Patty James' Blog on Nutrition, Cooking Classes, Health & Vitality.

Regaining Vitality through Healthy Adrenals

2008-05-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

In the spring time, many people feel a renewed vitality harmonizing with the natural rhythm and flow of nature. Everything is fresh and new; energy abounds and often a new sense of purpose. What if however, you have a high-stress job, a too-busy lifestyle and are feeling burned-out? Perhaps you have suffered the loss of a loved one or relationship. Everyone seems to feel spring-fresh but you! You feel burned out. How do you regain your vitality?

The Adrenal Glands (and how they affect how you feel)

Anatomy and Physiology is where we begin: The adrenals are two little triangular shaped organs that are situated atop the kidneys. They are the major glands the body uses to respond to stress. Two hormones, adrenalin and epinephrine, raise the blood sugar, blood pressure and promote energy production in response to emergencies, often known as ‘fight or flight.’ Longer-acting anti-stress adrenal hormones such as cortisone and cortisol are also produced as is the adrenal hormone, aldostreone, which causes sodium retention and increases the blood pressure. When the adrenals become depleted, the body is unable to handle stress well.

How to Heal from the Effects of Adrenal Overload or Burn-out

With regards to the foods we eat, some people become stress-eaters, while others become stress-non-eaters, neither option a healthy one. Adrenal burnout may be caused by a single event or prolonged circumstances. Recovery from adrenal burnout is certainly possible, but it takes time and usually requires a change in diet, lifestyle, and attention to one's emotional and spiritual health.

A whole-foods (brown rice, not white rice, as an example) diet, preferably organic and seasonal, is an important factor for everyone. Eat a little protein with every meal; eggs, poultry, almond or peanut butter and nuts are good sources. Consume plenty of vegetables, rotating all of your proteins and vegetables so you don't eat the same thing every day. You are more likely to obtain all the nutrients you need and less likely to develop food sensitivities when you rotate your diet. My general rule is, if you eat it today; don’t eat it for 4 days.

Many people have sugar cravings during times of high stress, which by the way includes alcohol. Stay away from processed foods. Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of pure water a day and obtain plenty of sleep, preferably 8-9 hours per night. The B vitamins, vitamins A and C as well as zinc may be helpful. Just a side note, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach is hard on your stomach lining and burns up B vitamins at a much higher rate, so when you do drink alcohol (certainly not when you are trying to heal yourself) always have something in your stomach first.

Personal Practices that Heal

There are spiritual, emotional and mental health aspects of adrenal burn out that are imperative to regaining your health. A key to recovery from burnout is improving attitudes and values. Negative thinking is a bad habit that eventually wears down the body and of course, affects your health and the health of those around you. Anger, worry and fear place added stress on the adrenal glands as well as the immune system.

Many techniques and choices are available to help shift one's thinking. Perhaps therapy is a good choice for you. Reading inspirational books or listening to beautiful music may be helpful. Chat with trusted loved-ones. Remember that searching for love outside of you is not the answer. Find the love inside yourself first, and then find the companions and activities. Sometimes we can’t trust our own instincts when we are completely burned out. It is important to listen to the wisdom of the body, and not be blinded by fixed ideas and habits that no longer serve us. Most people live their lives based on fear of change and the blessing of burn out is that often an awakening can manifest within you. Adrenal burn out can be a wake up call and the first step to living a simpler life. You don’t necessarily need to sell everything you own and move to a tropical island, but then again, maybe you do! It’s not always running away from life when you choose to make big changes, but running to a new life.

Following are links to simple recipes full of the vitamins that your adrenal glands will love. Take care of yourself.

How’s this one for easy? Sprinkle homemade popcorn (no microwaves please) with a little olive oil, fresh garlic or garlic powder and nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is high in B vitamins and has a bit of a cheesy flavor.

A New You This Spring

2008-04-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

Renew Yourself this Spring!

Spring is the time of year when the natural world awakens from winter slumber. The sun seems brighter, days are longer and the warmer weather invites all of life to be renewed. Spring is a natural time for each of us to make changes in our habits and lifestyle that put us in harmony with the rhythm of the season. You can replace old habits with new and by next winter, you will not have the typical winter weight gain because of food and drink excess.

The Season of Cleansing begins with the Liver

Chinese medicine teaches us that each organ is associated with a season. In the spring, the organ is the liver, which is the most important cleansing organ in the body. In the nutrition world, when all else fails, support your liver.

The liver processes toxins for excretion and sends them to the intestines for elimination. Fiber binds with toxins so they are not reabsorbed into the blood. When you don’t eat enough dietary fiber (vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans and legumes) and drink enough water, you reabsorb toxins. Constipation is very common among both adults and children. Headaches are common complaints for those with constipation. Many people who have migraines are simply constipated. The kidneys, skin and intestines are active in cleansing.

Ring in the New!

New habits to replace old bad habits.

If you begin with the mind-set of additions rather than subtractions, then your chance of success is greater. Add more water, vegetables, fruit and plant foods to your diet. Eat more whole grains, beans, legumes, raw nuts and seeds. When you add more of these foods to your diet, you won’t be hungry as these foods are naturally filling. Foods high in chlorophyll will help boost immunity and assist the body in removing toxins. Leafy green vegetables are a great choice. The supplements Spirulina and chlorella are also effective cleansers.

Here are a couple recipes to get you going. Enjoy the spring!

Best Kale Salad Ever and Dolmas with Feta and Cranberries

Grilled veggies

2008-03-31T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Our neighbors brought us some asparagus out of their yard yesterday. I had just purchased some so I decided to grill what I purchased and will most likely eat Frank and Cynthia's raw. All I did was get out my cast iron grill pan and place a little olive oil in it, over medium-high heat. I sliced some red inion and a zucchini and grilled them, turning once, until golden. I placed those veggies in a bowl. I then grilled the asparagus with some red pepper and also placed those in the bowl. Lastly, I cut up some fresh lemons (also a gift from my new neighbors) and grilled those. I chopped up about half the lemons and added those to the veggies and left a few slices whole for garnish. I'm going to grill some great local sourdough bread, spread the slices with goat cheese and serve with the veggies and a Caesar Salad. Yum!

In good health...and taste,

Patty

In a Spring Cleansing Mood (with my friend Liz)

2008-03-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Spring is a great time to think about cleansing and starting fresh. Be sure to check out the class calendar and sign up for the amazing "Doctor Saturdays." Today, however, I would like to introduce you to Liz Baughman. Liz is a Detoxification Coach with has worked with Dr. Elson Haas and has helped people create their own health for 20 years.

I enjoyed Liz's recent article and hope you will as well.

Juicing always does a body good! Juicing is the fastest way to get live, fresh ingredients into the bloodstream, which is like the river of life in our bodies. If our body is polluted with unhealthy foods, the river will be adversely affected. The bloodstream feeds every single cell in our body bringing nourishment to each cell and taking away damaged cells so that may be excreted. The purity of the bloodstream determines how you feel and fight off disease. Juicing is the best way to detoxify your bloodstream, bringing relief to the body. The stomach can more easily process vitamins, minerals and fluids while using less of the bodies energy. The juicer has done much of the stomachs work by breaking down the food into digestible form.

Daily juicing provides needed fluid to the cells, flushes toxins from cells, replaces expended vitamins and mineral, builds up a store of vitamins and minerals, and assists with regular bowel movements. In the following recipes, you may add garlic to taste.

Morning Calm

2 cucumbers, 8 stalks celery, 8 kale leaves, 1/4" ginger

Eye Opener

2 cucumbers, 1/2 juiced lemon, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 head cabbage, 1/2 bunch cilantro

Morning Mantra

8 stalks celery, 1/2 bunch spinach, 1/2 head cabbage, 1/2 bunch parsley, 1/2 lemon, fennel to taste, tamari to taste

Contact Liz for her Immune builder juice, mineral tonic and many other great recipes.

Liz Baughman

707-483-9848

liz@ecstaticwellness.com

Mr Bad Food

2008-03-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I happened upon a site with an article from Mr. Bad Food, a.k.a., John McGran. I found it informative and emailed the author asking permission to reprint his article. Turns out that John is in the editor in chief of www.diet.com and he asked me to be one of his expert "bloggers." My article/blog as a nutrition expert/chef will begin in April. Who knew? Here is his article that started it all...

10%20Foods%20To%20NEVER%20Eat.doc

Spring Cleanse in May

2008-03-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

May is Spring Cleanse month at the school. For the first 3 Saturday's in May, I will have a guest doctors speaking about various ways to cleanse your body. May 3rd is Dr. Elson Haas who will be taking about the Purification Process and the 5 R's: Rebalance, Remove, Replace, Reinnoculate and Repair. On May 10th, Dr Ed Bauman will teach Pollution Protection and how to minimize damage from environmental toxins. On May 17th Dr. Michael Lipelt teaches us how heavy metals effect our bodies and the planet and what we can do about it. All 3 seminars include a lunch prepared by Patty. Each is $65.00 per person or all 3 amazing classes for $180.00. Please see the web site for all class details. You won't want to miss this series.

In good health,

Patty

Simple Tips to Beat Your Sugar Habit

2008-03-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the average American consumes almost 150 pounds of sugar a year and that much of it is hidden? How does this over consumption of sugar, some would say addiction, begin? Mother’s milk is naturally sweet and also represents warmth and nurturing, which may explain why under times of stress, many reach for something sweet.ds

It’s important to understand what sugar is and how it affects your health before learning how to give up the white stuff. The term sugar refers to sucrose, also called table sugar. Commercially produced table sugar comes from either sugar cane or sugar beets. The sweetener High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS,) found in many processed foods has replaced regular sugar in a considerable number of products. It is six times sweeter than sugar and does not act the same way as sugar in the body. HFCS does not stimulate insulin production; it is processed more like fat. Some experts believe that it actually converts to fat faster and easier than regular sugar. Its super sweet flavor could contribute to sugar cravings.

Now that you know what sugar is what does it do in your body? There is the obvious disease- type two diabetes, that is closely linked to the over consumption of sugar and the consequence, obesity, but sugar also causes inflammation in the body and inflammation is associated with everything from acne and wrinkles, to arthritis, heart disease and depression. Sugar suppresses your immune system, can cause chromium and copper deficiencies and interferes with the absorption of calcium and magnesium, which can lead to osteoporosis. Sugar leads to tooth decay, can lower your vitamin E levels, and even weakens eyesight.

Sugar cravings are very real for many people. Many former alcoholics have intense sugar cravings because sugar acts very similar to alcohol in the body. For many, alcohol acts like a gateway drug to the over consumption of food. White flour, white potatoes, and white rice all convert to sugar in the body. These will all cause the high rise of insulin and the drop in blood sugar that leads to sugar cravings.

How does one begin to kick the sugar habit?? For some it’s better to go cold turkey and give it up completely. For most, however, a slow and easy approach is better. Here are some tips:

Change to natural sweeteners. Raw honey, maple syrup, and agave nectar are less processed than sugar and still have their nutrients intact. They burn more slowly in the body and do not cause weight gain as quickly. Remember they are still sugars, so limit the amount you eat! The less you consume, the less you crave. The herb stevia is also a good choice.
Become a label reader; anything that ends with ‘ose” is a form of sugar (fructose, sucrose, maltose). “Ols” such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol and maltitol, are sugar alcohols and are common in breath mints and gum.
Keep sugar and all sugar products out of the house, so you won't be tempted and give in during times of stress and hunger.
Soda and juice are high in sugar, so eliminate or reduce your consumption.
Eat Your Vegetables! Leafy green vegetables replenish the vitamins and minerals you have been losing to sugar.
Drink more water- 8 glasses a day. We often mistake thirst for hunger. The next time craving strikes, drink some water and see how you feel.
Stay away from artificial sweeteners! They are a chemical and not a food. Don’t eat any fake foods!
A little bit of protein is much better for you in the morning because it will create satiety holding you over until your next snack or meal. Eat some form of protein at every meal to help cravings.
Exercising will reduce cravings.

Generally speaking slow and steady changes are more likely to offer life long success. Good luck!

Please respond to this blog with a question, or personal experience of your own, by choosing the "comments" link below. View my Cooking Classes or Website Home for more information.

Great cookies...

2008-02-22T17:59:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I know I just wrote something yesterday about the upcoming non-gluten baking class, but yesterday I made some pretty great cookies. Aren't they pretty?
See you on the 29th! Again, if you can't make it, I will be filming the class and the DVD will be available for you.
In good health,
Patty

Non-gluten class in March

2008-02-21T09:20:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone,
There are so many people who can not tolerate wheat and gluten that I have been giving the subject a lot of time lately. The biggest challenge for most is baked goods. As many of you know, the gluten in wheat and other products is what gives baked goods their texture. Non-gluten breads are often compared to the proverbial hockey puck. I have been mixing and brewing in honor of my Celtic roots to come up with some wonderful non-gluten recipes for you and your family.
Many of you receive my E-Newsletter and in January I wrote about gluten intolerance to an amazing response. I was asked by Jennifer to add a non-gluten baking class to assist the more than 900 bay area families who have a member who is either gluten intolerant or who has celiac disease.
The photo is of my Walnut Multi-grain bread, which as you can see is a winner! If you don't live next to my school, have no fear. I will be filming the class and the film and recipes will be for sale on my web site. I have had a lot of requests to do on-line classes and this will be my first offering.
In good health,
Patty

Some tips...

2008-02-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
Well, now you know what sugar is exactly, what is does to your body and how to recognize its hidden forms. Now here are a few tips for you so you can begin your sugar detoxification. There are many more specific ways to wean yourself from sugar so call or email me (no matter where you are) and we can set up a nutritional consultation for your personalized program.
For some it’s better to go cold turkey and give it up completely. For most, however, this would lead to failure and a slow and easy approach is better. Here are some tips:
• Change to natural sweeteners. Raw honey, maple syrup, and agave nectar are less processed than sugar and still have their nutrients intact. They burn more slowly in the body and do not cause weight gain as quickly. Remember they are still sugars, so limit the amount you eat. Try stevia, an herbal supplement that is very sweet and can be found in your local health food store. You can also grow your own plant if you have a yard or a patio.
• Keep sugar and all sugar products out of the house, so you won't be tempted and give in during times of stress and hunger.
• Reduce the amount of sugar you consume - the less you eat, the less you crave. Don’t forget, soda and juice are high in sugar.
• Root vegetables like yams, sweet potato, carrots and beets provide a sweet flavor that satisfies the palate helping to reduce your cravings.
• Eat Your Vegetables! Leafy green vegetables replenish the vitamins and minerals you have been losing to sugar.

In your consultation we will talk about protein, water, exercise, chromium, and how they affect your sugar removal program and many other ways to assist you in reducing you and your families sugar intake.
To your health!
Patty

Too Much Sugar, continued

2008-02-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
Did you know that alcohol consumption also contributes to sugar cravings? Many former alcoholics have intense sugar cravings because sugar acts very similar to alcohol in the body. Moreover, for many, alcohol acts like a gateway drug to the over consumption of food. White flour, white potatoes, and white rice all convert to sugar in the body. These will all cause the high rise of insulin and the drop in blood sugar that leads to sugar cravings.
The average American consumes almost 150 pounds of sugar a year and much of it is hidden. Become a label reader; anything that ends with ‘ose” is a form of sugar⎯fructose, sucrose, maltose, etc. “Ols” such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol and maltitol, are sugar alcohols and are common in breath mints and gum.
What does sugar do in your body? There is the obvious disease- type two diabetes, that is closely linked to the over consumption of sugar and the consequence, obesity. Sugar causes inflammation in the body and inflammation is associated with everything from acne and wrinkles, to arthritis, heart disease and depression. Sugar suppresses your immune system, can cause chromium and copper deficiencies and interferes with the absorption of calcium and magnesium, which can lead to osteoporosis. Sugar leads to tooth decay, can lower your vitamin E levels, and even weakens eyesight.
Next posting you will learn tips on how to wean yourself from so much sugar.
In good health,
Patty

Sugar Cravings

2008-02-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
I was asked today to write an article for our local newspaper reminding folks about their New Year's resolutions. Most people want to loose a few pounds, but I decided to focus on sugar. Sugar is pervasive in our food supply, addictive and, of course. expands one's waist line.
By definition, sugar addiction is a term for the situation where individuals crave sweet foods and find it difficult to give it up. There is clearly an aspect of psychological addiction (mother’s milk representing love and nurturing is naturally sweet) but recent research has also identified elements of physical dependence. Addictive drugs stimulate receptors in the brain to release natural opiods and dopamine, neurochemicals that trigger feelings of pleasure or well-being.
It’s important to understand what sugar is and how it affects your health before learning how to give up the white stuff. The term sugar refers to sucrose, also called table sugar, a white crystalline solid disaccharide. Commercially produced table sugar comes from either sugar cane or sugar beets. The sweetener High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS,) found in many processed foods has replaced regular sugar in a considerable number of products. It is six times sweeter than sugar and does not act the same way as sugar in the body. HFCS does not stimulate insulin production; it is processed more like fat. Some experts believe that it actually converts to fat faster and easier than regular sugar. Its super sweet flavor could contribute to sugar cravings.
Soon you will learn about how sugar affects your body. More soon!
Patty

Traditional Diets

2008-01-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
I was asked by the Miwok School in Petaluma, CA., to give a talk to the parents of the Spanish-speaking children about good health, with the focus on the traditional diet. We had a great turnout of parents and they were eager to learn how to feed their children healthier foods because they are aware of the rise of childhood obesity and diabetes, especially in people of Hispanic descent. We focused on their culture's traditional diet before acculturation into America and the introduction to cheap, unhealthy foods and of course, soft drinks, which are a major problem. A group called Oldways in Boston has a great web site and traditional Latin American Diet pyramids for adults and children. One small change they were all willing to make is to use brown rice instead of white rice. Small changes are generally the most successful because they aren't a lot of effort. There were many requests about what to feed their children for breakfast and lunch particularly.
If you are of hispanic descent or are teaching those who are, be sure to peruse Oldways. You'll find it useful.
Best of health,
Patty

It's a New Year!

2008-01-08T07:37:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I hope 2008 is going well for you so far. We all know that gym memberships swell the first of the year and the end displays at the grocery stores magically change from cans of pumpkin and marshmellows to Go Lean cereal. I would like to throw my 2-cents into the mix; make small changes that you can live with. Eat a little less, exercise a little more and do it in a way that you don't feel deprived or else you won't stick with it. Don't go on a diet, make lifestyle changes. I know you have heard this a million times, but it's true. Resolve to end this year healthier than you began it.
Are there any other resolutions you have made this year besides those involving your waistline? Here's a few to mull over. Resolve to watch less television and play more games of Scrabble. Resolve to dine at the table as many times a week as possible. Let's all start dining instead of just eating. For those with children, there are studies which show that children who eat with their families get better grades, are less likely to do drugs and are more likely to go to college. The power of the dinner table...How about your brain? Our brain needs work-outs too. Start doing crossword puzzles, learn a new language or simply read more. I could go on and on, but you get the drift. I think we all need to resolve to have more fun. When we were in Italy last year, someone told us they thought Americans were crazy because we worked too hard. They might be on to something. Life is about balance; in our food, lifestyle, work and play.
Have a great year!
In good health,
Patty

Joan's Birthday Today---86!

2007-12-12T05:54:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
As many of you know from my web site, my Mom is Joan James who writes Joan's Thoughts on my home page. My Mom is 86 years young today! She walks around Ragle Park almost every day, she volunteers at Hospice on Fridays, go to church on Sundays and always has home-baked cookies in the cookie jar on her kitchen table. Because of her good health, she is the envy of all of her friends. Partly it's flat out good genes, but also, and probably mainly, it's getting regular exercise and eating well while limiting your bad habits. I grew up on home-cooked meals, nothing fancy, but home-made; pot roast with lots of veggies type-thing. She still cooks for herself everyday. Mum will make a pot of chicken soup and freeze it for days when she doesn't feel like cooking. She also takes care of her spiritual health, something many of us do not.
If you know Mum, as many of you do, as she lives in the same building at my school and is my welcoming committee, then please send your well-wishes and I'll pass them along.
In good health!
Patty

You Tube and Member's Only

2007-12-02T11:39:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I recently videotaped a class of kids learning to make brown rice sushi, spring rolls and almond dipping sauce. My wonderful videographer, Ray, did a voice over on the video explaining my thoughts on kids, school, nutrition and cooking. Be sure to check it out! I have enjoyed filming all the videos and hope that you member's only have enjoyed them as well!
Best of health,
Patty

The Linings of Cans

2007-11-30T10:25:00.000-08:00

Hello all!
My friend Marina James-Galvin, who is an exceptional personal trainer as well as a nutritionist, sent me a link to a news story that I know you will find interesting. I have always purchased Eden brands because they have never used this lining. I'm sure there are other brands who don't either and if anyone knows of them, we would all love the brand names.
Here is is. In good health,
Patty
Here is the link; just cut and paste into your browser

http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=4993610&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Russell's Asparagus

2007-11-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
My son Russell who is 21 years old, is in college studying nutrition and is also a budding chef. For Olivia and David's party which I mentioned last post, Russell made a simple and elegant dish that everyone loved. He washed asparagus and lightly peeled the stems. He then very lightly oiled a baking sheet with olive oil, placed the asparagus in a single layer on the pan and put it in the middle of the oven about 8" from the preheated broiler. He broiled the asparagus for about 5-6 minutes, turning once. Next, Russell took them out and wrapped 3-4 pieces of asparagus with 2 slices of proscuitto. He then drizzled the bundles with a bit of olive oil and placed them back under the broiler for just a couple minutes. He took them out, placed them on a platter with some olives (use Kalamata olives if you can ) and sprinkled them with freshly ground pepper. Yum!!
They were a big hit.
For all you other parents out there, get your kids in the kitchen with you. They love to help out and learning to cook is an important life skill. Have fun...
In good health,
Patty

Wild Rice Salad

2007-11-30T08:59:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone,
My daughter Olivia and her boyfriend David made this wonderful salad at a party they hosted for friends and family at my school the day before Thanksgiving (its handy having a cooking school in the family!). It was wonderful and would be great to serve for family and guests this holiday season or anytime for that matter. It is a beautiful dish as well.
I have the recipe posted on the web site. Be sure to try it. Let me give you one tip about cooking wild rice, which by the way is not a rice at all, but is a grass. I wash the wild rice and place it in a pot and add quite a bit of water. I let it come to a boil and then simmer for any where from 40-50 minutes. I taste it at about 35 minutes to see if its how I like it and when its done, I drain out the excess water. Piece of cake. Now, you can't do this will "real" rice, but this process is fine for wild rice. There is one other thing, being her mother's daughter Olivia naturally changed the recipe. She found it in an old Gourmet magazine article and left out the carrots as she thought they would add a sweetness she didn't want. She left out the yellow bell pepper as she couldn't find it, left out the tomatoes as they aren't in season, replaced the raisins with dried cranberries, and replaced the vegetable oil with olive oil, naturally. Whew! If you like you can go to Epicurious and look up the original recipe, but the one in my recipe section has Olivia and David's changes. By the way David and Olivia cook well together. They both have a natural ease in the kitchen (David's Mom is baker) and they are intuitive cooks.
Bon apetite!
Patty

Dr. Annemarie Colbin

2007-11-20T15:52:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!
One more incredible woman I would like to introduce you to; Dr. Annemarie Colbin. I have written about Annemarie before if you read my blog often. Annemarie started The Natural Gourmet Cooking School in New York 30 years ago when no one was putting natural and gourmet in the same sentence. She is the author of Food and Healing and The Book of Whole Meals. She is currently working on an updated version of Food and Our Bones. Be sure to pick up one of her books.
She has always been most gracious to me. I emailed her out of the blue a few years ago and she most kindly agreed to meet with me. Bascially I just wanted to meet her but she gladly gave me advice and encouragement. I think of Annemarie as a friend and am always so pleased to see her and have lunch while in New York. I also had the good fortune to attend one of her classes at The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and the Culinary Arts (its new name) and she is an excellent teacher. If you are ever in New York, be sure to attend one of her classes.
In good health,
Patty

Lorna Saas

2007-11-19T18:33:00.000-08:00

Hi all!
I find that I am getting bolder as year's go by. If there is someone I respect and want to meet, I simply find out how to reach them, then generally I send an email and wait for a response. I have had one of Lorna Saas' cookbooks for many years and have suggested to many students to purchase it as an excellent reference for how to cook grains and beans. Well I found out that Lorna lived in the upper west side of New York where I was staying, so I emailed her to ask if we could meet. She not only said she would love to meet me as well, she invited me to her home. We had tea and chatted about many things. Lorna is a warm and lovely person and writes excellent cookbooks. Pick whichever one speaks to you; she has many and they are all great!
In good health,
Patty

New York and Anna Lappe

2007-11-19T17:46:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
I had a great time in New York earlier this month visiting with old friends and meeting new friends. As always I enjoyed teaching the interns at The Clinton Foundation in Harlem.
I want to tell you about an amazing young woman, Anna Lappe (I wish I could figure out how to put the ' above the e on Lappe.) Anna is co-founder of the Small Planet Institue which "supports grass roots changemakers around the world addressing root causes of hunger and poverty." She is also the author of two very well received books. The first is Hope's Edge, coauthored with her mother Frances Moore Lappe, which chronicles social movements around the world. Her latest book is Grub, an expose (there is that ' above the e again; someone help me with this!) about the fake food lining our supermarket shelves and how to make reasonable changes to make our bodies and world healthier. It is full of wonderful recipes and even great music suggestions. Anna has co-authored this book with her friend Bryant Terry. It's a lively book and one which I'm sure you'll enjoy reading.
More to follow!
Patty

African Americans and Kidney Disease

2007-10-31T10:56:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!
Here is a recent post from the National Institutes of Health that I thought you might find interesting:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News
National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases

NEW PUBLICATION HELPS AFRICAN AMERICANS "MAKE THE KIDNEY CONNECTION"
The National Kidney Disease Education Program Creates New Brochure for African Americans at Risk for Kidney Disease

The National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP), an initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has created an educational brochure tailored specifically for African Americans at risk for kidney disease. The brochure - "Kidney Disease: What African Americans Need to Know: -- explains the connection between diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease, and encourages those at risk to talk to their health care providers about getting tested.

African Americans are disproportionately affected by kidney failure due in part to higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure -- the two leading causes of kidney failure. "Diabetes and high blood pressure are all too common among African Americans, yet many are unaware of their risk factors and the importance of getting tested," said Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). "NKDEP recognizes the importance of promoting key messages about kidney disease risk factors to this audience."

The brochure explains the blood and urine tests used to detect kidney disease in simple, easy-to-read language. It also outlines several steps to protect one's kidneys. These include:

-- Keeping your kidneys healthy by managing your diabetes and high blood pressure;
-- Asking your health care provider to test your blood and urine for kidney disease; and
-- If you have kidney disease, talking to your health care provider about treatment options.

"Unlike many diseases, kidney disease often has no symptoms until it is very advanced," says NKDEP Director, Dr. Andrew Narva. "For this reason and others, it is important for African Americans to not only become aware of their risk, but also to learn about the steps they can take to keep their kidneys healthier longer. An important step is to get tested."

In developing the brochure, NKDEP worked with health care professionals who routinely care for African American patients at risk for kidney disease. Reviewers included NKDEP Coordinating Panel members and representatives from the Association of Minority Nephrologists.

By partnering with national, state, and local organizations, including government agencies, NKDEP hopes to reach a large number of African Americans with this information.

For more information about the brochure and other NKDEP materials, visit or call 1-866-4 KIDNEY (1-866-454-3639).

NKDEP, an initiative of NIDDK, aims to improve early detection of kidney disease, help identify patients at risk for progression of kidney failure, and promote interventions to slow progression of kidney disease.

NIDDK, a component of the NIH, conducts and supports research in diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutrition, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. Spanning the full spectrum of medicine and afflicting people of all ages and ethnic groups, these diseases encompass some of the most common, severe, and disabling conditions affecting Americans. For more information about NIDDK and its programs, see .

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical Research Agency - is comprised of 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit .

Teaching Kids to Cook

2007-10-31T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
Parents always ask me when they drop off their kids at my school (sometimes I have 12 kids with knives!) how I do it. They are such nervous wrecks when they see their child with a knife. It's really very simple teaching kids how to cook. Here is my secret; relax...that's it.
Granted when your child or a room full of children have knives you have to be very careful and set very clear ground rules. When kids are using knives at my school they know the rules. When you are slicing and chopping, your eyes are only on your board, period. In the almost 5 years I've had my school I have had very few accidents and when I ask the child who might have nicked themselves why they think that happened they always say that they weren't being careful and rarely does it happen again. On the flip side if you are standing behind them and are such a nervous wreck, they become nervous and that can also become a problem.
This carries through to other parts of being in a kitchen. Let them experiment with seasonings and altering ingredients. Be relaxed and the process will become fun and you will set up a lifetime of kitchen enjoyment.
In good (relaxed) health,
Patty

Milk and Calcium

2007-10-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
Here is a subject that should go in the same category with religion and politics-things not to be discussed- because they get folks so riled-up. Here is something I received from the National Institutes of Health:

"MILK MATTERS" ONLINE LESSON RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR TEACHERS

New online resources stressing the importance of calcium for bone health are now available for middle and high school teachers. The resources are available through the Milk Matters calcium education campaign, sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health.

The new resources, available at feature fun, hands-on classroom lessons created to teach young people about the importance of calcium for bone health.

The online lessons for teachers are part of the NICHD's "Milk Matters" calcium education campaign, which aims to increase awareness about the importance of calcium in children's and adolescents' diets. The campaign encourages 11-to-15-year-olds in particular to consume sufficient calcium because these are the years of rapid bone growth.

"Teachers play an important role in raising awareness about healthy behaviors," said NICHD Director Duane Alexander, M.D. "The "Milk Matters"' Web resources offer teachers user-friendly tools that focus on the importance of calcium for bone health among tweens and teens, age groups that often don't get enough calcium to meet their needs."

"Milk Matters"' online lesson resources are designed to help students understand the importance of making smart food choices through calcium lessons, fact sheets, take-home assignments, and classroom discussion. In "The Great Calcium Challenge", students learn to read nutrition labels and calculate their calcium intake. The "Calcium Collector" includes a game in which students choose a combination of foods that will provide 1,300 milligrams of calcium -- the daily recommended intake. Both lessons also reinforce students' math skills.

The Smart Snack Cookbook gives students an opportunity to create a recipe book of simple, healthy snacks, such as fruit smoothies. The lesson resources also include a lactose intolerance discussion guide to help teachers discuss the symptoms of lactose intolerance (stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, and gas) and ways for reducing them. All of the materials are consistent with National Health Education Standards. These Standards were developed by the American Association for Health Education, the American Public Health Association, the American School Health Association, and the Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation to establish, promote, and support health-enhancing behaviors for students in all grade levels.

In addition to teacher materials, the "Milk Matters" Web site offers a variety of free materials for parents and health care providers that emphasize the importance of calcium in the diets of children and teens, including a booklet, poster, fact sheets, a coloring book, and sticker. Many of these materials are available in English and Spanish.

The "Milk Matters" campaign stresses low-fat or fat-free milk as an excellent source of calcium because:

-- milk has high calcium content in a form the body can easily absorb

-- milk contains other nutrients, including vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin K, riboflavin, B12, potassium, magnesium, and protein, that are essential to healthy bone and tooth development

-- milk is widely available and is already a part of many people's diets.

To download the classroom activities and other "Milk Matters" materials, or for more information on the "Milk Matters" campaign, visit or contact the NICHD Information Resource Center at 1-800-370-2943; .

O.K. now tell me our Dairy Lobby isn't powerful. Here is some non-biased information on calcium so you can make a good decision about calcium and where to find it.
Calcium is a mineral that the body needs for building and maintaining bones and teeth, blood clotting, the transmission of nerve impulses, and the regulation of the heart's rhythm. Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in the human body is stored in the bones and teeth and the remaining 1 percent is found in the blood and other tissues.
The National Academy of Scieces recommends the following, but keep in mind these are derived from short-term studies and many believe these amounts might be too high (stay tuned for updated information.)
1,000 mg/day for those age 19-50
1,200 mg/day for those age 50 or over
1,000 mg/day for pregnant or lactating adult women

O.K. here comes the milk part. Reasons why milk intake for calcium sources could be a problem.
~Many people are lactose intolerant
~High-saturated fat content
~Possible increased risk of prostate and ovarian cancer

Here is a chart crested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that you might find useful:

Food Amount Calcium
Yogurt, plain, low fat 8 oz 415
Collards, frozen, boiled 1 cup 357
Skim milk 1 cup 306
Spinach, frozen, boiled 1 cup 291
Yogurt, plain, whole milk 8 oz 275
Cheese food, pasteurized American 1 oz 162
Cottage cheese, 1% milk fat 1 cup 138
Baked beans, canned 1 cup 154
Canned salmon 3 oz 181
Oranges 1 cup 72
Trail mix (nuts, seeds, chocolate chips) 1 cup 159
Almonds 1 oz (24 nuts) 24 nuts 70
Blackeye peas, boiled 1 cup 211
Green peas, boiled 1 cup 94

Whew...this was a long one, but I hope it helped.
In good health,
Patty