JUNE 4, 2010 A NUTTY BLESSED DAY

I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For Me and You
And I think to myself -What a Wonderful World

I see skies of blue
and clouds of white
The bright blessed day and the dark sacred night
And I say to myself - What a Wonderful World

The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying-- "How do you do?"
There really saying I love you

I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know

Then I think to myself --What a Wonderful World

YES, I think to myself... What a Wonderful World....

Is it a Wonderful World? I think it depends on how you look at it and where you fit within this world! It may or may not depend on what race, religion, gender or political views you may have. It does depend on how spiritual you actually are and how well you are able to accept what is happening in your surroundings. If you are a 'NEWS' junkie/addict you will likely view the world in a different way. I try not watch the 'News', or read the New York Times (except the Sunday Art and Leisure section) because I get depressed seeing and reading about tragedies, murders, oil spills, etc.

It is not that I do not care --because I do. Perhaps I would be empowered by this constant stream of news if I had the power to change the world and how people treat each other. I do my part, but I cannot expect to save the world. The same is said about the people I care for. I do my best to educate, care, listen to and treat people. I sometimes feel I didn't do enough--I take their pain, sorrow and even their death on my shoulders. I have been trying to let go of that because I am one person--I am not immortal. I am only human. I am Patrick...

Today's mantra: I am grateful and blessed today

A nut is the hard shelled fruit of some plants that have an indehiscent seed (meaning the fruit does not open on its own to release the seed). While a wide variety of dried seeds and fruits are called nuts in English, only a certain number of them are considered by biologists to be true nuts. Nuts are an important source of nutrients for both humans and wildlife.

A nut in botany is a simple dry fruit with one seed (rarely two). Nuts belong to the Family Fagaceae. Nuts used for food, whether true nuts or not, are among the most common food allergens. I encounter many peanut allergies. There are two types of allergies. Those which are immediate called IgE allergies. The testing for this can be either by skin or blood testing. There are also allergies which are delayed called IgG allergies. The testing for this is by blood. I do both testing for both IgE (immediate) and IgG (delayed). I often observe negative results for peanuts by IgE but positive results for IgG.

Remember the peanut is not a nut, it is a legume. It is grown in the ground. I observe many peanut allergies when the patient has a yeast problem. Peanuts and/or peanut butter contain yeast. Why? Peanuts as stated are grown in the ground, therefore there is fungus, which is mold. Yeast, mold, fungus...all are classified in the same group of living things. Think about what else can be yeasty that is grown in the ground? Yes, the mushroom is part of this group as well.

Some fruits and seeds that do not meet the botanical definition but are nuts in the culinary sense:

Almonds, Pecans and Walnuts are the edible seeds of drupe fruits — the leathery "flesh" is removed at harvest.
Brazil nut is the seed from a capsule.
Candlenut (used for oil) is a seed.
Cashew nut is a seed.
Gevuinanut
Horse-chestnut is an inedible capsule.
Macadamia nut is a creamy white kernel (Macadamia integrifolia).
Malabar chestnut
Mongongo
Peanut is a seed. It is actually a legume.
Pine nut is the seed of several species of pine (coniferous trees).
Pistachio nut is the seed of a thin-shelled drupe.

Several epidemiological studies have revealed that people who consume nuts regularly are less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease Nuts were first linked to protection against CHD in 1993.I encourage all my patients to consume nuts as a snack (except peanuts). Many clinical trials have found that consumption of various nuts such as almonds and walnuts can lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations. There are recent studies that walnuts are better than other nuts. I prefer almonds. Although nuts contain various substances thought to possess cardioprotective effects, scientists believe that their Omega 3 fatty acid profile is at least in part responsible for the lipid lowering effect.

In addition to possessing cardioprotective effects, nuts generally have a very low glycemic index. This means that nuts generally are converted to sugar in the body at a slower level than other foods with a high glycemic index. For example grapes and watermelons. I frequently recommend nuts be included in diets prescribed for patients with insulin resistance (pre diabetic, also called metabolic syndrome).

Nuts have special properties. Because they contain fat, people get afraid to eat them. Yes, it is true if you consume bags of nuts there is a lot of fat. But it is the right fat, NOT saturated fat.In addition, the fats in nuts for the most part are unsaturated fats, particularly monounsaturated fats. This type does not elevate blood cholesterol levels like saturated fats. Nuts contain the all important fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids, which are critical for growth, physical and mental development, healthy hair and skin, blood pressure control, immunological responses and blood clotting.

For snacks I recommend patients to have a small handful - 1 ounce of almonds is about 14 almonds - not 30, or the large handful you want. Do not eat nuts like popcorn or M and M's.
Nuts also supply one of the best natural sources of vitamins E and B2 (riboflavin, an antioxidant), and are rich in protein, folate, fiber, and essential minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and selenium.

After reading this who doesn't want a NUT. When I decided to write about nuts.. my first thought was the Barbara Streisand movie, Nuts which I enjoyed. The mother was portrayed by Maureen Stapleton. Rent it again. It is worth a Friday night with a bowl of nuts.

The needle craft above is not needlepoint. It is free style, not stamped cross stitch. Some rather buy a stamped (inked) canvas. I prefer freestyle so I can be creative and make different designs on the canvas. In this case I added a few extra flowers. This cross stitch could have been framed (without glass) or made into a pillow. A nice pillow for a country porch.

Photo credit: Rick Byrd
Song credit: Louis Armstrong
Pillow credit: Vasiliki
In memory of Jerry who always had a smile that beamed and a heart that glowed.

Until tomorrow...

The Decade Nutrient

March 20 2010 First Day of Spring - Sun and Flowers


Being the first day of spring, I want to discuss what I believe is the Nutrient of the Decade, Vitamin D. Why not? Today, the first day of spring, the temperature will be about 72 degrees. In medical school I was taught to use vitamin D with caution . We all should know by now that it is a fat soluble vitamin. Increased levels can increase serum calcium levels. It is not only a vitamin. It has been found to be a pro-hormone and can be expressed in the brain, heart, skin, prostate and even the mammary glands. Everyone associates Vitamin D with bone. Prior to new studies, the RDA requirements were only 400-800 mg. Today, the average is 1000-1200 mg.

I have been using more than 2000-5000 for the past decade, and now even more depending on the patient's serum Vitamin D 25 level (calcidiol), which is the correct measurement despite the fact that in medical school we were taught only to measure the Vitamin D1, 25 (calcitrol). The average (optimal) level ranges from 32 - 100 mg/ml depending on the lab. I prefer someone having a level of 50-60 mg/ml. Severely deficient is 0-15 and mildly deficient is 15-31.

You may think you do not like to take supplements so what food source can you get Vitamin D from? 1 tablespoon is equivalent to 1,360/serving--salmon (3oz sockeye) is 794 IU/serving and milk (nonfat, fortified with D) is 115-126 IU/serving. After yesterday's discussion about milk, I would prefer the fish or the cod liver oil. But the easiest way is supplementation in capsule or liquid form.

As a preventive practitioner in all respects, Vitamin D can decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and cancer. When explaining levels of Vitamin D to patients, I state anyone who lives above the imaginary line drawn from Los Angeles east to Columbia, South Carolina needs extra Vitamin D. Yes, in the summer, those of us who sun bathe will get Vitamin D2 which will convert to D3, but in the winter months you should increase your D dosages. However, you may use too much sun block to even get the Vitamin D2 from the sun. You need to walk in the sun three times a week for 15 minutes to get adequate levels if you are using sun block. Remember: not all sunlight Vitamin D2 will convert to D3 unless your small intestines, especially the villi, are free to absorb and make Vitamin D and the good bacteria in the colon are plenty. These good bacteria, like lactobacillus, bifidum, etc. can be taken as probiotics.
Other conditions which predispose someone to a low Vitamin D level, are kidney disease and celiac disease.

Remember this point: Dietary sources of Vitamin D are limited so SUPPLEMENT Vitamin D3.

It is my hope that your 21st century search for serenity is fulfilled in any form of needlework. It is also my hope that you, who live in this technological, mechanical and toxic environment, benefit from the hours you spend with the needle in your hand.

The needlepoint of flowers was a special one. I made it for "Gaga" for her 90th Birthday. Gaga is Rick's grandmother. We celebrated her 90th at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. This grand hotel opened in 1895. It symbolized a dream for the most colorful citizen of that time, Lewis Ginter. It incorporates Renaissance and other forms of architecture. I felt grand walking down the majest 36-step marbled staircase. It appears that David O. Selnick and MGM copied this for Scarlett O'Hara stairs at Tara.

Until her death in May 2005, she drove her car to the Piggly Wiggly, the hair dresser and to get her mail. She died peacefully, sitting on the couch with needlework in hand. She is surely missed by all.

Until tomorrow...