greater emphasis on a person’s symptoms and how best to eradicate them, than on the overall health and well-being of the person in question. First and foremost, this is a problem in the way people think about their own health and the kind of priorities they place on their healthcare services.

Creating a Solution – The Vision of Naturopathy

“To transform the healthcare system from a disease management system to a comprehensive health program incorporating the principles of naturopathic medicine.”

– Mission Statement, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

It is the position of physicians who practice Naturopathic medicine that this attitude and outlook towards life and health must change in order to see the improved health and vitality of a people. While conventional medicine is important and its advances and benefits to mankind should not be underscored, natural medicine offers a new way of thinking about health. Naturopathic medicinal theory posits that in many non-emergency circumstances, man has the ability to heal himself. Furthermore, by providing the right circumstances and conditions, the body has the ability to perform at its best and fight off common disease and ailments. This outlook and lifestyle is the difference between being of average health and being in the best possible condition; the difference between feeling ok and feeling full of energy without having to drink a single cup of coffee.

In this manner, Naturopathic Medicine is not only a type of alternative medicine, but it is equally an alternative lifestyle. It stresses people taking responsibility for their own personal health by altering their lifestyle to make themselves healthier, instead of waiting for a doctor to determine how they should do so. Such lifestyle changes range from the minor, such as drinking less, to the more extreme, such as maintaining a diet of only organic foods. But ultimately, Naturopathy prescribes to the idea that in order to be healthy people should take better care of themselves by watching what they put into their bodies and how they treat their bodies.

Examples of conditions that should be improved to improve overall health include examining the types of foods that are eaten, specifically looking for any harmful contents, the overuse of drugs or other harmful substances, constant stress, lack of exercise, and overuse of pharmaceuticals to cover up ailments. Naturopathy also prescribes to the idea that natural substances and methods, such as vitamins and plant extracts with healing properties can effectively deal with internal ailments, while acupuncture and chiropractic services can manipulate the physical ailments of the body. Naturopathy is all encompassing in this sense, and quite literally examines the patient in his or her entirety rather than simply focusing on a localized complaint. Naturopathic physicians go about treating patients in the manner described above on the basis of the Guiding Principles of Naturopathic Medicine:

First, do no harm
The healing power of nature
Identify and treat the causes
Doctor as a teacher
Treat the whole person
Prevention

So not only is the aim to provide better conditions for health, but also to create better educated and more responsible consumers of healthcare services. This is a notable departure from the aims of conventional medicine, which often stresses particular issues and not a person’s overall health and knowledge. Yet people should know their bodies, and should have an understanding of how their ailments affect them in order to make more informed and effective decisions about the type of healthcare offered to them. People have a right to know what they are putting in their bodies, whether this applies to certain types of drugs or even the contents of their food.

Naturopathic Physicians are unique in their mandate to help people make lifestyle changes. They are able to identify how best to establish a new level of health for their patients by providing a comprehensive health analysis based on the Guiding Principles of Naturopathic Medicine. Naturopathic Physicians will continue to work towards shifting people’s understanding of health from one that simply alleviates symptoms to one that treats the entirety of the person.

Works Cited

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. AANP 2006. Retrieved Feb. 3. 2009. http://www.naturopathic.org/viewbulletin.php?id=206.

Cold Care Soup

2009-03-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Just as the winter became spring, the weather turned cold and rainy. This morning, I woke up feeling chilly, achy and congested. Oh no, I have a cold! My mission for today is threefold:

1. Increase my body temperature

2. Remove obstacles to launching an effective immune response

3. Give my body all that it needs to get back into balance

I put on my winter wools (hat, scarf, socks) and snuggled under the down blanket. I am avoiding solid food, stress, and alcohol. And most importantly, I must rest, rest, rest!

To aid me with my recovery, I made an awesome broth that I named Cold Care Soup. It actually satisfies all three of my mission objectives. It helped me break a sweat, it is super light on the digestive track, and it helps my immune system.

Ingredients:

6 cups of filtered water

1 whole medium onion peeled

5 whole cloves of garlic, peeled

1 sprig of thyme

1 lemon grass stick, cut into 3 inch pieces

2 inch section of fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced

ground black pepper

cayene powder

1 tablespoon of miso per serving

additional or substitute ingredients: (fresh oregano, fresh sage or any other fresh and pungent herb from your local farmer's market)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients except miso in a soup pot. Bring to boil. Lower the heat and cook for 20 minutes or until the onion is soft. You will smell the aroma and know when the broth is ready.

2. Ladle the broth into a bowl or a mug taking care to leave the herbs and savories in the pot. Add 1 tablespoon of miso to each bowl or mug and mix well.

3. Enjoy and feel better!

New Breakfast Idea

2009-03-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

This breakfast is really hearty and works well for people who don't like the taste of eggs alone, and are no satisfied by cereal. This dish can be made indian or mexican style with the addition of indian spinach or curry sauce (sold at trader joe's) or salsa/pico de gallo sauce.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 diced onion (red or white)

1-4 eggs

1 cup of Indian spinach sauce from trader joes or salsa/pico de gallo of your choice

1 avocado

1 cup of steamed or slightly boiled florets

1 cup or package cooked lentils

salt

pepper

cumin

cilantro

1. saute onions in olive oil until golden brown

2. add salt, pepper, cumin

3. lower the heat and add eggs. scramble by moving a wooden spatula back and forth across the pan

4. when eggs are almost done, add indian sauce or salsa/pico de gallo. mix with eggs on low heat.

5. add lentils and brocolli. mix well and cook the mixture on low heat for a few more minutes

6. serve with cilantro garnish and avocado

7. enjoy

What is naturopathic medicine?

2009-03-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of health. It is
distinguished from other systems of healthcare by the guiding
principles upon which its practice is based.

Guiding principles of naturopathic medicine:

First, do no harm.
Naturopathic doctors use the most natural methods to help patients
feel better. Patients do not experience unpleasant side effects.

The healing power of nature.
Naturopathic doctors recognize that the human body knows how to heal.
They assist the patient with the process.

Identify and treat the causes
Naturopathic doctors work to determine and address the underlying
cause of the patient's health concern. They do not believe in treating
symptoms.

Doctor as a teacher
Naturopathic doctors work to empower the patient to take
responsibility for their health. Patients become better informed
consumers of health care.

Treat the whole person
Naturopathic doctors use a holistic approach to remove the cause of
the patients illness.

Prevention
Naturopathic doctors believe that it is easier and cheaper to prevent
illness in the first place, than to attempt to treat, reverse or
correct it later.

Mushroom Barley Soup

2009-02-25T06:32:00.001-08:00

I made this soup for my Mendel's birthday dinner party. To my surprise and honor, my father-in-law became its biggest fan. I dedicate this recipe to Zalman Roth.

Tips:

Using generous amounts of healthy oil creates greater flavor.

Cutting veggies in to smaller/thinner pieces helps to create a larger surface area on which oil is absorbed and flavor is created.

Using fresh herbs, when available, makes a big difference.

Mushrooms go really well with nutmeg and dill - those are the ingredients you don't want to skip.

Ingredients:

olive oil or grape seed oil (pick one)
1 onion, finely diced
3-5 cloves of garlic minced
1 leek, sliced (discard the dark green parts)
3-5 stalks of celery finely sliced
1 carrot diced
1 potato diced into 1/2 inch cubes
12 or 16 oz container of baby bella, shitake or just about any other fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced (feel free to mix)
1 c of barley or wild rice or brown rice (pick one)
1/4 ground nutmeg
1/4 tspn ground cumin
1 dash ground black pepper
1 dash salt
1 squirt Bragg's liquid aminos or soy sauce (pick one)
1 bunch of fresh dill or 2-3 tspns of dried dill (fresh is best)
8 cups of water

Cooking directions:

Generously coat the bottom of a soup pot with olive or grape seed oil
Saute onions, garlic, and leek in oil until translucent
Add salt, cumin, nutmeg, black pepper and stir
Add celery, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and barley (or rice), 1/2 of the dills, Bragg's or soy sauce; stir and cover for a few minutes
Add water, cover, and bring to boil
Reduce heat to low and cook for 30-60 minutes adjusting water if needed
Add the rest of the dill before serving
Enjoy!

Prevention

2009-02-24T17:25:00.001-08:00

In the context of healthcare, when you hear the word "prevention," what is the first thing that comes to mind? A line in an advertisement for a medicine or a condition you saw on TV? Perhaps a test or a procedure you heard about at your doctor's office? Or maybe it's a clause, or lack thereof, in your health insurance policy?

What does prevention mean? Prevention is not a daily pill, or a diagnostic test, or a clause in a health insurance policy. The simple premise behind prevention is that it is easier and cheaper to prevent illness, pollution, mistakes, (fill in the blank) in the first place, than intervention, the attempt to treat, reverse or correct them later.

Prevention has many applications. In the context of environment, reducing pollution at its source is the cornerstone of sustainable development. In the realm of conventional healthcare, prevention means keeping major or chronic illness from happening (e.g. removing a gallbladder to prevent chronic gallstones).

From my naturopathic vantage point, keeping illness at bay may not be an adequate goal. Just as an absence of violence is not the same as peace, keeping illness at bay is not equivalent to creating wellness (e.g. working towards optimal gallbladder function to prevent chronic gallstones).

As a naturopathic doctor, I define prevention as overall health promotion, and consider it as the most sensible cure. In fact, prevention is one of the defining tenants and guiding principles of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic philosophy is based on six principles, rather than modalities (e.g. supplements/herbs/homeopathics) or methods (natural/drugless) used.

The six guiding principles/defining tenants of naturopathic medicine are:

first, do no harm
the healing power of nature
treat the cause
look at the whole person
doctor as a teacher, and
prevention

Over the coming weeks, I plan on writing about each one of these tenants to help you to learn about what I do.

I am eager to hear from you, my dear internerds and interneatsters!

What does prevention mean to you?
What preventative steps have you taken to maintain health and vibrancy?

Fish Recipe

2009-02-22T14:11:00.001-08:00

This recipe is adapted from my friend's bulgogi marinade recipe. Bulgogi is a Korean dish made from beef that's marinaded in sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, garlic and green onions. The two most amazing things about bulgogi are that the majority of people who taste it seem to like it and that it comes out juicy, tender and far from dry every time. Owing to these two properties, and the fact that I don't eat meat, I decided to apply the marinade recipe to fish. Over the last ten years that I've made fish in this manner, I used trout, salmon, tilapia, mahi mahi, and red snapper. I've also used it with firm tofu and tempeh. I would even guess that it would work with chicken breast as well.

2 lbs of fish, diced into 2 inch squares or sliced into 1 inch pieces

1/4 cup sesame, olive or grape seed oil (pick one)

1/4 cup soy sauce (japanese is best) or Bragg's liquid aminos (pick one)

juice of 1 lemon

1/2 bunch of fresh green onions, cilantro or dill (pick one)

6 cloves of garlic, crushed

Combine all ingredients in a glass or stainless steel bowl. Cover and let marinade in the refrigerator anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight, or cook right away. To cook, use a stainless steel or cast iron frying pan on the range or bake in the oven.

Trust AND protect the healing power of nature

2009-02-19T14:03:00.001-08:00

One of the guiding principles of naturopathic medicine is "the healing power of nature". When describing it, I used to say "TRUST the healing power of nature." Secretly something irked me about that statement - not because I don't subscribe to it (I really really really do). I believe in the power of nature so much that I want to protect it, and ensure that everyone will have an opportunity to experience its wisdom. And so today, after some thought during my solo hike , I came up with a new version (TRUST AND PROTECT the healing power of nature!) and the reasoning behind it.

In Greening Your Business: the Hands on Guide to Creating a Successful and Sustainable Business, Daniel Sitarz alerts us that every environmental problem that we face to day as a society has its root cause in a conscious business decision. Owing to that fact that businesses are created and operated by people, I can take this statement further and say that every environmental problem we face today has its root cause in personal AND business decisions. An individual who doesn't recycle at home is not likely to set up a recycling business. An individual who drinks from plastic(yuck!) water bottles, is not likely to invest in a water purification system (mmmm!)for her office. People create businesses that are in line with their personal philosophy on environment.

To make the healing wisdom of nature available to everyone, we, as a society, need to safeguard it from air and water pollution, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, and use of toxic chemicals. We need to take responsibility for our health, our environment and our sustainability by aligning our personal AND business decisions with nature!

Well how does one go about making permanent changes that are aligned with nature? A good start is to look at your daily water, energy usage and waste accumulation.

Water efficiency:

Can you wash and rinse dishes in batches by filling your kitchen sink with water?
Can you switch to a 2 flush toilet?

Energy efficiency:

Can you walk, bike or carpool to your destination?
Can you shop local?
When leaving your home, can you turn off lights, shut down computers, and lower the thermostat?

Waste reduction:

Can you lead a waste-free life?
Can you minimize your consumption of stuff that has tons of packaging and containers that are not recyclable?
Can you compost, recycle, reuse, donate?

What are some of the things that have helped you to protect nature? Do you have any further recommendations?

Miso Potato Leek Soup

2009-02-17T23:03:00.001-08:00

Owing to the fact that I come from the land of green tomatoes, I developed an extra appreciation for potatoes. Growing up, I must have scrubbed and peeled and diced or sliced millions of potatoes. I am not even exaggerating by very much. In the bulba land, it has always been a breakfast, lunch or dinner staple. Incidentally, my mom's mashed potatoes have been called "best mashed potatoes in America." We, in the Kuznetsov fam, are very proud of that title.

Of late, I can't seem to go through a farmer's market without picking up potatoes. If you have extra potatoes lying around, you may want to give this recipe a try. I made this soup for dinner 2 nights ago for my sisters and brothers in-law and it was a big success. Basically, I styled up a traditional potato leek soup recipe with a dollop of miso. It's a slight variation on the classic potato leek soup that Mendel's Bubby used to make.

Please note that this recipe and everything else you make tastes a ton better if you use LOCAL natural/organic no spray produce. The secret between potato leek soup and everyone-wants-seconds potato leek soup is sauteeing onion, leek and garlic in lots of olive oil.

Miso Potato Leek Soup

This recipe makes 4-6 servings.

Ingredients:

olive oil
1/2 white onion
1-2 cloves of garlic
1-2 leeks
2-4 stalks of celery
1 carrot
4 medium potatoes
1/2 bunch of dill or 2-3 teaspoons dried dill
2 tablespoons miso
6 cups of water
ground black pepper

Directions:

In a kettle, bring to boil 6 cups of water.
Dissolve miso in 2 cups of hot water and set aside.
Coat the bottom of the soup pot generously with olive oil and put on the fire.
Finely dice onion, press garlic, thinly slice the white and light green parts of the leek (discard the dark green areas).
Saute onion, garlic and leek in a covered soup pot with olive oil until the onion is golden brown.
Finely chop celery and add to the soup pot.
Cover the soup pot and let veggies saute and sweat for a few minutes.
Dice carrots and potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes, add to the soup pot and let sweat under cover for a few minutes.
Add 2 cups of the miso broth and bring to boil covered.
Chop dill and add to the soup pot together with the rest of the water and some ground pepper.
Reduce heat to low and let simmer covered on low heat for 30-60 minutes.
Enjoy!

Sunscreen

2009-02-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

2. Ultrasolar 50 by Devita Professional Skin Care

Ultrasolar 50 and I found each other in 2008. Three factors led up to our fated meeting: I turned 30, moved to Arizona, and began hiking.

During my stint in Phoenix, I worked in a multidisciplinary integrative medicine clinic, and often counseled patients about the risks and benefits of sun exposure. Although, Arizona has the highest incidence of skin cancer in this country, it also has a rising incidence of vitamin D deficiency. These statistics created a controversy between dermatologists with interest in skin health and holistic health experts with interest in vitamin D status, which in turn created confusion in the general public as to how much sun exposure is good and how much is detrimental. (My recommendation - always wear protective clothing, sunglasses and safe sunscreen when spending in excess of 20 minutes in the sun; get 25 hydroxy vitamin D level tested; and if deficient see a licensed healthcare provider to discuss supplementation with vitamin D3).

However, I couldn't find a sunscreen product that I would be willing to put on my fair skin or whole-heartedly recommend to patients. (Anything that one puts on their skin (think scary oxybenzone) or inhales (think strong scented sunscreen) ends up in the bloodstream, as if you one had ingested it.) After a recommendation from a friend and colleague, I found Ultrasolar 50. I dare not call it sunscreen because it is so much more than a sunblock. Yes, it has UVA and UVB blocking ability and SPF 50! But it is also an amazing moisturizer! Owing to its micronized transparent formulation of zinc oxide (the same compound found in diaper rash creams), it feels like whipped butter and leaves my skin feeling luscious and well-hydrated, but never ever oily or sunscreen streaky.

I love Ultrasolar 50 in so many ways. I love that it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin - in fact it soothes it. I love it that it works - I tested it in 100 plus degree broiler called Phoenix summer. I love it that it doesn't have harmful ingredients (oxybenzone and paraben). The active ingredient, zinc oxide, is a source of zinc used to fortify foods, as well as a fantastic friend to skin.

Having had the pleasure of using Ultrasolar 50 daily on my skin, I can recommend Devita International products to any adult. ( I am still looking for children's sunscreen product. Have you come across a "safe" sunscreen for children? Do you have any recommendations?)

Check out Environmental Working Group's www.cosmeticsdatabase.com to see how your sunscreen and other personal care products measure up.

Deodorant

2009-02-16T10:55:00.000-08:00

1. Tom's of Maine long-lasting care aluminum free deodorant stick in lavender

I don't remember exactly when I stopped using underarm antiperspirants. However, I clearly remember experiencing chaffing, itching and irritation at the site of application that led me to part with the, formerly, strong enough for a man, but made for a woman and, more recently, because you are hot type products that contain paraben and aluminum compounds, strong scent, and unpronounceable chemical components. As a result, in college, I switched to natural alternatives. But as my sister frequently, but not so subtly pointed out to me, they did not prevent the odor. Although not completely satisfied, I continued to use natural deodorants, choosing safety and ethics over effectiveness. That is, until I came across Tom's of Maine long-lasting care in lavender. We've been inseparable ever since:)

As a doctor and a consumer, my first concern is always the safety of the product that the skin comes in contact with. When looking at product label, I ask myself, do you know what the ingredients are, how they are sourced, and their purpose in the product? If the answer is no, does the manufacturer make this information available on their website? This deodorant has all natural, fully pronounceable, completely safe ingredients. As a bonus, the lovely lavender scent is reminiscent of the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia and Sofia Rotaru's rendition of Gornaya Lavanda.

As a healthcare professional, I hold myself to a very high standard for cleanliness and personal hygiene. For impeccable personal hygiene, I am concerned with the deodorant's effectiveness. How well a deodorant works depends on its ability to inhibit of growth of odor-causing bacteria and neutralize or block the odor molecules.

At this point in the blogversation I should clarify the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. Deodorant is an agent that reduces, masks, or neutralizes unpleasant odor (think baking soda in your refrigerator). Antiperspirant is a sub-category of deodorant which prevents odor by blocking sweat produced by the body (think botox).

Aluminum compounds are one of antiperspirants that obstruct sweat glands to reduce sweat production. The safety of aluminum compounds is disputed. I err on the side of caution, and do not use aluminum-containing compounds on my skin. Not to digress, but it's important to note that body odor is produced by bacteria acting on odorless sweat produced by the body. The body produces sweat in order to cool itself. (A natural solution to reducing the number of underarm bacteria is to use soap or body wash that has the same pH as the skin in lieu of high pH formulas which increase the pH of the skin to become conducive to bacterial growth).

Tom's of Maine long-lasting care is not an antiperspirant. It doesn't interfere with the body's ability to cool itself via sweat production. But it is effective in reducing the odor-inviting bacteria and blocking odor. In my experience it lives up to it's label claim of 12 hour long-lasting odor protection. Has it worked for you? I'd love to hear about your experience with it?

Interestingly, this deodorant is also Kosher and Halal, certifications usually applied to edible products in accordance with Jewish and Muslim dietary laws. In this case could the Kosher and Halal labels signify an absence of animal products? If you have an idea why a deodorant would carry Kosher or Halal certification, please enlighten me! Although I have yet to find out the reason for this, I appreciate that Tom's of Maine is inclusive of individuals with many different lifestyles including vegan, vegetarian, Kosher and Halal. Last, but not least, I appreciate its environmentally-responsible business practices manifested by non-aerosol, recyclable, made in USA products.

What's your favorite natural personal hygiene product that you don't leave home without?