MARCH 30-31, 2012 FAT AMERICA

"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." Jim Rohn

"The more you eat, the less flavor; the less you eat, the more flavor." - Chinese Proverb

"Time and health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted." - Denis Waitley

Life itself is precious. Do not waste a minute of your time doing something that does not behold life. Make the most of your time on Mother Earth. Cherish Mother Earth. I believe William Shakespeare summed it up like this, "Our bodies are our gardens--our wills are our gardeners." I love this quote because it involves the earth and plants.

We all know we must eat less and exercise regularly. I try to the best of my ability to educate my patients about a dietary and exercise lifestyle change. This involves conscious eating and exercise. Gary Taubes published an eye opening book, "Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It."

Most everyone knows that if you eat more calories than your body needs, you will get fat. There are even skeptics about this. I wonder where these people been who question this point have been.

Eat less and get more exercise is the key. What to eat is the problem? The brain and nervous system function on carbohydrates. The question is what carbohydrates should we consume. I know we should not be consuming simple carbohydrates. I know that refined sugar is bad for you. Complex carbohydrates are better, but how much.

Much of what I know is from my clinical practice. Much is from working with other well-known physicians, and lastly from the vast amount of literature I read. Mr Taubes makes statements backed by research that allowed me to think about some theories and prod more literature on certain subjects. On every one's mind (especially Americans) is how to lose weight.

I loved reading that it is not a sedentary lifestyle that makes us fat. It is carbohydrates that make us fat. This makes sense. Let's get the word sedentary out of the medical teaching. Teach about nutrition, food and vitamins. Medical schools need to start teaching that extra insulin makes us fat. This is called insulin resistance, Syndrome X or metabolic syndrome. This has only been discussed in the last 5-7 years. As Mr Taubes states, "...hormones, enzymes and growth factors regulate our fat tissue (and insulin) just as they do everything else in the body."

Do much reading at all on this subject and you will see over and over again that carbohydrates like breads, pastas, rice, cakes, cookies make us fat. This was the basis for many best selling books including the many Atkins Diet books. Remember I worked with this best selling author. It is about carbohydrates, those simple ones, but IT IS SO MUCH MORE. We all know to stay away from carbohydrate rich foods and all of those sweetened drinks, soda etc., but it is more. Anyone can lose weight if he/she stops carbohydrates, but this is not the ONLY answer. There is more and plenty more to read and discuss.

There are debates and more debates. There is research and more research. Be informed. Read more than one book on Dietary Lifestyles.

We have two epidemics, OBESITY and DIABETES. Both will lead to the number #1 killer- Cardiovascular Disease. Look around you- people are obese. It is getting worse all over America and even in cities, such as New York City where obesity was low. The world is changing and so is obesity in the Big Apple.

Until tomorrow...

Was Mark Tawin right when he said, " The only weay to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like and do what you'd rather not."

MARCH 29. 2012 ORGANIC VS NON ORGANIC

"Your willingness to look at your darkness is what empowers you to change." -Ivania Vanzant

Remember the line from the movie Poltergeist, "Walk into the light!" Yet it is often helpful to look at the darkness of your life. This will empower you to change. Remember you are not alone. We all have some skeleton or darkness. The darkness will empower you to change. The dark days of any addiction are enough to hopefully look at yourself and change. This change can be life saving. Addictions are energy thieves-- whether sugar, nicotine, shopping, drugs, alcohol, family drama, television, computers or relationship drama. Carefully look at this darkness. Be aware of the darkness, acknowledge the darkness and then accept the darkness. This acceptance will allow you to move to the next stage of life.

These days eating healthy means incorporating organic fruits and vegetables into your diet, but doing so can also cost you a pretty penny. Luckily, you can get away with eating the conventional varieties of certain kinds of produce, while still maintaining a health-conscious lifestyle.

The key is knowing which products to choose. It's easy to get overwhelmed in a supermarket where both organic and conventional products are offered. You may ask yourself, "Which ones are worth the extra cost? What am I really getting for my money?" Well, we've made it easy for you. When it comes to choosing conventional fruits and veggies, stick with avocados, bananas, pineapples, kiwis mangoes, watermelons, grapefruits, sweet potatoes and onions. These items have a thicker outer layer, which protects their inner flesh from being affected by harmful chemicals.There's no need to buy organic versions of asparagus, broccoli or cabbage either. These vegetables are not as threatened by pests as others, so they're not being exposed to as many pesticides. Of course, it is important to give all of your produce picks a good rinse before consuming. I ask my patients to either use apple cider vinegar or hydrogen peroxide in the water to soak and scrub their vegetables and fruits. Use 1 part peroxide and 9 parts water. Again soak and wash the vegetables and fruits thoroughly. Obviously you cannot scrub berries.

Staying healthy doesn't have to break the bank. You just have to know when to splurge. Stick with these fruits and veggies and you'll be good to go. I also feel that buying from the local farmers is the way to go. In Union Square twice a week and on Saturday there is a Green Market. On Saturdays on Roosevelt Island, there is a Green Market. These farmers grow in organic soil, use no pesticides but cannot afford to put the label ORGANIC on their items. Why is this?

This is because of the government. To obtain an organic license cost money. What doesn't cost money in this world? Local farmers are doing their best to keep a float and do the best for Earth Mother. Yet some cannot afford the license. I would rather buy from these local farmers than buy organic from Whole Foods, Food Emporium etc and pay unbelievable prices. The price for staying healthy does not always have to be so high.

Remember this:

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." - Hippocrates

"Mainstream medicine would be way different if they focused on prevention rather than intervention."

"The best doctor gives the least medicine." - Benjamin Franklin

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 28, 2012 MOLD, MOLD, MOLD

"COURAGE IS THE POWER TO LET GO OF THE FAMILIAR." Raymond Lindquist

Do you have courage? We all have courage. Even the Cowardly Lion ion The Wizard of Oz had courage. One of the greatest ways I have progressed on my life journey is in developing the courage to confront. As I young person I was never good at confrontation. I shyed away from it or finally did it in an overly aggressive way. Now most of the time I confront with the courage, and from my heart. Not from my wit, nor sharp tongue. I confront from a place of love and peace.

We are all having allergies earlier this year. Spring came earlier and there was no winter to speak of for the Northeast Region. Mold is everywhere since the weather was not as cold, and even warm some days. Mold allergies are a result of extensive exposure to mold. All mold can affect breathing by either an immunologic reaction or an allergic reaction. Many of my patients suffer from both. The allergic reaction is the same when a person is allergic to dust mites and pollen. This is also a problem this time of the year but it is happening earlier. I utilize sub lingual antibody therapy against the allergens (regardless whether the dog, cat, dust, mold, trees, weeds and grasses) The immunologic reaction to mold occurs similarly to the way the body fights infection. It can be as mild as itching and swelling to severe body anaphylactic shock (which is rare).

Do you think you are allergic to mold?

1. Do you sneeze and get stuffy when you walk into a damp or musty house or basement or even a garage? I know my Rick gets really stuffy. He cannot even walk into an antique store when I shop for old records or books. Cleaning out the garage in Virginia was a task.

2. Raking leaves during and after Autumn creates severe mold allergies from the leaves fallen on the ground

3. Do you feel sick when you return to or clean out a summer home? This will be a problem when opening the house in Fire island as it has been closed since November.

4. Do you feel sick when around hay or a barn? I wish I had a farm with a barn. Sounds crazy, but not to me!

5. Do damp seasons make you feel miserable?

6. Does gardening or planting make you feel stuffy? Often there is a lot of mold in the moist garden soil.

MOLD IS EVERYWHERE! These single cell fungi are all over the world. Fungal spores (the reproductive part of the organism) are airborne. Mold is prevalent in moist warm climates but is also common in cold environments. Environmental mold is of great concern. A book called Fungus Causes Cancer has alarming theories and postulates. Mold is in air conditoning units and ducts, in carpets , in plaster boards and even drywall. It can be hard to eradicate. Sometimes it can be seen in the kitchen or bathroom. Wear a mask if you are attempting to clean up visible mold.

Mold causes disease. This will be discussed at a later date. But you can prevent mold in your home by:

1. Using a ventilation system to bring fresh filtered air

2. Seal air leaks to block entry of microbes and pollen

3. Make sure the walls and attics are insulated

4. Vacuum frequently

5. Take off wet shoes before entering your home

6. Do not leave wet towels lying around

7. Watch for mold in the bathroom

8. Prevent leaks in your roof and in the basement

9. Ventilate all areas of your home

Beware of mold! There are special mold doctors

Until tomorrow..

MARCH 27, 2012 CHOCOLATE

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt" - C Schultz

"There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate."

Charles Dickens

" What you see before you, my friend, is result of a lifetime of chocolate. " Kate Hepburn

Is a dog man's best friend or is it chocolate? Who doesn't have an infatuation with chocolate? Every holiday especially Valentine's Day, Christmas and Easter promotes chocolate. Chocolate lovers get the last laugh as chocolate is always getting better results on your health, especially cardiovascular and your memory. I wouldn't recommend milk chocolate to anyone as milk or dairy is inflammatory to the body and should be avoided. Dark chocolate is the way to go. I was one of the first physicians to work on the development a dark chocolate. It was called Chocolate Passion and sold at Bergdoff's. Unfortunately I never signed a contract for my formulas- so the rest is history.

If you didn't know this, chocolate is made from plants. It always comes back to the plants. Chocolate has the same health benefits as eating dark leafy green vegetables. Chocolate has a type of antioxidants called polyphenols which are also found in green tea and red wine. Dark chocolate contains many antioxidants such as flavonoids which protect the body from free radical damage. There are 8 times more antioxidants in dark chocolate than strawberries.

Studies have shown that dark chocolate reduces blood pressure. The polyphenols found in chocolate also inhibit platelets from clumping, thus causing less incidence of atherosclerosis. Yes, there are fats in chocolate but these fats are good and similar to those found in olive oil. These fats are oleic acid, stearic acid and palmitic acid.

I would love to eat dark chocolate very day, but there are those calories to watch for. If you eat dark chocolate every day then you must balance out some of the other calories. I like people to enjoy life, so two - three small squares is fine to just help the sweet tooth cravings.

So how much is enough. The Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a report that adding only half an ounce of dark chocolate to the average American diet is enough to increase total anti-oxidant capacity by 4% and lessen LDL cholesterol.

Do not forget that chocolate does contain a bit of caffeine in the substance theobromine. Some individuals are sensitive to chocolate and have reactions like palpitations or extra heart beats. Theobromine elevates moods as does the other substance in chocolate called phenethylamine. This substance releases endorphins. The last substance I want to discus found in chocolate is anadamide. This is a fatty substance produced primarily in the brain. It does bind to the same cannabis receptors that marijuana binds to. I find this quite interesting. More study is needed on this topic. Lastly you have heard that chocolate boosts serotonin levels (the happy hormone).

Serotonin is primarily made in the small intestine (about 90%) The balance of 10% is made in the brain.

The other night Rick and I had the most unbelievable chocolate chip, gluten free, dairy free and soy free COOKIES- yes that is what I said. Check out http://www.jennifersway.org/ Thanks Jen

Until tomorrow...

So find a dark chocolate bar you like with high percentage of cacao and indulge just a small bit.

MARCH 26, 2012 MEDITERRANEAN DIET

"Nothing pays off like the restraint of pen and tongue." Bill W

The quote above is a powerful learning tool. I try to the best of my ability to practice it daily. But I am human, and at times I would love to write a letter or email to someone who has disappointed or hurt me, or even let them have it by phone. Why? It doesn't get me anywhere. It will only make me more aggravated. Usually I restrain myself. This is a hard lesson but well learned. I have no expectations of anyone- family and friends. I do not want to be disappointed. I have enough disappointment in my life. Have you had enough of disappointments? I do not engage any longer in drama. Drama is an energy thief. Gossip is character assassination. To the best of my ability I practice this. It is sometimes hard, but well worth the effort.

Try it!

It was not until 2001 that Dr. Walter Willet talked about the olive oil rich diet. It was initially described after World War II by an American scientist Ancel Keys, pHD. He developed the famous K ration while working for the US Department of Agriculture. Willet's book is pictured above: Eat, Drink and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating

There is no one diet for all. The Mediterranean diet is a popular diet based on traditional diets of Italy, Greece and the island of Crete. The diet is high in olive oil and emphasizes vegetables. I do not agree with the grains of this diet. I believe this diet could be done gluten free . In addition red meat is recommenced 2-3 ounces per day which I am not in favor of. I feel a diet should be individualized. I like aspects of this diet, but I want a low glycemic lifestyle. The diet also suggests moderate amounts of red wine. This is great for the heart, but not for the 'gut' (small intestine) as wine is high in sugar and has yeast. This aspect could be debated for years. I like the freshness of the diet. Fish (low in mercury of course) is great. Fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants are great. Beans, lentils, peas and certain fruit are alright. The dairy part for me is controversial.

The olive oil in the diet reduces oxidative stress and helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

A new study reported that Co enzyme Q10 added to a diet rich in olive oil like the Mediterranean diet helped reduce both the oxidative stress and inflammatory response in elderly men and women. It was a small study group of 20 patients (10 women and 10 men). This is no surprise to me as I use Co enzyme Q10 on all patients, especially my heart patients. I also utilize D ribose and L carnitine.This combination leads to optimal cardiovascular health as well as neurological health

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 23, 2012 BIRDING

"Love begins by taking care of the closest ones- the ones at home." Mother Teresa

I take care of the closest ones and then some. It is my G.O.D. chosen profession and I must say honestly - I love medicine and people. I might not always like the day to day aspecta of business, insurance and medication prescriptions, but helping people is great.

I sometimes forget to check on those who are at home. I feel it is because I have to take so many other people home in my mind. But over the years I have definitely gotten better at this. If not for the people at home in my case, I would never be able to do what I do. For one there is love, respect and major support from home- namely Rick. I couldn't do this without him.

Birding is a nature loving, animal loving. meditative hobby that is done outdoors. The question is - Do you love nature? Do you appreciate life around you? The trees, plants, flowers, sky... all the animals, and especially the birds. When you think of birding, what do you think of? I think of John James Audubon. He is probably the most well known man associated with bird watching. It started when he moved from Haiti to Philadelphia and started to watch the nesting and habitat patterns of the birds of that area. His first bird book was called Birds of America. I am fascinated with nature.

For those who do not know me - I love birds. I have an Amazon Green Parrot. It all started when I was about 9 years old. I loved watching the activities of the robins in our backyard. I had my first bird feeder on the back porch. I would watch for hours the different birds that came to feed. The sparrows, the blue jays and the cardinals to name a few. One Sunday dinner, the usual 15 plus people were at the dinner table. The food was endless and the laughter was contagious. My cousin, Dr Jim came by. His parents my great Uncle Jim and Aunt Sadie were there. He carried in a cage with a black bird squawking. It was a Mynah Bird. I named him Charlie. From that point on I have had talking birds and non talking birds. At one point Rick and I had 16 birds, as our love birds hatched eggs every 3-4 months.

Birding is a quiet and serene hobby. Rick bought me binoculars about 8 years ago. I get to bird watch in Fire Island and in Roosevelt Island. Of course there are more interesting birds in Fire Island. More than 330 species of birds have been recorded on Fire Island, more than 1/3 of all species found in North America. Fire Island is without a doubt one of the best birding locations in the New York area, particularly during the spring and fall migrations. The piping plover is an endangered species that nests on Fire Island. (see 2 photographs above) The third photograph is that of a Snowy Owl on Fire Island (courtesy of 7song).

During this nice warm weather, you should get started early as dawn to mid -morning is the best time to see different bird species. The wetlands, the edges of streams, woods and lakes make for grand birding adventures.

These are the aspects I was taught to watch for:

1. Look for color and different markings. Try to identify the bird.

2. Note how big the bird is

3. Watch the bird's actions such as where it flys to and notice the types of trees it visits.

4. Bring a small Bird Guide for the Region you are in. Try to find the bird in the book and then begin some basic researching about the bird.

You can buy a beginner's Bird Watching Guide and look up different resources at http://www.americanbirding.org/ or http://www.audubon.org/

Have lots of fun

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 22, 2012 GERD HERBAL PROTOCOL

"Sometimes finding the answer is as easy as taking a break and stepping back from the situation."

Thanks Karen

We all have to do this once in a while. When I do not know the answer I always step back , ponder, think what I might have done or what I will do, and then tackle the problem. The answer to most of my problems is communication. Getting the exact message across is key. Communication is key. Something I frequently take a step back and re think is friendships. As I get older, I find that there are fewer friends that I want to spend time with. My tolerance is shorter. I know this is not really true, so I must do one thing--Meditate and Pray.

The removal of inflaming or offending foods is the key in patients who are allergic, but this is one approach. My other approach is to take the HERBAL approach.

Two MUSTS are probiotcs (friendly bacteria) and glutamine. I prefer powder form as the irritated gut needs soft repair and restoring abilities. It is a lot easier with a powder versus capsules or tablets.

I have been taught to use an antimicrobial tea (per many conferences at either Southwest Botanical Conference in Tempe AZ or the Medicine of the Earth conference in Asheville NC)

This tea consists of :

1. Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)

2. Matricaria recutia (Chamomile)

3. Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)

4. Organum vulgare (Majoram)

I would mix equal parts of the above herbs (about 2-4 oz) and drink 1-2 cups per /day. The first two herbs, chamomile and licorice help rebuild the digestive mucosa and reduce the frequency and intensity of the GERD. There is an herb called Hamamelis that tightens the lower esophageal sphincter. This is one of the digestive barks. Of all the major systems in the body, I feel there are more herbs that can alleviate problems of the digestive system. I often utilize Weiss's Herbal Medicine text among others to mix/match herbs that I frequently use. There are simple demulcents for esophagitis (a precursor to GERD). These herbs can be used as teas or syrups. These are Althea, Ulmus and Symphytum.

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 21, 2012 GELOTOLOGY

“If every word I said could make you laugh, I'd talk forever... "

You have always heard that laughter is the best medicine, but now there are studies to show that laughter has a major effect on disease. The study of laughter is called gelotology. It is derived from the Greek word, "gelos" meaning laughter. When you laugh there are a number of physiological changes in the body.

1. One is the release of endorphins. These are the body's own opiates, which suppress pain.

2. A dramatic reduction in stress and reduction in cortisol levels

3. A decrease in the stress hormone epinephrine, which plays a role in high blood pressure and conestive heart failure

There have been studies on a variety of diseases which have shown laughter improved the patient's health. There are studies to suggest that laughter is effective in increasing the quality of life and resilience in breast cancer survivors.

Others studies examined laughter on depression, quality of life, cognitive function and sleep. These studies used Laughter Yoga. This is a combination of uncontrolled laughter and yogic breathing. It was shown that laughter yoga decreased depression and increased satisfaction with life in these patients. This was published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2011. The Geriatric Gerontology International published a report in 2011 on the Effects of laughter therapy on depression, cognition and sleep among the elderly in a community based setting. For the last ten years there have been studies on laughter for cardiac disease, natural killer cells, and even atopic dermatitis. A recent study was done on the impact of trained clowns using laughter after embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization. Those with trained clown laughter had a higher pregnancy rate compared with the control group.

Since early 2002 there have been studies on laughter and cardiac disease and diabetes. Both had promising results and both showed that laughter reduced the stress hormone, cortisol as well as epinephrine (which is adrenaline - the fright or flight hormone)

So it will not kill you laugh once in a while. It may actually save your life. Think how many times you laugh in a given day. With all of life's stresses barking at your feet try a little laughter. Buy a joke book!

LAUGH. LOVE. LIVE.

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 20, 2012 GASTROINTESTINAL REFLUX PART ONE

"Your very own inner wisdom should be valued more than any other and will always guide you in the direction you need to travel. WHEN THE HEART SPEAKS....TAKE GOOD NOTES.

"Enjoy life....it has an expiration date.."

I was going to discuss heart disease, but I want to discuss a very prevalent disease with increasing rates - Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD). The reason it is so prevalent is the bad dietary habits of Americans, as well as the over-the-counter antacids that are available. Many people seem to think they can eat whatever they want if they take an antacid.
Studies have shown that many OTC medications can be the cause of memory loss.

GERD could be reduced or eliminated if you change your dietary lifestyle. The most important factor is the consumption of simple carbohydrates. You need to eliminate sugar. I am talking about simple carbohydrates as bread, cookies, pasta, etc that convert to sugar quicker than table sugar. This is the glycemic index. In order to alleviate GERD try to eat low glycemic foods.

I want to help my patients support, maintain and restore their digestive systems. I do this with three changes to the diet: 1. elimination of the above mentioned foods, 2. the addition of amino acid L - glutamine, and 3. the addition of probioitc. These should be in powder form as it is better for the gut to absorb. Of course, I will discuss herbs tomorrow - GERD PART TWO. There are many beneficial herbs for the GI tract and GERD.

One epidemiological study showed that aspirin overuse and psychosocial stress contributed to GERD. There is also a statistical correlation between halitosis (bad breath - probably originating from gum disease), pickle consumption and headaches with GERD. Smoking is a well known contributing factor to GERD. Some even say coffee causes GERD. This may be so, but what happens if you want it black which studies show prevent Alzheimer's. It is a double edged sword.

So, this weekend while visiting the New York Botanical Gardens ( http://www.nybg.org/) Orchid Show which I highly recommend, I bought a book in the garden store called The Devil's Cup. I started to read it last night. It is about COFFEE. So far very entertaining and informative.

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 19, 2012 COMPASSION AND THE HONEY BEE

"It is our job to have compassion for ourselves."

I have compassion for all, but rarely do I think of the above statement. In truth how can I have compassion for others, if I do not have compassion for myself? As Saint Patrick said, "Before I was humiliated I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and he who is mighty came and in his compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall." There was a time in my life when I was in the mud. In my humble opinion, you must hit rock bottom to truly appreciate what you have in life. A bottom does not have to be living in a shelter or a box under a bridge, but when you are low and your self-esteem is less than 0 (on a scale of 1-10). Have compassion for yourself? Treat yourself to something such as a hobby to boost your self-esteem.

Be (Bee) passionate about honey bees!

As an herbalist I highly recommend bee pollen. It is full of nutrition. Of course, as a bee keeper I am thrilled that every aspect of the bee hive can be used. The pollen, the royal jelly, honey and even the wax. Last night Rick and I made bee's wax candles from our own bee's wax. What fun!

See the photo above! Yeah! Hope we will do it again tonight

Bee pollen contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and protein. It comes from the pollen that collects on the bodies of bees. Bee pollen may also include bee saliva.
It's important to avoid confusing bee pollen with natural honey, honeycomb, bee venom, or royal jelly. These products do not contain bee pollen.

Bee pollen is available at many health food stores. You may find bee pollen in other natural dietary supplements as well as in skin softening products used for diaper rash or eczema.

You may also hear recommendations for using bee pollen for alcoholism, asthma, allergies, health maintenance, or gastrointestinal problems, as bloating, gas and indigestion. But before you take any natural product for a health condition, check with your doctor.

Bee pollen is also recommended by some herbalists to enhance athletic performance, reduce side effects of chemotherapy, and improve allergies and asthma.

Bee venom is used for many autoimmune diseases, especially multiple sclerosis.

At this point, medical research has not shown bee pollen to be effective for any of these health concerns. I feel more research needs to be done on pee pollen.

Bee pollen appears to be safe, at least when taken for a short time. But if you have pollen allergies you may get more than you bargained for. Bee pollen can cause a serious allergic reaction like difficulty breathing. This can result in anaphylaxsis where the throat completely closes. This is why we have epinephrine in our Fire Island home in case someone gets stung by a bee. I hope the Doctor's House in Cherry Grove has epinephrine shots as well.

In the coming years I hope more herbalists get involved with bee keeping. I also hope more city dwellers get involved with bee keeping.

A Great Mid Morning Snack

1. Add 4 teaspoons of bee pollen to a bowl of Natural Goat's Yogurt. Add some Orthobitoic Probiotic powder or Colon Restore from http://www.longevitynutritionals.com/ Add blueberries, walnuts and raspberries. Sprinkle on some cinnamon.

You will become a true bee pollen lover.

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 17-18, 2012 CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA

"You gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,

Sing like there's nobody listening,

And live like it's heaven on earth."

- William W Purkey

This is for every day. There is not a special day in one's life. Sure it might be your birthday, or your name day, or your wedding day, but every day is a special day. Every day that you open your eyes and take in a breath is a G.O.D. given day. Some of us might take this for granted. I do not. I know. I have had to witness an individual's last breath. And I will always be grateful for those who I was there for. I wanted to be there. The patient wanted me there. I have learned through the years take nothing for granted. The twelve step promises tell me that as quickly as it comes, just as quickly it can be taken away. It has happened, but I am never in 'that dark place' I am always in the light.

Be green and in the light today. Green is a sign that Spring is almost here.

Citrus anurantifolia (LIME) belongs to the family Rutaceae and is related to the other well known citrus fruits--oranges, grapefruits and lemons. To prevent scurvy, a deficiency in vitamin C, English sailors used limes.

The health benefits of lime include weight loss, skin care, good digestion, relief from constipation, eye care, and treatment of scurvy, piles, peptic ulcer, respiratory disorders, gout, gums, urinary disorders, etc.

The first fruit that comes to our minds when it comes to medicinal uses is perhaps the good old lime. I felt it was the first fruit my Nanny grabbed if we had a cut, bad digestion or gum/tooth problems. I used to love to suck on a lime when I was a child.

This sour citrus fruit can do what many specialist medicines cannot. Lime has been used for ages for treatment of various ailments. Lime is consumed throughout the world in sorbets, beverages, refreshing drinks, pickles, jams, jellies, snacks, candies, sugar boiled confectioneries and many other culinary creations. The oil extracted from its peel or skin is extensively used in soft drink concentrates, body oils, cosmetics, hair oils, tooth pastes, toilet and beauty soaps, disinfectants, mouth washes, deodorants and innumerable other products. There are many varieties of lime found all over the world, particularly in the tropical and the Mediterranean climates.

Perhaps the best use is to drink either lime or lemon juice squeezed in room temperature glass of water in the morning. It is as great way to start the day.

So what is it about the limes. Limes have similar nutritional and health benefits as lemons. They provide an excellent source of vitamin C. They also offer a good source of folic acid, vitamin B6, potassium, flavinoids, and the important phytochemical limonene. Limes contain phytochemicals that are high in antioxidant and anticancer properties.

There are many other fruits that have phytonutrients that fight cancer. Examples are beta carotene for lung and breast cancer, lycopene for prostate cancer, and many more. Studies have shown that lime juice can affect cell cycles. It can modulate the decision a cell makes to divide (mitosis), die (apoptosis), or even boost the activity of white blood cells. Limes also have an antibiotic effect and are strongly protective against diseases such as cholera.

Until tomorrow...

For me, today is reminiscent of my childhood. It is a green day for my name, Patrick. I will always cherish my Uncle Sonny's green bagels from Fresh Meadows, Nanny's green jello, and Mom's green cupcakes. Today, Uncle Sonny was Rick. I have a green bagel on my desk.

MARCH 16, 2012 WALKING THE HIGH LIFE AND THE HIGH LINE

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

Albert Einstein

You must always keep moving. One the best hobbies is walking. Yes this is exercise which already should be part of your everyday exercise lifestyle. Now, you are going to pick a new place to walk. It is not just going around the block, the inside mall of your city when it is cold outside or Central Park. You always must be moving to keep your balance. Moving is part of life. Yes I am talking about moving your body, but I am always talking about moving your mind. That is why you need a hobby. Today I want you to focus on a new New York City Landmark -The High Line.

From http://www.thehighline.org/

The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan's largest industrial district. No trains have run on the High Line since 1980.

Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. The project gained the City's support in 2002. The High Line south of 30th Street was donated to the City by CSX Transportation Inc. in 2005. The design team of landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, created the High Line's public landscape with guidance from a diverse community of High Line supporters. Construction on the park began in 2006. The first section, from Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street, opened June 9, 2009. The second section, from West 20th Street to West 30th Street opened in 2011. Now we hear the High Line will be extended even a little further.

Last Sunday, Rick and I walked the High Line. We haven't been there for more than 6 months. It was a beautiful sunny day, yet chilly. It was great to see New Yorkers and many Europeans walking the High Line. There are great plant species that have been planted. The flowers are blooming early which is not great for the bees, but nice to see. There are amazing crocus and large type willows. The grasses are dry but you know within weeks they will be green and lush again. There is a small new bird sanctuary.

You can read, walk, chat and even needle point or knit on the High Line. It is smoke free and no pets are allowed.

If you haven't been to the High Line I suggest you visit. Also check out their website above. Support the Project if you are a New Yorker. Go to the bookstore and buy the book.

High Line: The Inside Story of New York City’s Park in the Sky is the first comprehensive book about the High Line. Published by Farrar Straus and Giroux and designed by Pentagram, the book tells the story of the project with more than 200 photographs documenting the High Line's transformation and a narrative by Friends of the High Line Co-Founders Joshua David and Robert Hammond about how it all came to be. ( from http://www.thehighline.org/)

I am awaiting for my copy in the mail.

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 15, 2012 BLOOD SUGAR STABILIZATION

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

JK Rowling from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Dreams are great. We all want certain thigs to happen and dreams to come true. Once you find what your dream is, reach for it and grab it. One of my dreams was to be a dancer. It never happened. I support dance and theatre and have many friends in the theatre. I live through them. I have always admired the great dancers- Astaire, Kelly, O'Connor, Rogers and many more. I do not dwell on my dreams. I had a dream to be a doctor. In retrospect I wanted to be a vetenarian. I love animals. I had a G.O.D. chosen profession for me. It was to be a healer. For this I am grateful.

Harry Potter holds a special place in my heart. From the time the book was written, my son Gregory and I shared every book. We read them together. We saw the films together and we even visited the Science Museum in Boston for a Harry Potter exhibit. Great memories...

There are many ways to treat diabetes. Most individuals need a blood sugar stabilization. I use many minerals/supplements to control sugar cravings and blood sugar stabilization in addition to exercise and dietary lifestyle changes.

Since most individuals like drinking an herbal tea ratrher than a tincture due to the alcohol content, I have a Blood Sugar Formula

1. Dandelion Root 1 oz

2. Huckleberry leaf 1 oz

3. Fenugreek seed 1 oz

4. Devil's club 1 oz

I would buy 1 oz of each, mix together and have 1/2 cup /day for three weeks on and then stop for 1-2 weeks and then restart.

I have never discussed Devil's club or Huckleberry leaf.

Devil's Club (Oplopanax horridus) is a large shrub that I have never seen. It grows in western North America. It does have large palmate leaves and woody stems covered in brittle spines. It doesn't feel like a plant I would venture near. After looking up some data I find there is a relation to the other adaptogenic plants which I use. It is related to the American ginseng.

Huckelberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) has been used mediocinally for years. Its berries have a high content of tanins, vitamin C, pro Vitamin A and vitamin B. It has a great effect on the digestive system. I know one of my Nanny's close freinds used to bring her huckelberry jam every year. It can be used for hemrrhoids, but I have also read in Sauer's Herbal Cures that it is a great mouthwash for the gums/teeth. Huckelberry improves vision probably due to the pro Vitamin A. It has oval shaped leaves with white or pink flowers. The berries are beautiful. It helps stabilize blood sugar and can be used as a preventative herb for diabetes.

For those with sugar cravings, find some - as a tincture 25 drops with water 3 times a day.

Until tomorrow...