MAY 24, 2023 BREAKFAST

I had oral surgery yesterday. I was thinking about gluten free pancakes this morning although I can’t chew I decided to have a goat yogurt with honey for breakfast. Do you like pancakes? I do!  I have been thinking about our Sunday morning breakfasts when my dad or my mom made pancakes. Perhaps National Brother’s Day made me reflect My brother and I would sit and wait for the delicious fluffy pancakes. We always had fresh maple syrup and fruit on the plate. My father would then ask us if there was anything we wanted to talk about. It was our 'griping' time. Looking back it was memorable. I miss those mornings. Some mornings we would all go to The Raceway Dinner on Yonkers Avenue. Our next door neighbor, Britta from Denmark was always our waitress. I am sitting here thinking about these times which are more than 50 years ago. Where has time gone!

So when I want pancakes, — I have gluten free panakes. So here is my gluten free pancake recipe

1. 1 - 2 1/2 cups of a mixture of (70%) almond meal and (30%) tapioca flour
2. 2 tablespoons of wild flower honey
3. 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
4. 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
5. 1 1/2 cups of almond milk (unsweetened)
6. 2 tablespoons of butter (melted)
7. 2 organic whole eggs

The pancake batter should look like a milkshake not lumpy so you might need a little more flour
This should make between 12-14 pancakes. Another option is to use buckwheat flour and make buckwheat (gluten free) pancakes
What about the syrup? I would take 2 cups of blueberries. Mash and blend and pour over your hot delicious pancakes.

Do you have a special memory with a recipe? I was happy to know Susan Love of Heritage cookbooks. It seems knowing her was about 15 years ago. She was a gracious woman. She made family cookbooks. If it still exists go to http://www.heritagecookbooks.com and do one for your family cookbooks

Until tomorrow...

MAY 23, 2023 SUPPLEMENTS FO THE LUNGS

There are many useful nutrients for the lungs. The most useful are the omega 3 fatty acids. These can be derived from food sources as fish, flax, eggs, walnuts, cod liver oil and chia seeds. You must have your veggies and fruits to get ascorbic acid or Vitamin C.
Get plenty of Vitamin A ( beta carotene and beta carotene) from carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, spinach, papaya and peppers.
If you do not like spinach for the folate ( folic acid) then eat some other dark leafy greens. You can also have asparagus, broccoli, beets, cauliflower, and lima beans
The vitamin of the last decade is Vitamin D. You can vitamin D from mushrooms and dairy ( if not sensitive ) You need to get fish oils in the diet if you do not like fish.
You must also have a good quality fish without mercury.

I would suggest  www.vitalchoice.com 

 Eat sardines, mackerel and herring
As we age we need more dietary calcium from leafy greens, peas, beans, brazil nuts, hazelnuts and sesame seeds.
The only food source for bromelain is the pineapple

Until tomorrow...

MAY 22, 2023 MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

I love the study of mushrooms - mycology. If there is one person in the world you need to follow is Paul Stamets from Olympia Washington . Paul is one of the few individuals in the world who knows about mushrooms. His company Host Defense is the premier mushroom company. I have attended many of his workshops in Washington as well as had the pleasure of hearing him discuss as a keynote speaker his book, Mycellium Running I regularly take two of his mushroom products.

Lion’s mane mushroom ( it looks like a mane of a lion ) is a nootropic food that is very popular in traditional Chinese medicine.  I do like the taste of this mushroom
Current research suggests a truly impressive list of benefits. These mushrooms are rich in oligosaccharides, which can have antioxidative and antitumor activities in many areas of the body, such as the cardiovascular system and digestive tract. IThe studies and research involved with this mushroom and Alzheimer’s is impressive. I take 2 caps of Lion’s Mane daily

One of the other mushrooms I enjoy eating and reading about is Turkey Tail . Turkey tail is a potent medicinal mushroom that has been considered a valuable remedy for thousands of years. Rich in antioxidants, they promote a healthy inflammation response and may protect against oxidative stress. Turkey tail also contains polysaccharopeptides (PSK & PSP), which are carbohydrates that promote immune response by activating and deactivating certain types of immune cells. PSK stimulates dendritic cells, which promote an immunity to toxins. Additionally, PSK may increase proliferation of T and B cells, which go after pathogens and cancerous tumors. Turkey tail is also a source of prebiotics, which nourish helpful bacteria in the gut microbiome. I give this mushroom to many of my cancer patients. I find it very useful. The research and studies published re phenomenal .

There are many othert mushrooms to read about as Shitake, Reishi and Maitake.

Until tomorrow…

MAY 18, 2023 VITAMIN D

There is always a controversy surrounding the dosage of Vitamin D. I was cautious when starting practice, then I started to write for 2000 to 10,000 per day. Now I am being cautious again but still giving ample amounts of vitamin D. The current normal range is 30-100. I tend to want my patients in the range of 65-75.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions.

However, vitamin D's benefits go beyond bone health. It also plays a role in regulating the immune system, promoting cell growth and division, reducing inflammation, and improving mental health.

A growing body of research also suggests that vitamin D may help reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and certain types of cancer Yoi don’t always have to take a supplement for Vitamin D You can get it from foods.

There are two mushrooms rich in Vitamin D. These are shitake and portobello . Vitamin D is rich in kale, collard greens and spinach. Chia, flax and hemp seeds are also rich in Vitamin D and you can add that to your protein shake in the morning. I would rather you do fortified plant milks as almond, coconut and oat .

And of course sunlight exposure can convert Vitamin D2 to Vitamin D 3

Have your doctor check your vitamin D levels

Until tomorrow…

MAY 17, 2023 DRINKING COFFEE

I have thought many times , “ Should I give up drinking coffee. ? “It is usually one and maybe a second cup of coffee. No more than that. It is the most popular beverage in the world. It has been around for more than 500 years. If you want to know more about coffee, read “ The Devil’s Cup. “

Coffee is a great way to improve cognitive function and memory and reduce the risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Coffee isn’t just good for your physical energy levels – it’s also great for your brain health! A study showed that coffee drinkers had a 65% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Another study showed that caffeine could improve long-term memory performance

It can also improve diabetes One study showed that people who drank six or more cups of coffee per day were 30% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who didn’t drink any coffee. The researchers believe that caffeine increases the amount of glucose that the body burns for energy. It also increases the amount of insulin that the body produces.

As a cardiologist I recommend coffee. One study showed that men who drank four or more cups of coffee per day had a 20% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those who didn’t drink any coffee. Another study found that women who drank one or two cups of coffee per day had a 32% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The antioxidants present in coffee help protect the heart against damage caused by free radicals

Don’t do coffee in excess Be smart Read the studies and research

Until tomorrow…

MAY 16, 2023 SETTING UP A BEEHIVE : BEE KEEPING

Setting up a beehive is relatively easy after my beekeeping courses and reading beekeeping books: Beekeeping for Dummies and The Backyard Beekeeper. Being a good neighbor includes doing as little all I can to reduce the honeybee/neighbor interaction. Placing the beehive in the southeast position is best. I want it away from my neighbors as to allow the bees a more constant flight pattern for both coming and going from the hive. I have been beekeeping for more than 15 years, I am also proud and privileged to be the Present of the American Apitherapy Society.

People's reaction to bees and beekeeping in unpredictable. Education is needed. A few in the community are excited and enthusiastic, some may not even care, and there are some who strongly object for one reason or another. A little talk will go a long way. Some may be allergic and that might be their main concern. Unlike wasps, yellow jackets, and bumblebees, honeybees hardly sting unless seriously provoked. The honeybees of today are more docile than twenty years ago. Italian honeybees are very docile. It is true that a few people will have a life threatening reaction from a bee sting, but the percentage is very low. I will always have an EpiPen in my habitat. If anyone has a serious allergy to an insect bite, that individual should have their own EpiPen/ Auvi-Q. The typical bee sting is a slight red reaction at the bite site with some itching two to three days afterwards. This can happen with any insect bite. I am more concerned over spider bites than any bee sting. Since I want to have a real relationship with my bees I have placed their hive not in direct sunlight, and always have a water supply near by I have a Koi pond in the back which the bees love

Warning signs can be posted for your neighbor's protection. These signs are not to scare anyone but to notify them. Signs may also inform people in the community about saving the environment.

All of us have temperaments including the neighbor who doesn't understand, and so do the bees. I have learned to examine the bees on warm sunny days and never in the cold rain. I will be gentle opening the cover. Bees should remain docile especially if smoked. If I get stung I will feel bad, as within 48 hours or less the bee that stung me will die. I have been taught to always keep my bee suit clean especially after a sting . I didn't understand the logic at first, but I have learned that venom left on the suit after a sting could be a warning sign for the colony of bees that I am a threat and cause other bees to sting. Honeybees will not deliberately sting you unless you are provoking them while they are foraging or try to kill them.

I will always be there for my bees and my neighbors. Not only are bees needed in our community but this is a way for many flowering plants to continue to flourish since bees are the major pollinators on Earth.

It is also a way to give back to Mother Earth.

Just think of this--free honey for your neighbors as long as you protect the bees with enough honey for the winter months.

If you inclined to find out about apitherapy join me May 19-21, 2023 at the American Apitherapy Society Conference in New Jersey www.apitherapy.org

Until tomorrow…

MAY 15, 2023 JACARANDA

This weekend while planting the front garden I planted Columbine, and Foxglove. I am looking at the multiple buds on the Clematis My neighbor mentioned if I have ever seen a Jacaranda Tree. As a matter of fact I said '“ I have.” She asked “ Where ? “ I answered , “ West Hollywood , California

I recalled several streets were lined with flowering Jacarandas. This flowering plant has 49 species and belongs to the Family Bignoniaceae. I have never seen Jacaranda in other states. These trees are native to tropical and subtropical regions in South America, Central America, Mexico and Caribbean. In California when you see the blooming trees it is a sign of spring. So since I did not know anything about these trees I decided to do some research.

The flowers on this tree are conspicuous large panicles. Each flower has five-lobed blue to purple blue corolla. I hear there are also some species with white flowers.

There is even a city named The Jacaranda City-- it is in South Africa. The city is Pretoria. There are an enormous amount of Jacarandas lining the streets and in parks and gardens. It can be seen by plane or in the distant hills as blue/purple colors. It must be radiant.When the trees are in bloom it is a not only a sign of spring, but also a sign of year end exams in the University. It is said that if a Jacaranda blossom falls are your head you will pass all your examinations

In Southern California these trees were imported by horticulturalist, Kate Sessions

Until tomorrow…

MAY 11, 2023 C L A

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) sometimes known as Tonilin has been used for weight reduction for some time. As with most supplements/vitamins or herbs we need more studies. Of course, I would love to see double blind placebo studies but it is not always possible financially to do this. More than 10 years ago in the journal Nutrition a study was published using 63 individuals with body mass index from 24 - 35 who received 1.7 grams of CLA or a placebo of salad oil in 200 cc of milk twice a day for two weeks. CLA was beneficial in reducing obesity


Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are a family of at least 28  isomers  of linoleic acid  found mainly in meat and dairy products derived from cud chewing mammals called ruminants. As the name implies, the double bonds of CLAs are conjugated, with only one single bond between them.  In 1979, researchers from the University of Wisconsin applied a beef extract to mice skin. The mice were then exposed to a strong carcinogen. When the researchers counted the number of tumors that had developed by the mice 16 weeks later, they found to their surprise, that the mice exposed to the beef extract had 20% fewer tumors. The identity of this anti carcinogen was not discovered until almost a decade later, in 1987. Michael Pariza, the scientist who discovered CLA, later remarked that "few anti carcinogens, and certainly no other known fatty acids, are as effective as CLA in inhibiting carcinogenesis in these models. I have even researched the use of CLA in inflammatory bowel disease."

I have seen CLA work in those with high to very high BMI (body mass index). For those individuals who want to lose a little weight (5-15 lbs) I have seen little results. The two groups were evaluated for body composition, including total body weight, BMI, total fat mass, fat percentage, subcutaneous fat, and waist to hip ratio. As long as those individuals were being evaluated for the above, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, (TC) triglycerides (TG)  low density lipoprotein ( LDL) and high density lipoprotein ( HDL) were also monitored. Today patients would rather take Ozempic, Mountjaro or Wegovy and NOT change their dietary lifestyle

Females with a BMI greater than 27 did the best as far as weight loss. There was no significant change in the lipid panel. I expected this, as in the past CLA has never been used to reduce the cholesterol panel.

The research concluded that the supplementation of CLA for twelve weeks yielded lower obesity indices for the obese patients.

Take CLA and other supplements and change your dietary lifestyle

Until tomorrow…