“Just Noticing”: Observations Of A Blogger
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 18th, 2010
“Just noticing”….
Not just an observation:
If Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is confirmed by the Senate, she will sit on the the heralded bench next to, er…. umm… uhh. At least that’s likely to be the response offered by most Americans when asked to name one or more current Supreme Court justices.
A recent survey commissioned by Findlaw.com found that only 35 percent of Americans could name one member of the nation’s highest court. Only one percent could name all nine members.
Clarence Thomas is the most well-known justice. Nineteen percent of respondents could name him. Sonya Sotomayor, who was confirmed last year, was named by fifteen percent of respondents.
Only 3 percent of Americans could name Stephen Breyer, while some identified retired justices Sandra Day O’Connor and David Souter as current members of the court.
No judgement…“Just noticing.”
Readers: I have to admit, a few years ago I was one of those people who wouldn’t be able to name ONE. The present day is a way different. How many can you name? Test your knowledge and click here for the results of the survey. Blog me and brag…or blog me and bow your head in shame.
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Zen Lill: Thanks for always finding the time to be here in your midst of busyness - I hope all goes well!
Jenny: Wonderful. And I hope Sam does the same for you. Women need to hear it too.
Chloe: It feels god doesn’t it? For both people, I mean. It’s easy to take things for granted. It takes a conscious effort to give gratitude. I am inspired by the comments to give gratitude more often too.
Brad: There’s always one in the group isn’t there?
Evelyn: Nice article. I like that the way to boost the language skills is from the assistance of a drug free product. Thanks for posting, and for the compliment. I can not imagine that you haven’t been snatched up yet. You are obviously a woman who knows what she wants and will not settle. Good for you. From what I know of you, you have a good head on your shoulders…and well…kudos to Ruth, She has raised you well.
Tiffany: That is just so typical isn’t it? Hypocrisy is rampant. Like I said, people’s religious beliefs and racial prejudices will prevent them from looking or even considering the evidence.
I’ve got to run now…peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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July 18th, 2010 at 9:58 am
MELON LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE
As though anyone needs an excuse to indulge in a cool, juicy slice of melon on a hot summer day, these popular fruits — including watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and casaba melons — are a rich source of potassium and a host of other nutrients as well.
Refreshing and delicious, they also are a healthy, natural way to help lower your blood pressure, notes Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, LD, an assistant professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (http://www.eatright.org).
SHAKE OFF BLOOD PRESSURE WORRIES
If you have salt-sensitive high blood pressure, you probably know already that you should watch your sodium intake. Too much salt — both from the salt shaker and from processed foods — causes fluid retention and blood vessel contraction that contribute to hypertension.
What you may not know is that potassium also plays an important role in this equation. A study published last year in the Archives of Internal Medicine noted that people with a low sodium-to-potassium ratio — that is, those who made a point of both consuming less salt and eating more potassium-rich fresh produce than is typical for the American diet — were less likely to experience high blood pressure.
Because it is a vasodilator and helps get rid of sodium and water, potassium helps curb fluid retention and blood vessel contraction.
According to the American Heart Association, the recommended daily intake of potassium for adults is 4,700 milligrams. Many people don’t normally consume this much potassium, but melons provide a tasty solution. Two cups of cubed melon contain more than 1,000 mg of potassium, or nearly one-fourth of your daily requirement.
Other rich dietary sources of this mineral include apricots, artichokes, avocados, bananas, beans, kiwis, oranges, peas, potatoes, prunes, raisins, tomatoes, spinach, Swiss chard and other green leafy vegetables.
MELON AT EVERY MEAL?
Melons are much more versatile than most people realize, and you can easily incorporate them into a wide variety of dishes. Instead of reserving them for breakfast or a snack, take advantage of the season’s bounty and put melons on your family’s summer menu of soups, salads and salsas…
Melon soup: Puree chunks of ripe honeydew and cantaloupe with orange juice and chill.
Luscious melon salad: Combine small chunks of your favorite melon with raspberries, strawberries or orange sections and drizzle with honey and lime or lemon juice.
Fish or chicken with melon: Serve the grilled or broiled meats on a bed of diced ripe melon. Or make a melon salsa to accompany the main dish — combine finely diced honeydew and cantaloupe, diced tomatoes, minced red onion, orange juice, lime juice, cilantro and salt.
Grilled melon: Cube honeydew, and toss in lemon juice, brown sugar and ginger. Thread onto skewers and grill for three to four minutes or until slightly soft and beginning to brown.
Note: Potassium affects the balance of fluids in the body, so too much can be a problem for older people and those with heart or kidney disease. If you take a diuretic drug or have issues with fluid retention, talk to your doctor before adding significant amounts of melon to your diet.
Source(s):
Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, LD, assistant professor, department of clinical nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Sandon is a National Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. http://www.eatright.org.
July 18th, 2010 at 10:04 am
What’s with all the earthquakes near us?
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6.2-magnitude quake shakes Pacific near Guam: USGS
(AFP) – Jul 10, 2010
WASHINGTON — A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook the Pacific near the US territory of Guam Saturday at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was immediately issued.
The quake hit around 9:43 pm in Guam (1143 GMT) some 296 kilometers (184 miles) southeast of the territory’s capital Hagatna, said the US Geological Survey.
There was no indication of a tsunami from the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.
Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
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Everything so far is alright
Hafa Adai
Anna
July 18th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
BEETS FOR SALE
Come gather around, good neighbors; there’s glorious news to tell–
Here’s a wagonload of beetroots I’ve come to town to sell.
And if you’ll be my customers, They’ll please you very, very well!
My First customer was a Titled man’s lady, with a driver to open her door.
She said I’ll take one, nine inches long with a nice four inch bore.
Then she smiled and said, “If his works, “For sure, I’ll be back for more.
My Second customer was the new King of Pop’s wife, as pretty as you please.
And she would have a little one she said, to give herself a tiny bit of ease.
For her husband’s, though very pleasing, his organ did dangle to his knees.
My Third customer was a corporate head’s wife, all decked out in Chanel.
She said, ” a dozen please, four inches or more.” and then I heard her yell
“He tries so hard and so often, but I’ll need one of these to ring my bell.”
My Fourth customer was the town moralist’s wife, and god was she mean.
Demanding for the largest one that ever yet was seen.
For she’d been teased with little ones since she was scarce fifteen.
My Fifth customer was the sailor’s wife, a very fine thing, and oh so very tall.
She said “fuck the roots, I hire your well hung helper who answers to Paul
To help me keep my home fires burning while hubby’s off sailing this Fall.
My Sixth customer was a republican’s wife, an expert at being coy.
She started with five bushels and then said “I’ll take them all, God knows I need the joy.
My husband gets his from a gay escort service and a certain neighborhood preacher named Roy.
The last was a pretty little miss, who asked, What have you left in your cart?”.
And when she heard my roots were sold, It seemed to break her heart.
“Pray, give me leave,” says she, don’t fret I said, “I’m here to do my part.
Guill
July 19th, 2010 at 2:07 am
Michelle
Your article tells us exactly why Fox and the republicans get away with lying to the American people. They are basically too dumb to know the difference.
July 19th, 2010 at 2:15 am
Hafa Adai
Peter looks like the politicians on Guam are at it again. They are trying to strip the people of the power to look over their shoulders and object to their greed.
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Elected: The voters of Guam should choose the AG, not the governor
JULY 18, 2010
A bill introduced by Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz seeks to eliminate the ability of the people to choose the attorney general at the ballot box and instead restore that power to the governor. This would be huge step backward and the bill must not progress further.
Cruz’s rationale in Bill 425 is that the attorney general needs to be a person who is accountable and judicious, and that the governor will make the best decision on who that person should be.
But there was a very good reason Guam changed the position of attorney general from one appointed by the governor to one elected by the people in 1999 — to insulate the office from political pressure from Adelup and provide a stronger check on the governor.
It doesn’t make sense to return to an attorney general who is beholden to the governor for his or her job. When that’s the case, the pressure on the attorney general is to do what the boss tells him or her to do.
What this community needs is an attorney general who will make legal decisions based on case law and precedent, not the wants and whims of Adelup. The attorney general needs to be free from any political influence when making these decisions.
It needs an independent attorney general whom voters can hold accountable at the voting booth, not one subject to the politics of the governor. That, too often, was the case when the governor used to appoint the attorney general, with the office often serving as no more than a rubber stamp for a gubernatorial decision.
This community has benefited from its ability to elect its attorney general and voters should continue to make the decision on who will serve as the island’s chief law enforcement officer. Lawmakers must not pass Bill 425. And, if they do, the governor has a duty to the people to veto the measure.
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The politicians do not want an independent person answerable to the people. They want a fellow crook who will do what he/she is told.
Lea
July 19th, 2010 at 2:17 am
Michelle
I took the test. I could only name three. When you think about the incredible power over our lives these people have that is scary
July 19th, 2010 at 2:20 am
Michelle
I did not know a single one except Scalia. And that was because I heard it recently. Reading about them has made me sick. They are for the most part working for their masters.
July 19th, 2010 at 2:23 am
Michelle
I took the test. Although I missed a few, I am happy with what I know. I hope we don’t get that woman appointed. We have too many women messing up our lives right now.
Why are we appointing a woman simply because she is a woman? Men are more suited for that type of job.
Ming
July 19th, 2010 at 2:29 am
Hafa Adai
This is the hardest blog to get in on. I read 3 others and I have not trouble getting in My complaint is that will somebody please tell me why the French government is sending its army to help the US police or protect Guam?
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French frigate visits Guam’s port
BY DAVID MERCADO JR. • PACIFIC SUNDAY NEWS • JULY 18, 2010
The French ship, Vendémiaire, is on Guam for a port visit during its two-and-a-half month diplomatic mission in the Pacific region.
Although the ship has no diplomatic goal on Guam, its crew wants to establish good ties with several U.S. military forces on island, said Commander Pierre-Yves Grente, who is the commanding officer of the French frigate.
“There is no very important official mission coming from France,” he said.”This is a good way for us to stop between Japan and New Caledonia.”
The crew of the Vendémiaire had an official dinner last night with several other military officials from Guam.
Named in honor of the submarine that sank in 1912 after colliding with a cruiser, the ship was built in Lorient on the French Atlantic coast in 1993. It is home ported in Noumea, New Caledonia, which is a French territory 1,200 kilometers east of Australia.
It belongs to the Floreal class, a surveillance frigate class that is used for humanitarian aid, diplomacy and naval law enforcement under the French navy, according to a press release.
Weaponry includes a 100 mm gun, two anti-ship missiles called Exocet, two 20 mm guns, and in the coming months, two machine-guns of 0.50 inch caliber will be added to their defense system.
Additionally, the 2,800-ton ship carries a helicopter called the Alouette III, and is capable of embarking two inflatable boats, which gives the ship an edge as an offshore patrol vessel.
Past Missions
In March, a cyclone hit the island of Fiji, damaging crops and buildings, leaving many homeless.
“The Fijian government asked for help from other countries, and when they called us, we helped them,” said Grente. “We can carry about 100 tons of humanitarian goods and this is very efficient for this kind of mission.”
Having a doctor and nurse on board has also helped the crew carry out its missions, he said.
More recently, Vendémiaire completed diplomatic training and exercises with several Asian countries including Indonesia on May 30, the Philippines from June 7 through 11 and Japan earlier this month, according to a press release.
“We patrol everywhere in the Pacific, especially in the French economic zones, and also elsewhere when we work with other navies,” said Grente. “All are very experienced for diplomatic cooperation.”
The ship will be leaving on Monday morning at around 9 a.m. for Noumea, New Caledonia, a journey which will take about nine days.
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My question is. Whose Marianas is it anyway? It belongs to Guam and as such we should be free to determine what happens here.
Tony
July 19th, 2010 at 2:56 am
Michelle
Thanks.
Since my mother has always been active politically or as long as I have been aware of politics :), I have known who the nine justices were.
Looking at what side of issues they land on is just as important. It is how one an figure out who is owned by who. If any time is spent checking on this lot. It will not take much to figure who is bought and paid for.
Mother refers to the 5″ bought and paid for” bunch as KARTS. As in the Justices who are being paid to cart our rights away.
A cursory look at their decisions will bring the average thinking person around to her side. If a decision is just plain stupid you can bet that the Justices whose names from the anagram KARTS (K-ennedy; A-llito’ R-oberts; T-homas; S-calia) are the ones supporting it.
If a decision is bias against OTWs, or women, if it gives power to the rich over the poor, if it cedes power to the corporations over the people., if it seeks to legitimize the concept that a made up bunch of words can create a living entity called a cooperation then you can be sure that KARTS is behind it.
“Bought and Paid For”
Evelyn
July 19th, 2010 at 3:12 am
Ming you need to get a life.
I received this article from Dr. David Williams. I think it will be of great use to parents of small children as well as the rest of us.
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A Sticky Ileocecal Valve Could Be Causing Your Digestion Issues
Your ileocecal valve is located between the small and large intestine. It’s located in the same area of the appendix, and many times what is thought to be an appendix problem is, instead, a problem with this valve.
This little valve has two very important jobs to do. First, it blocks the toxic contents of the large intestine from backing up into the small intestine.
Second, it keeps the food products in the small intestine from passing into the large intestine before the digestive processes have been completed.
When the ileocecal valve isn’t working right, it can cause many symptoms:
• diarrhea
• constipation
• flu-like symptoms
• shoulder pain
• lightheadedness
• nausea
• ringing in the ears
• bursitis-like pain in the shoulders and hips
• low back pain
• recurrent sinus infections
• dizziness
• chest pain
• heart fluttering
• headaches
• fever
The valve can at times become either stuck shut or stuck open. When shut, the closed ileocecal valve can cause constipation, and when stuck open the problem will be diarrhea.
When the valve sticks shut—In its normal course, food moves through the small intestine and into the large intestine, then gets expelled from the body. When the valve sticks shut, the feces are forced to stay in the small intestine and are unable to move any further.
Naturally, since the small intestine’s main job is to absorb, it keeps right on working and reabsorbing all of the waste products and garbage that were destined to be expelled. Also, with the valve shut and the food backing up, you become constipated.
When the valve sticks open—By sticking open, not only does food move through you at a rapid rate (to say the least), it also lets the waste products in the large intestine back up into the small intestine and again be reabsorbed into your body.
There are several reasons the valve doesn’t always work right:
• spicy or roughage-type foods;
• stress or emotional trauma; and
• previous appendix removal.
Fortunately, there are some easy things you can do that help stabilize the valve.
UNSTICKING THE VALVE
There are several things that need to be done for both open and closed valves.
First, eliminate spicy foods for a week or so. If the problem is diarrhea, it is also helpful to eliminate all roughage-type foods for a short time. If the problem is a closed valve and constipation, then increase the roughage.
Eliminate alcohol, cocoa, chocolate and caffeine products.
With a closed valve (constipation), add calcium and vitamin D to the diet.
With an open valve (diarrhea), add a product called lactic acid yeast wafers to the diet. My preferred product is made by Standard Process, and can be obtained at Village Green Apothecary at http://www.myvillagegreen.com or by calling 800-869-9159. This product alone can sometimes stop even the most stubborn cases of chronic diarrhea!
OPEN ILEOCECAL VALVE: WHAT TO DO
There are a couple other tricks you can use when the problem is a valve that’s stuck open (causing diarrhea or loose stools). I find they work quite well for travelers who are suffering from the infamous “turista,” or traveler’s diarrhea.
First, you can sometimes hold the valve shut for several minutes. This is done by placing your hand over the valve—located about halfway between the belly button and the right “hip bone”—and, while pushing in, pull up toward the left shoulder. The second way is to place a cold pack made of cold water or ice over the valve for about 15 to 20 minutes. This process can be repeated if necessary.
Until next time,??Dr. David Williams
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Oh, and Michelle I could name 7.
Helena
July 19th, 2010 at 3:24 am
Michelle
I wanted to put this in a couple of days ago. My third try. It is a letter I received from TrueMajority.org.
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Almost two years ago, Wall Street’s greed sent America’s economy spiraling out of control.
Yesterday, Congress finally responded to our demands and said “enough is enough.” We have passed a historic financial reform bill that will protect our families, our neighborhoods, our homes and our communities.
This victory would not have been possible without your support, the support of our allies at Americans for Financial Reform or our amazing local affiliates in New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Iowa, Missouri, New York, Ohio and a dozen other states.
Together, we withstood the efforts of thousands of financial industry lobbyists who spent over $2.5 million dollars per day fighting this reform.
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I look at it as a start Let’s work hard to get Obama and his help reelected.
Charles
July 19th, 2010 at 3:32 am
Hafa adai
What in the hell is going on. First the whites brought snakes to Guam that eventually killed off all our birds And now the Koreans are bring spiders by the tanker load to do god knows what.
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GUAM – Port employees received a shocking surprise as they began unloading cargo from the MV Altavia.
The ship, which came to Guam by way of Korea, was carrying housing units and accessories for the Ukudu Workforce Village.
Port employees soon discovered the ship was carrying more than what was shown on its manifest.
Hundreds to thousands of spiders started to crawl out of the cargo as it was unloaded.
Port employees attempted to catch some of the spiders, but there were quite a few that got away.
The ones that were caught were delivered to the Department of Agriculture for analysis.
“When the stevedores began unloading the equipment on the dock they noticed hundreds of spiders and thousands of the smaller ones that were swarming around the ship and on the dock side. our workers notified port police who contacted customs and they notified us to stop operations, put the cargo back on the ship and send it out. currently the ship is out in quarantine being anchored out in the apra harbor area awaiting instructions from Guam customs.”
“Preliminary findings based on our tests at the facility has indicated that it does not occur or is not found on Guam at all.”
“Of the protocols that we have in place to address these problems we both feel that the best course of action is to turn the ship around. there are those who would say you could do fumigation but try to put a tarp over the boat. Then you get Coast Guard and EPA involved. then there are those that would say surface spray but the small one can hide in any corner on the engine room and any place on that ship.”
The ship will still be allowed to return to the port, but only after it has been cleared of all infestation.
Ahough the spider has been confirmed as being foreign to Guam, the exact species is yet to be determined.
Like other species, like the coqui frog and the rhino beetle, the spider poses a potential threat to Guam’s ecosystem.
____________________________________________
Somebody needs to do a better job protecting the ecosystem of Guam
Peter
July 19th, 2010 at 3:37 am
Michelle
Are we poisoning our kids with lead now?
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Kids’ drinks loaded with lead
There are plenty of reasons not to give a child juice — but the latest has nothing to do with high sugar and low nutrition.
A new study finds that up to 85 percent of all children’s drinks and fruit snacks are so heavy with lead that they should actually have warning labels under California law.
The Environmental Law Foundation purchased 398 fruit drinks and snacks, including fruit cocktail and baby food, from stores throughout California, then sent the products to an EPA-certified lab for testing.
What they found should serve as a wake-up call for any parent or grandparent — because 120 of the 146 brands tested had unsafe levels of lead.
These weren’t bargain brands from dollar stores, but labels you might find in any home in the nation, rich or poor — from the swanky 365 Everyday Value brand sold at Whole Foods stores, to the Great Value label featured at Walmart.
Gerber, Trader Joe’s, Kirkland, Safeway and Mott’s also made the list — just to name a few. Even a dozen organic juices and snacks were found to have high levels of lead.
You can see the full list on the organization’s Web site.
Remember, when it comes to lead, no level is safe. Exposure to this heavy metal can harm anyone, but it’s especially dangerous to children since it can slow and stall development. Lead can cause stomachaches, headaches, memory loss and poor learning. One study even linked lead exposure to obesity later in life.
High levels of lead can cause organ damage, seizures and even death.
Just one more reason to skip the juice — and, of course, keep a close eye on toys. Years after the lead toy scandal, common children’s products are still being recalled for excessive lead with alarming regularity. In recent months, children’s tiaras, chairs, belts, teacups and even soccer balls have all been recalled due to unsafe levels of lead.
You can see the latest warnings and recalls on the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site.
If you’re concerned about your child or grandchild’s lead exposure, ask your pediatrician about a test. It’s a blood test, and small children usually aren’t too happy about those — but it could spare your little one a lifetime of misery, poor health and developmental problems.
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If you have small children and they should be tested for lead poisoning because this is just the tip of the pollution problem.
Barbara
July 19th, 2010 at 3:47 am
Very interesting article.
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Mitchell Bard: Republican policies precipitated the recession, and the party’s solutions are to offer more of the same. And when it came to deciding who to stand up for, the Republicans attacked the unemployed and stood with the banks.
Americans’ anger is legitimate, but directing that anger by giving power back to the GOP is misplaced. If Americans want to assess blame for these woes, and if they want to choose who should help get us out of these messes, they have an obligation in a democracy to make an effort to really look at the issues before making a decision.
And the media, likewise, has an obligation to sort through these complicated issues more carefully. Click here to read more.
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How are the republicans getting away with selling out to big business and the rich?
Samuel
July 19th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Once again to republicans anyone not white is not considered a “real” american. It is a shame that white americans not only tolerate this attitude but support those who espouse it by electing them into high political office.
We the otws are supposed to accept this behavior because they are white. I am sick and tired of it. And so is Guam
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Guam outraged at being labelled ‘foriegn soil’
Updated July 19, 2010 16:47:11
Is Guam really part of the United States? That seemed to be the question being raised by a US Senator from Texas who recently spoke against defence funding for military construction for Guam, Korea and Europe. Senator Kay Hutchinson referred to Guam as “a foreign base”, a comment which has caused outrage on Guam, which has been a US territory since the end of the 19th century.
The island’s acting governor, Michael Cruz, who earlier this year returned from a combat deployment to Afghanistan, has written the Senator a letter saying that the coffins of Guamanians return from war draped in the American flag, and Guam is a part of the American family. The acting governor’s chief of staff, Carlotta Leon-Guerrero, tells Bruce Hill that Senator Hutchinson’s reference to Guam as being foreign displayed a lack of understanding.
Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Carlotta Leon-Guerrero, chief of staff for Guam’s acting governor, Michael Cruz
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Whites want the otws to sacrifice and die for their issues while they continue to insult us to our face by reelecting other whites that disrespect us to our face. I say if that is how you feel, then take your ships and other shit and get the fuck off Guam
Mia
July 19th, 2010 at 5:01 am
Will the Real Mediterranean Diet Please Stand Up?
Mark A. Stengler, NMD
La Jolla Whole Health Clinic
If you are interested in heart health, chances are you have heard of the Mediterranean diet. The eating plan, which incorporates traditional foods of the Mediterranean regions of Greece and parts of France and Italy, is generally characterized by an emphasis on vegetables and fruits… lean proteins, such as fish… olive oil… whole grains… and red wine.
It is definitely more healthful than the typical American diet, which is high in saturated and trans fats, sugars and processed carbohydrates.
Studies continue to show that following a Mediterranean-style eating plan benefits heart health and overall health, lowering risk for stroke as well as an array of other health problems, including cognitive impairment, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
When enriched with nuts, the diet helps reverse metabolic syndrome (a cluster of risk factors for heart disease and diabetes that includes high blood pressure, excess abdominal weight and insulin resistance).
With so much talk about Mediterranean-style eating, I wanted to explore the origins of this type of diet so that we can reap its multiple benefits today.
DIET TROUBLE
The problem is that people think they are following a Mediterranean-style diet when they really are not. Americans, in particular, often modify the traditional Mediterranean diet in unhealthful ways.
Examples: Olive oil and whole grains are healthful in moderation, but the excessive amounts that I see many people consume these days are not. And in the Mediterranean region, people have been turning away from the diet — and are suffering the health consequences.
Scientists who study dietary habits and disease risks of people in Mediterranean countries have come to a surprising conclusion.
The most healthful Mediterranean diet — the one associated with the lowest death rates and longest life expectancy — was that consumed by people living in southern Greece and on the island of Crete before 1960.
We can’t go back to pre-1960s Greece, but we can re-create that healthful approach to eating.
THE HEALTHIEST INGREDIENTS
The benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet are the result of regularly consuming a combination of ingredients. The greater the number of these ingredients in your meals, the better off you’ll be.
Vegetables. All vegetables are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, fiber and minerals — and promote a healthful pH balance. Rule number one of healthful diets is that half of every meal should consist of veggies.
One particular leaf vegetable stands out in traditional Greek Mediterranean diets. Wild purslane, which tastes a little like spinach or watercress, commonly was added to salads.
Purslane is rich in healthful omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, the antioxidant glutathione, minerals and pectin, a type of soluble fiber. Purslane is not available in the vast majority of US food markets, but you might find it in a local health-food or ethnic market.
Better yet, it is easy to grow in a large pot and thrives in both moist and arid conditions. Pinch off a few leaves (which look a little like those of a jade plant), and use them in salads or sandwiches instead of lettuce.
Cooking makes purslane mushy, so it is best used raw. Seeds for planting are available from Territorial Seed Company (800-626-0866, http://www.territorialseed.com).
Fruit. This great source of vitamin C and other antioxidants can help prevent cell damage.
Recommendation: Eat two to three servings of fruit daily, such as raspberries, blueberries or kiwifruit. Unprocessed fresh fruit, grown locally, has more nutrients than fruit that has been shipped in from other locations. When fresh fruit is not available, choose frozen or dried berries with no added sugar.
Red wine. Red wine contains resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes that has blood sugar?lowering properties and may help slow the aging process. While Greeks drank moderate amounts of red wine and have benefited from these antioxidants since ancient times,
I don’t recommend the consumption of red wine for health promotion or disease prevention due to the increased risks for various cancers and the possibility of adverse drug-alcohol interactions.
There are, however, other ways to increase your intake of resveratrol. Foods high in this antioxidant include peanuts (choose unsalted) and unsweetened purple grape juice. For people who want to lower their blood sugar, I recommend 100 milligrams (mg) to 200 mg daily of resveratrol.
Lean protein. Moderate amounts of protein were part of the pre-1960s Mediterranean diet…
Fish. Many of the Mediterranean diet’s health benefits can be traced to consuming ample quantities of omega-3 fats, which are most concentrated in cold-water fish.
Greeks who lived close to the sea probably ate more fish than those who did not. Research consistently shows that omega-3 fats reduce inflammation and therefore the risk for heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
Recommendation: Eat at least one or two servings weekly of cold-water fish, such as sardines or salmon. If you don’t like fish, consider taking 1,000 mg daily of combined eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Free-range meats and chicken. People in southern Greece traditionally did not eat a lot of beef or lamb. And because the animals were grass-fed, the red meats that they did consume were leaner than today’s meats from animals that are fed corn.
The grass diet also meant that the meat was higher in omega-3s and a fatty acid known as conjugated linoleic acid, which studies show may help increase lean muscle mass.
Chickens were free to peck at seeds and insects, which also are high in omega-3s. As a result, lamb, chicken and eggs all provided additional omega-3s. So did milk, yogurt and cheese.
Recommendation: When shopping, opt for eggs enriched with omega-3s, free-range chickens and meats from grass-fed animals. Consume up to three to four ounces of red meat once or twice weekly. Always trim the fat.
Olive oil. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and oleic acid, an omega-9 fat, which also is known as a mono-unsaturated fat, a more healthful type of fat that comes from plant sources.
The most healthful grade is extra-virgin olive oil, which is made from the antioxidant-rich first pressing of the olives. Extra-virgin olive oil is richer in antioxidants than other oils, such as canola oil or sunflower oil.
Recommendation: One to two tablespoons of olive oil daily. For variety, try macadamia nut oil or avocado oil, both of which also are high in oleic acid and have their own interesting flavors.
Vinegar. Vinegar had its place in the classic Mediterranean diet. Studies have found that a few teaspoons of vinegar can help lower blood sugar and insulin levels and even may help people lose weight.
There are a variety of vinegars — from balsamic to apple cider to red wine — that can be mixed with olive oil to make salad dressings.There is no known difference in the health properties of vinegars. For variation, add oregano, garlic, mustard or other spices.
Spices. Spices play a role in Mediterranean cooking. In addition to adding flavor, they are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Oregano and rosemary are among the most popular Greek spices. To flavor lamb, Greeks often use these spices and cinnamon, which can lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Whole grains. Whole-grain foods, such as breads and pastas, are a big part of traditional Mediterranean diets. But whole grains, though more healthful than refined, still are primarily starch calories.
With three out of four American adults (and one out of three children) overweight, it’s hard to justify eating large quantities of such empty calories.
I recommend three to four ounces daily, on average, of whole-wheat grains. (One ounce is equal to one slice of bread, one cup of ready-to-eat cereal or one-half cup of cooked rice, pasta or cooked cereal.)
Mark A. Stengler, NMD, a naturopathic medical doctor and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. He is editor of Bottom Line’s Natural Healing newsletter, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), director of the La Jolla Whole Health Clinic in La Jolla, California, and adjunct clinical professor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. To learn more about his work, visit http://www.drstengler.com and http://www.lajollawholehealth.com.
July 19th, 2010 at 5:17 am
When a weirdo in Delhi, said Jackie
Propositioned me till I felt wacky
And insisted we screw
I refused–because it would have been tacky
July 19th, 2010 at 9:56 am
[...] Anna: And I hope it stays that way. Hafa Adai. [...]