As H1N1 continues to spread (and the news grows consistently grimmer), I thought it might be a good idea to post a follow up on my previous post on cold and flu prevention methods.
Mayo Clinic recently posted an article promoting the consumption of healthful whole foods as one of the most effective disease preventers, and I couldn't agree more. Though foods like kale, garlic, pomegranate, and almonds may be touted for their unique vitamins and minerals, research shows that it is these foods as a whole that make them their most potent, rather than their isolated nutrients.
Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands! This is the single most effective method of germ prevention, as well as the cheapest and easiest to do. If you're not near a faucet but want a little antibacterial omph (say, you just got off a train that could have doubled as a TB ward), try carrying some natural hand sanitizer with you. CleanWell makes a great spray that is alcohol and triclosan, free, cruelty free, and won't leave your hands smelling like a bottle of vodka. It's also cheap - their lavender starter pack is only $9.99 on their website. You can also find them at Whole Foods.
Go to bed. Seriously. Depriving your body of adequate sleep wears your body down and weakens your immune system, leaving you more prone to viral infections. According to a 2009 article from the Archives of Internal Medicine, inadequate sleep can leave a person three times more acceptable to colds than a fully-rested individual. How's that for sweet dreams?
As always, take care with the best of wishes from stem+leaf!
06 November 2009
sound body, sound mind
29 October 2009
getting greener with GOOD
We all know that we can save water by making simple choices in our everyday lives, but how much water? What choices? How much change in our lives? GOOD Magazine produced this charming (and brief!) little video to answer these questions, showing you just how to make a big impact with just a little change.
26 October 2009
monochromatic brunch
your plate," I have to say, I am really into the monochromatic thing
happening with the salad I made myself for brunch yesterday featuring
some lovely market produce: roasted green and white cauliflower,
cucumber, fennel, Mutsu apple, and a deep red tipped lettuce. Tossed
with some olive oil, lemon juice, ume plum vinegar, and lots of black
pepper. Yum!
24 October 2009
green 1 thing: a happier halloween
Every year thousands of families gather around the kitchen table to carve up pumpkins for Halloween, etching toothy grins and triangular eyes into the great orange gourds. And every year, once the carving is done, tons of useful pumpkin innards are chucked in the trash, considered useless once the jack-o-lantern has been carved. In a world where we already throw away nearly half of all the food we consume (half!), the last thing we should do is dispose of more perfectly good and incredibly beneficial produce - especially in a year where poor weather conditions and climate change have left us with a significantly damaged pumpkin crop.
By no means am I telling you not to indulge in your yearly pumpkin tradition - go on! But this year, why not carve with care? Once you've got all this pumpkin goo on your hands, ask yourself: what are you going to do with it? Well, I'm here with a few options for you!
Start with the seeds, those beautiful white discs suspended in the stringy pulp. Cleaned and rinsed, these babies can be slow-roasted at a low-to-medium heat with a variety of spice combinations to produce a delicious, crunchy snack high in vitamins A, B2, C and E. Try making them with curry powder, or toss them with some chili and cumin for a spicy bite. Feeling exceptionally culinary? Try this recipe for black tea and butter pumpkin seeds over at 101 Cookbooks.
Bursting with beta-carotene (a natural immune booster), pumpkin flesh make for a great soup! Pumpkin soup is accomplished with a bare minimum of ingredients, usually just stock, milk, spices and (of course) pumpkin, but varieties of this fall favorite abound, ranging from pear-and-pumpkin combinations to the black-bean infused Caribbean pumpkin soup. With choices so far ranging you're sure to find a recipe that will warm both your heart and belly.
And finally, for those of you sitting back sneering, "That's it? Seeds and soup? That's all these giant beasts are good for?" To you I say, hardly! Try some pumpkin risotto! Or Alton Brown's pumpkin bread! Not interested in eating your pumpkin? Blend it with some tea and honey to create a moisturizing (and great smelling!) face mask! Or an indulgent pumpkin body butter. If the options are too overwhelming for you, you'll be happy to know that pumpkin freezes very easily and will last up to a year properly stored in your freezer.
Happy carving!
22 October 2009
coming soon to a subway near you: the common cold
Nobody has time to be sick these days, but it seems like everywhere you turn a friend or colleague is is sniffling, sneezing, and calling in with the flu. Here are a few tips on how to help you through your cold, or even keep from falling sick yourself (and don't worry - none of them involve donning anything like this):
Though it's gotten a lot of press lately as the "new miracle herb", echinacea has been around for hundreds of years and has been used medicinally for a slew of cold-related symptoms. Echinacea is particularly effective in relieving upper respiratory infections, and reports from the highly-respected medical journal Lancet have found that the herb may have significant immune-boosting effects. Derived from a purpleish colored coneflower, echinacea is available in a variety of forms, including pills and tasty teas.
Drink plenty of fluids! Water flushes out the toxins and germs that might otherwise do your body harm. It also rehydrates you, invigorates your skin, energizes your brain, and just plain does a body good!
Licorice has been used to calm aching throats and congested chests for centuries. Great tasting and soothing, this herb also contains anti-viral compounds that stimulate the body's immune system. Be cautious, though - in large doses, licorice has a laxative effect, and it has been known to counteract birth control pills in any amount.
Depended upon by college students everywhere, Vitamin C is one of nature's most famed flu-fighters. Also known as L-ascorbic acid, this essential nutrient has incredible antioxidant properties, improves your absorption of iron, and protects your body's cells from the damaging effects of everyday life (effects which are intensified during winter's harsh conditions). Widely available in many forms, Vitamin C is best acquired through whole foods such as red peppers, papayas, and (of course) oranges.
And as always, a healthy, organic diet rich in antioxidants will help keep you feeling energized and balanced, no matter what the weather outside.
