RawONE Food Review

RawONE Food is a raw vegan food company specializing in nutrient dense snacks made of 100% organic, 100% raw ingredients. 

They make crackers, grawnolas, and biscotti in a variety of flavors that all stand up to the same high, whole food standards for nutritional excellence.

They take superfoods (like flaxseed) and combine them with healthful spices (like nutritional yeast and cayenne pepper) to make snacks that the health conscious consumer can enjoy with good conscience.

The Omega 3-pakced Flax crackers are crispy, crunchy, and delicious. I was worried that they might be really crumbly, but the crackers actually held up really well in large sheets.

They're very seedy crackers, since flax is the base, but you can definitely still taste distinctions between each of the four flavors.



The Rawritos and Garlic with a Little Kick crackers are spicy while the Golden Nori and  Rosemary-Sundried Tomato crackers are milder, with just a hint of veggie flavor.

I think the crackers taste great as is, crumbled over veggies or salads, as a crunchy pasta topping, or spread with some nut butter and topped with bananas or jam. Since they hold up well in sheets, they can be enjoyed in a similar way as raw bread.



I liked the Grawnolas even better (go figure, I'm 100% a sweet tooth kind of girl) and really enjoyed both flavors, approximately equally. These grawnolas are also quite flax-heavy, but they also have plenty of dried fruits, other seeds, and buckwheat.

Serving sizes are fairly small (about 1/3 cup) but the grawnola is satiating, with plenty of plant protein and heart-healthy fats from the seeds, as well as fiber from the buckwheat, so it's great paired with a banana and some coconut yogurt.

A few pieces of biscotti make for a great accompaniment to an afternoon tea that's good for body and spirit.

Their biscotti comes in two flavors. The goji-cherry-pistachio is nice and nutty (trail mix fans will love it) and the cacao-incan berry-hazelnut is nice and chocolaty, with big chunks of hazelnut (as you can see in the picture).

Not only are these cookies delicious, but the texture is also spot-on. They don't fall apart or crumble all over the place and their cut in good-sized slices, thicker than I had expected. That's a plus in my book!

RawONE Food's snacks are very diabetic-friendly and just great, in general, for anyone watching their carbs (ie: paleo, etc.)






The snacks are all low glycemic load, which means that they won't affect your blood sugar levels much. Even for those of us who don't watch our blood sugar levels or carb intake, this low glycemic load is a good thing. It means that the snack won't send us on an energy high that will leave us tired and grouchy shortly after.

No crash and burn is definitely a good thing! Especially when it comes in such a delicious form, with all these delightful healthful ingredients (organic almonds, cherries, pistachio, dates, etc. - YUM).

Have you tried raw cereal?

Which RawOne snack looks best to you?

Are you aware of glycemic loads in foods?

Quinoa Salad with Baby Spinach and Grape Tomatoes

Quinoa salad with baby spinach and tomatoes.

Quinoa + Spinach = Salad Days

Here is a wonderful year-round salad that is inviting, fresh and vibrant. The sort of salad a certain individual needs on a damp, late winter day when the sky is paper white and the clouds are thick with snow. On a day such as this it is tempting to head straight for comfort food. That leftover Kicked Up Baked Mac 'n Cheese in the fridge. That wedge of Roasted Vegetable Kugel. But what the body craves may- or may not be- what the body needs.

I'm just saying.

I'm no expert on cravings. But I do know that if I make a habit of indulging every gnawing whim and urge that wiggles its way into my sun deprived brain I'd munch Blueberry Crumb Cake for breakfast and eat Horseradish Spiked Red Potato Salad every noon hour from now till the Vernal Equinox (a serotonin-boosting strategy not recommended, by the way, for those of us past a certain age where you can pack on voluptuous pounds faster that you can say blueberry pancakes on a stick).

It also doesn't help that yours truly sports three honkin' titanium screws in the left hip joint, curtailing one's enthusiasm for certain popular aerobic routines. Maybe if I Zumbaed I'd still fit into my summer winter jeans. As of last week there's not a pair of jeans in the house I can riggle into. [And by the way, why do doctors insist on referring to hip screws as pins, embroidering knitting group safe visions of a petite and delicate procedure that in no way involved a couple of workbench sized clamps and a battery operated power drill?]

All I can say is thank goddess for black leggings. Paired with a tunic top they hide a multitude of muffins.

And cake.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Statins may cause nightmares

This paper was published in the British Medical Journal 2006 Apr 22;332(7547):950

 

Study title and author:

Atorvastatin may cause nightmares.

Gregoor PJ.

Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, PO Box 444, 3300 AK Dordrecht, Netherlands. p.smakgregoor@asz.nl

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16627511

This case report relates atorvastatin to the occurrence of nightmares.

(i) A 72 year old woman was prescribed 10 mg atorvastatin once a day.
(ii) Five days after starting atorvastatin, she had extreme nightmares each night for two and a half weeks.
(iii) She stopped taking the statins for five days and no nightmares occurred.
(iv) She restarted the atorvastatin again, which promptly resulted in nightmares; these dreams again disappeared after discontinuation.

The author of this paper, Dr Peter Gregoor an internist-nephrologist at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Holland, speculates that the nightmares could be a direct effect of atorvastatin on the central nervous system.

Your Brain on Potato Chips

Or, more accurately, a rat's brain on potato chips.  Last week, PLoS One published a very interesting paper by Dr. Tobias Hoch and colleagues on what happens in a rat's brain when it is exposed to a highly palatable/rewarding food (1).  Rats, like humans, overconsume highly palatable foods even when they're sated on less palatable foods (2), and feeding rats a variety of palatable human junk foods is one of the most effective ways to fatten them (3).  Since the brain directs all behaviors, food consumption is an expression of brain activity patterns.  So what is the brain activity pattern that leads to the overconsumption of a highly palatable and rewarding food?

Read more »

Italian Baked Chicken (C3)

Italian Baked Chicken (C3)

Recipe Auuthor/Submitted By: Lori Evans

Number of Servings 4

4 boneless chicken breast
3/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) Italian stewed tomatoes
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 med. zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
2 cups mushrooms
1 med. onion, cut into wedges

In a small bowl mix together the Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper. Rub on both sides of the chicken.

Coat a skillet with Pam or a little olive oil, add chicken and cook until chicken is browned.

In a large bowl, mix together tomatoes and tomato paste, add zucchini, mushrooms and onion.

After the chicken is browned, place it into a baking dish, spread the vegetable mixture around the chicken.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Philly Chicken Sandwich (C1)

Philly Chicken Sandwich (C1)

Recipe Author: Sean Burnos 

Brown chicken in skillet with olive oil.

Set aside.

Brown onions/mushrooms.

Add chicken back in.

Cut pepper.

Stuff.

Add monzerella.

Micowave till cheese is melted.


17 Day Diet Gal note: You can also add some marinara sauce to this before putting the mozzarella cheese on top and microwaving.  Another option is to use some sauteed cabbage as the bottom layer.

Apple Flax Protein Muffins (C1)

Apple Flax Protein Muffins (C1)

(Adapted from recipe by Laura Dolson)

Recipe Adaptation by: Caryl Schiff-Greatorex

This is not an every day recipe to use.  This is an occasional use only recipe (meaning maybe once or twice a week).

1 ¼ cup flaxseed meal
2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
2 scoops Body Fortress Vanilla Whey Powder
½ tsp salt
9 packets Stevia (equivalent to 6 Tbsp sugar)
1 Tbsp Agave Nectar
1 cup egg whites
1/3 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
¼ cup water
1 Apple chopped fine
½ cup walnuts (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together and add in remaining ingredients and mix. Fill 12 muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 18 – 20 minutes.*

Nutritional Info for 1 muffin:

137 calories
8.4 g fat
140 mg sodium
8 g carbs (but NONE qualifies as a natural starch)
1.4g fiber
3.2 g sugar
9.6g protein


*Note: Consistency is very moist, If you prefer a drier muffin, bake longer

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake (C3)

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake (C3)

Recipe Author: Becky Yokeley Love

8 oz fat free cream cheese
6 pkts of stevia (equivalent to 1/4 cup sugar)
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 egg
dash of salt
1/4 cup nonfat greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
1 Tbsp sf white chocolate pudding mix
2-4 Tbsp DaVinci or Torani sf / raspberry syrup (or sf raspberry jam will work)
1/8 cup Fiber One cereal ground fine (this is actually 1/4cup whole)
Zero calorie spray butter

Preheat oven to 275

Line muffin tin with aluminum liners sprayed with olive oil, then place 1/2 tsp of FiberOne cereal in the bottom of each liner smoothing it out for the "crust." Then spray 1-2 sprays per tin of the butter on the fiber one cereal to help it set.

In electric mixer combine cream cheese and stevia and blend til smooth. Then add vanilla, egg and salt and blend til smooth and creamy. Add yogurt and pudding mix and blend well.

Spoon mixture evenly into muffin tins then smooth out with small knife or tip of spoon.

For the raspberry syrup I used a straw (or an eye dropper would work) to grab a small amount of syrup and drop in the center of each muffin tin. After all coated I tilted pan back and forth and side to side to make a design spread out.

Bake for 20-24 minutes, let cool on wire rack and then refrigerate for up to 4 hours or overnight before serving.

37 calories / 4g carb / 1g fat / 4g protein / 2g sugar / 1g fiber

Chakchouka (C1)

Chakchouka (C1)

Source: AllRecipes.com

Click HERE to view the full recipe and instructions on making it.

Please note that with the chile peppers, this becomes a C3 recipe.  If you leave out the peppers, then it is a C1 recipe.

This is a variation on Dr. Mike's "Snappy Eggs" recipe.

WIAW #79

Happy WIAW! It's the last one of February - where is the time going??

 

What would life be like without greek yogurt?

Especially because Voskos plain greek yogurt makes a great Tzatziki dip.

I snacked on it with Ritz crackers, definitely delicious.

Always gotta love the blueberries (with sweet beans) and snack bars!

How, oh how, do they make granola so delicious? In the remains of a pint of chocolate peanut butter ice cream, with trail mix.

Kabocha, chocolate protein bars, and walnut butter is a PERMA-WIN. It'll never go out of style.

Same goes for random Cho bowls.

And warm chocolate chip cookies with blueberries and sweet beans. Too good.

As is greek yogurt.

Did I mention that Voskos greek yogurt is delicious? The fig is such a unique flavor, it's a tastebud party!

It's definitely my favorite of their flavored yogurts.

What's your favorite food combo at the moment?

Do you tend to like lots of different flavors at once, or just a few at a time?

What's your favorite type of ice cream? Cookie?

Beef fat increases the absorption of beta-carotene compared to sunflower oil

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000 May;71(5):1170-80

Study title and authors:
Intestinal absorption of beta-carotene ingested with a meal rich in sunflower oil or beef tallow: postprandial appearance in triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins in women.

Hu X, Jandacek RJ, White WS.
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and the Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-1120, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10799380

The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of sunflower oil and beef tallow (dripping) on (i) intestinal beta-carotene absorption and (ii) triglycerides content in lipoproteins (chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol. The study included 11 women who each ingested two different vitamin A-free, fat-rich meals that were supplemented with beta-carotene (47 micromol) and contained equivalent amounts (60 g) of sunflower oil or beef tallow.

The study found:
(a) The appearance of beta-carotene in chylomicrons and in VLDL cholesterol was lower after ingestion with the meal containing sunflower oil than after ingestion with the meal containing beef tallow.
(b) The appearance of triglycerides in chylomicrons and in VLDL cholesterol was higher after ingestion with the meal containing sunflower oil than after ingestion with the meal containing beef tallow. (High levels of triglycerides are associated with heart disease, see here).

The study reveals that beta-carotene absoption is higher in meals rich in beef tallow as compared with a meal rich in sunflower oil. 

What Registered Dietitians Believe: AKA Don’t Trust Everything You Read

Processed, white bread, with sweet, unsalted butter. Yum!

Yes, that’s white bread—homemade by my bread machine, in fact (with my husband’s assistance)—and that indeed is real butter on top, added by yours truly. It was part of my lunch, together with my favorite lentil soup. And, a piece of salted almond dark chocolate, along with a cup of tea I’m still sipping on. A reality program of what RDs really eat?Not quite. Rather, I’m compelled to respond to an article that makes showing up at dinner parties with my real identity as a Registered Dietitian quite challenging!

I stumbled upon 9 Ingredients Nutritionists Won’t Touch as it was retweeted by some RDs on Twitter. Exaggerated statements about foods that dietitians wouldn’t dare eat plastered the article, so I thought I'd clear the air for the sake of people like Brian (not his real name), a blog follower struggling with an eating disorder. He saw this Dietitian's response, which read “An irresponsible piece overgeneralizing about RDs and what is healthy! No soy protein? Only 100% whole grain bread? Really?” He responded “I used to assume all nutrition 'experts' were this rigid - & triggering. Hence I've never consulted any”.

So let me set you straight. This article certainly doesn't represent all dietitians. The hype suggesting we should never eat these 9 ingredients is crazy. No single ingredient moderately consumed is poison. Although I will admit that eating a hotdog every day will greatly increase your risk of cancer. And certainly no one food or ingredient causes weight gain. (Or weight loss. Sorry to disappoint you.) The reason why I'm taking the time to address this is because the last thing you need is more food rules—especially senseless ones.

Since I honestly have never been concerned enough to avoid at all costs the ingredients purported to be avoided by nutritionists, I needed to do a bit of research on these food concerns. With a little bit of digging, here’s what I conclude:

Corn oil and omega 6 fatty acids (FAs)

Sure, I'd recommend an increase in omega three fats from fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna (in moderation if you are in your childbearing years), flax and walnuts, to benefit from their role in reducing inflammation and lowering cardiac risk. But to set a rule that products with ingredients such as corn oil should be banned is unwarranted. Omega 6 FAs also have their benefits, and a focus on the ratio of omega-6 to omega 3s is apparently misguided. Read the experts' review http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/119/6/902.long

The cancer causing additive potassium benzoate and benzene

Here’s an excerpt from the 2009 FDA paper addressing concerns about benzene levels found in beverages: How many and what products were found to have excessive levels of benzene?:

To date, FDA has tested almost 200 soft drink and other beverages in the CFSAN survey. Benzene above 5 ppb was found in a total of ten products. Benzene above 5 ppb was found in nine of the beverage products that contain both added benzoate salts and ascorbic acid. FDA also found benzene above 5 ppb in one cranberry juice beverage with added ascorbic acid but no added benzoates (cranberries contain natural benzoates). The manufacturers have reformulated products, if still manufactured, which were identified in the survey as containing greater than 5 ppb benzene. CFSAN tested samples of these reformulated products and found that benzene levels were less than 1.5 ppb. See also Data on Benzene in Soft Drinks and Other Beverages, including product names and benzene levels.

Don't trust the FDA? Here's a balanced, unbiased piece from Livestrong, June 2011 which references additional sources, too.

Even though benzene levels are not an issue, I’d vote for moderate intake, at best, of sodas.

Soy is poison? This one I had to look up because I was clueless!

In the article on the nine ingredients we supposedly avoid like the plague, Nunez, the  author quotes Valerie Berkowitz RD, saying "Soy protein, soy isolate, and soy oil are present in about 60 percent of the foods on the market and have been shown to impair fertility and affect estrogen in women, lower sex drive, and trigger puberty early in children," she says. "Soy can also add to the imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids."  Unfortunately, the evidence simply isn’t there to support Berkowitz’s claim.

For a balanced review of the pros and cons of soy, check out this Huff Post piece http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neal-barnard-md/settling-the-soy-controve_b_453966.html, which, rather than sensationalizing food ingredients, cites the research from peer-reviewed journals that are considered state-of-the-art.

If you are still concerned about the unproven risks of GMO soy, that shouldn't stop you from choosing organic which eliminates this possible risk. Apparently organic soy is stated to be free not only of pesticides but of genetic modification.

As for palm oil? And processed foods?

My breakfast of smoked fish (with nitrites), enriched white
bread, and saturated-fat containing foods--in moderation, of course.

Sure, I'm not big on palm oil, a saturated fat, but again, it's about the bigger picture. How much are you consuming? Too much saturated fat will increase your LDL or “bad” cholesterol, as it's commonly known. But even those needing to follow a diet low in saturated fat to lower their high blood cholesterol levels can consume up to 7% of their total calories from saturated fat. Certainly that leaves room for the occasional product that has a bit of palm oil as an ingredient.

Nitrates and nitriteshave long been acknowledged to be carcinogenic, leading to cancer. So no, I wouldn't recommend frequent intake of hot dogs and bacon. But an occasional dog at a picnic? Be my guest.

The statement about avoiding enriched flour? That one tops the list as the most absurd recommendation, and the mere suggestion that this represents what dietitian's believe would certainly keep me from seeing one! So I'm with you, Brian. What they are suggesting is that enriched is code for refined—because the only foods that need enrichment are those that have been stripped of their original nutrients. That said, all foods do not need to be nutrient powerhouses; refined (unenriched bread) isn't poison, as part of a balanced diet. And of course enrichedbread would only bring additional B vitamins to the meal. So what's the problem? Must we always choose the most fiber filled, nutrient-rich food items? Can't we include vegetables for some of the fiber and vitamins and minerals, and simply enjoy the French bread—enriched or otherwise?

Articles like 9 Ingredientsperpetuate misinformation about food and nutrition and about dietitians. While it does refer to the nutrition professional as a nutritionist, a general term having no qualifications attached to it, they quoted from many a Registered Dietitian throughout the article.

If you're trying to improve your relationship with food and you visit with a Registered Dietitian whose messages match up with the 9 Ingredients hyped article, do run the other way! But please don't assume that we are all like that. I know I'm not alone in my approach to eating. Registered Dietitians with a focus on behavior change and those with extensive experience treating individuals with eating disorders are most likely to share my approach.

So Brian, hopefully now you’ll reconsider a visit to a dietitian—just find one with a sensible, balanced approach to eating.

Thanks for reading.

Snarky Stylist: Best of Spring 2013 Collections

Before I get into the Snarky Stylist part of the post, I have a HUGE FAVOR to ask of you guys.

Will you pretty please vote for me in the L'oreal contest? Just click the link and then the little heart - I would sooooo appreciate it, and it would be super awesome if you'd get your Twitter/facebook friends to vote for me, too!

Okay, shameless plug is over - Snarky Stylist time!

Lest you think spring 2013 looks absolutely dismal for fashion (not the case AT ALL) after last week's Snarky Stylist review, here are some of my favorite looks from various spring 2013 collections!

DISCLAIMER: These are just a few of my favorite looks. There are so many style geniuses out there that I couldn't possibly fit all of my favorites into one post!

Rami Kadi

Rami Kadi has wrapped up all of my romantic fashion desires in one gown with this stunning number - I love the fabric and not a single fold is superfluous - everything adds to an absolutely stunning creation of pure decadence!

But Rami Kadi wasn't the only one who excelled at detailing.

Talbot Runhof

Talbot Runhof makes me (even more) proud to be German! Talk about a genius.

Erdem

A big round of applause to Erdem for making something that a normal woman would actually wear in her normal day-to-day life! And I love the shape of the shoes <3

Spring in Boston isn't necessarily summer weather all the time, so I appreciate that some designers planned in some cute colder weather looks, too!

Burberry Porsum

I love that jacket!! And the pants - so cute!

Often designers think that you have to be really over the top and different to be good.

I disagree. Just make it look good, it doesn't need to be made of saran wrap or trash bags!

MSGM

MSGM didn't do anything too inventive with this look, but the prints are great and they really show that classic cuts, but with new twists, can be really great!

Versus also really had fun with prints this season!

Versus

This season, Versus is sort of at the intersection of Zenon: Girl of the 21st century and Kindergarten chic.

It's odd, but it works!

Like this look from Chloe:

Chloe

A lot of the Chloe collection is just a lot of material, swallowing the girls entirely, but I do appreciate the shoulders on that top.

In fashion, like in life, you win some and you lose some.

What are your favorite spring/summer 2013 looks?

Who's your favorite designer at the moment?

Skirts or pants?

Statins are associated with erectile dysfunction

This study was published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice 2006 Feb;60(2):141-5

 

Study title and authors:

Erectile dysfunction and statin treatment in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Solomon H, Samarasinghe YP, Feher MD, Man J, Rivas-Toro H, Lumb PJ, Wierzbicki AS, Jackson G.

Department of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Centre, St. Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, UK.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16451283

This study investigated the relationship between statins and erectile dysfunction.  In this study, International Index of Erectile Function (a measure of erectile functioning, where higher scores indicate better functioning) scores were measured in 93 men attending cardiovascular risk clinics.

The study found:
(a) Prior to statin therapy, the average International Index of Erectile Function score was 21.
(b) After statin therapy, International Index of Erectile Function scores were reduced to 6.5.
(c) After statin therapy 22% of the men experienced new onset erectile dysfunction.

This study reveals that statins are associated with erectile dysfunction.

Salt Sugar Fat

I'd just like to put in a quick word for a book that will be released tomorrow, titled Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us, by Pulitzer prize-winning author Michael Moss.  This is along the same lines as Dr. David Kessler's book The End of Overeating, which explains how the food industry uses food reward, palatability, and food cues to maximize sales-- and as an unintended side effect, maximize our waistlines.   Judging by Moss's recent article in New York Times Magazine, which I highly recommend reading, the book will be excellent.  I've pre-ordered it.

Organic Rice Protein Pow(d)er!

Nutribiotic makes a variety of vegan protein powders out of  rice protein. I never thought of rice as a particularly high-protein food, but it turns out that isolated rice protein is an easily digestible, high quality vegetable protein!



Their protein powders come in several different flavors, including Cherry Vanilla, Mixed Berry, and Vanilla Bean. I tried their Vanilla, Chocolate, and Plain. As you can see, each serving of rice protein contains 80% protein!



A lot of protein powders add a lot of sugar and fat and other stuff that you don't always necessarily want in your protein shake or boost. I like that this one just gives you the protein and lets you add anything else that you may want. With just two ingredients and only 1g of sugar (but a great 12g of vegan protein) it's a really healthy protein boost!

You can mix the powder into a drink, add it to a smoothie, or pump up the protein content of a favorite recipe (think pancakes, muffins, bread, or even cookies) by subbing some in for part of the recipe's flour (don't sub more than 1/4 of the flour). 

It has a mild, malted taste, so while you will probably be able to taste the protein in there, it won't overwhelm your other flavors.

The powder dissolves really well, even mixing (clump free) into yogurt. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the chocolate protein powder is mixed into a cup of vanilla or plain yogurt with granola, dried fruits, and nuts on top - delicious!

What's your go-to protein source?

How often do you use protein powder?

What's your favorite way to use protein powder?

An association exists between low cholesterol, suicide, and depression

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1994 Jun;55(6):252-4

 

Study title and authors:

Serum cholesterol levels and suicidal tendencies in psychiatric inpatients.

Modai I, Valevski A, Dror S, Weizman A.

Gehah Psychiatric Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, Israel.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8071280

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cholesterol levels and suicide in psychiatric inpatients. The study include 584 psychiatric inpatients who were divided into three groups:
(i) Patients who had attempted suicide at least once.
(ii) Patients who expressed a suicidal wish or plan during hospitalization or the month before hospitalization.
(iii) Patients who had neither made suicidal gestures nor expressed suicidal thoughts.

The study found:
(a) Patients who had attempted suicide had significantly lower cholesterol levels than nonsuicidal patients.
(b) Patients who were depressed had significantly lower cholesterol levels than patients who were not depressed.

The findings of the study may imply that an association exists between low cholesterol, suicide, and depression.

Snarky Stylist: Worst of Spring 2013 Collections

Last week's fashion spotlight was the last of the spring collection reviews, but today let's take a look at some of the worst looks that (otherwise fantastic) designers sent out onto the runway.

WARNING: The Snarky Stylist is in!

Anna Sui

While I wasn't the biggest fan of Anna Sui's Spring 2013 collection in general, this was one of the worst looks - did she fish it out of a dumpster? Seriously, this outfit is straight out of a drag queen's rubbish bin. The carpet-like dress in that awful cheap print, the haphazardly ripped mesh...there's no redeeming this outfit.

The only almost cute thing is the shoes.

The collection, in general, was a bit of a let-down with all of its junky looks, but a few of them did succeed (or almost succeed) in pulling off a fun eclectic look. Just that dreadful outfit?

Not so much.

Anna Sui isn't alone in missing the mark this spring.

N*21

WHAAAAAAT?

Seriously, no words.

N*21, what on earth...?

Giles

The shoes are adorable and the dress isn't too bad (but it's not too great either). That hat, however?

Be prepared to walk into evvveeerrrrrything. 

And to have everyone think you're having a really bad hair day and a serious case of thedyeturnedoutbrighterthantheboxpictureeeeeee syndrome.

I sort of feel bad for the designer of this next look - I know procrastination as well as anyone else and sometimes you just don't have time to finish that project.

Giambattista Vali

But seriously? Forgetting something?

Yeah, I don't see that in my future anytime soon...

Felder Felder

That purple diaper isn't flattering anything and adding an awkward belt and a tank top that I'm pretty sure I saw on clearance at Walmart isn't helping...

Speaking of designers borrowing pieces from where they really ought not to, Balmain needs to leave good enough alone.

Balmain

Leave the shoulder pads to the football players, please.

I have to reign the snark in a bit (it's a Sunday, after all) but I just have to share this last look with you.

Because laughing is healthy!

Celine

Someone forgot to change out of those PJs she borrowed from granny! And the house slippers?

Sorry, even that great red pedicure can't rescue this look, Celine.

Which look is the worst?

Do you disagree with me about any of the looks? Different opinions are always welcome in fashion!

Who's your least favorite designer?

Statins induce a decline in cognition

This paper was published in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2006 Oct;40(10):1880-3

Study title and authors:
Simvastatin-induced decline in cognition.

Padala KP, Padala PR, Potter JF.
Geriatrics Section, Department of Internal Medicine, 981320 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-1320, USA. kpadala@unmc.edu

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16940411

This paper describes a case of new-onset cognitive difficulties in an older patient after initiation of simvastatin therapy.

(i) A 64-year-old man developed cognitive difficulties (short-term memory loss, long-term memory loss, and item misplacement) within one week after starting simvastatin 40 mg/day.
(ii) Simvastatin was discontinued, and the patient's cognition improved to normal within six weeks.
(iii) He again tried simvastatin, this time at half the original dose and his cognition deteriorated over a two week period.
(iv) Simvastatin was stopped, and his normal cognition returned within four weeks.

This case shows that statins can induce a decline in cognition.

Cauliflower Shepherd's Pie (C3)

Cauliflower Shepherd's Pie (C3)

Submitted by Marsha Cassara Hoffman 

The milk and bacon make this a C3 recipe.


1 ½ lbs. ground beef or Turkey
1 medium onion
4 cloves garlic
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp salt
2 heads cauliflower (fresh or frozen)
1 lb pkg green beans (canned or frozen)
1 1/2/ cup shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
¼ cup skim milk
6 slices turkey bacon (optional)


Steam both heads of cauliflower while browning the ground beef/Turkey with spices, garlic and onions.

Drain the meat.

Place the cooked beef/turkey in a 9x12 pan, top with canned or frozen green beans.

Mash the cooked cauliflower with, milk, sour cream/Greek yogurt, ½ c. cheese and butter.

Spread the cauliflower mash over the top of the green beans.

If so desired, cover with the one cup of shredded cheddar cheese and cut up crumbled bacon.

Bake in a 350 oven for 30 minutes.

Kale Chips for Dummies (and a Review)

I got some greens from Organic Girl the other day!



Organic Girl has a variety of (organic, of course) greens - everything from baby spinach to baby arugula to baby kale as ready-to-eat salad greens and also some QuickCook! greens (baby kale, spinach, and spinach powergreens).

The best thing about all of their organic greens is that their greens are triple washed (that's what the washed^3 means) so they're super convenient - you can just grab some veggies and make a salad without a ton of prep work!

Sometimes I'm really busy and having to wash, chop, and prep salad can be too much of a hassle - then it's easier to skip the veggies.

But veggies are important!

Organic Girl good clean greens take care of that problem, they're just as convenient as microwave mac & cheese!



The greens are all super fresh and vibrantly colored. You just toss some on a plate, add your dressing and anything else you'd like, and you have great salad in just a matter of minutes!



The greens really are super fresh and crisp and flavorful!



They make a great salad - my only thing is that I'd try one of the other varieties next time, as I wasn't a big fan of one of the types of leaves in this mix (I think it was the mache, it was a bit bitter for me).



It still tasted quite nice with mustard and a veggie burger, though - that countered the bitterness of the mache.



Pair that veggie burger salad (15 seconds to put the greens on the plate, 5 seconds to squirt on mustard, 5 seconds for a shake of black pepper, 20 seconds to get roasted red peppers out of the jar, 4 minutes to heat up a frozen veggie burger in some oil in a pan) with the butt of a baguette (15 seconds to get it out of the bag) and you have a healthy meal made, from start to finish, in just 5 minutes!

Who knew salad could be fast food?

But I love, love, love Organic Girl for another product - the quick cook kale.

I've had kale chips (and really enjoy them) but I haven't made them successfully before. The one time that I tried to was an EPIC fail.

I spent half an hour washing and chopping a bunch of kale, then burnt the entire batch.

How is it that nothing cooks until you leave the room? And then it chars?

Le sigh.

Anyway, since this kale was already washed and prepped (and there's a super easy kale recipe on the back) I decided to give kale chips another go.

I mixed the baby kale (no washing needed!) with olive oil, then spread it out on a baking sheet. Then I added some spices as the oven heated to 300F (last time I baked them at 400F, so that may have been why it was such a disaster).

There was nothing too scientific about my spicing process. I just grabbed whatever was at the front of the cupboard. This time it was salt, black pepper, and nutritional yeast.

The kale chips baked for 15 minutes (a lot of volume leaves during this, so you get concentrated veggie goodness).

Oh. My. Gosh.

These are so delicious!

Even with my haphazard spicing, the crispy, crunchy, salty, flavorful kale chips are delightful!

It's hard to believe that they're so healthy - it's a veggie serving and the bit of olive oil not only makes the kale chips all the more delicious but also improves nutrient absorption! And it's vegan, so really anyone can enjoy :)

I'm definitely buying Organic Girl Quick Cook kale again - it's cheaper to buy a big bag of it and make my own kale chips than it is to buy ready-made kale chips, but it's almost as easy. And this way, I get to choose how I spice them!

Have you made kale chips before? If so, how do you season them?

Do you buy pre-washed greens regularly?