Mark’s Daily Apple

Fennel and Avocado: A Match Made In Heaven10

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Mark’s friend Chef Oren is back with another savory recipe this week in which he features the oft-neglected fennel bulb. Fennel has a mildly sweet licorice flavor and a wonderful crunch in every bite. It is a good source of vitamin C, folate, potassium and dietary fiber. I’ve had this recipe twice in the last week and love it. Sometimes it can be a little difficult finding fennel, but if you can get your hands on it be sure to give it a try.

Further Viewing:

Quinoa Salad

Simple Fruit Salad

Technorati Tags: fennel, avocado, parsley, cilantro, lemon, olive oil, Chef Oren

Posted: Diet, Healthy Tastes Great!, How To, Nutrition, Recipes, Videos

Surreptitious Soda Companies Still in Schools15

Syruptitious?

Beverage giants like Coke and Pepsi Co. have come under heavy fire from children’s advocates, health experts and parents alike in recent years. Perhaps one of the most controversial issues in the soda wars is the “sponsorship” many schools obtain in exchange for stocking the hallways with vending machines. Exploiting our children in order to cover costs has to be one of the most disgusting examples of Big Agra’s power over our next generation’s health. So when Coke, Pepsi and Cadbury Schweppes announced they were pulling sugary beverages from schools in favor of “healthier” options like low-fat milk, diet drinks, and 100% juices, it was a begrudging step in the right direction. We don’t drink milk in our family and I’m not in favor of sports drinks, diet carbonated beverages or juice drinks, but at least this move was a measurable improvement over cans of corn syrup-clogged soda. (Bill Clinton lauded it as “courageous”.)

Moving forward: the Times has investigated the aftermath now that the rosy publicity glow has died down. According to the article, soda would have been cut eventually anyway because of pending litigation; and sports drinks would have likely been removed as well. (So-called “performance beverages” are completely unnecessary for children - even those who play sports.) The real concern here is that the beverage companies quietly added a loophole a few months back for “other” sweetened - enhanced - beverages like Propel and Vitaminwater. While these drinks contain fewer calories per serving than many sodas, they’re still loaded with sugar and/or corn syrup. And although an 8-ounce serving can’t contain more than 66 calories if it’s to be sold in schools, what teenager is going to split the bottle 2.5 ways at the cafeteria table? It all amounts to business as usual, only now, it’s being done under the guise of promoting children’s health.

To do something about it, leave a comment here, then send an email to Coke, Pepsi, Cadbury, or your senators.

Further reading:

The Fattest States in America

Graphic: How Many Vending Machines Are in Schools?

- Photo from Inherit the Mirth

Technorati Tags: Pepsi, Coca Cola, Coke, school, vending machines, advocacy, activism, children, soda, beverage, legislation

Posted: Big Agra, Carbs, Health, Hype, Marketing, Nutrition, Raise Healthy Seedlings

Flu Vaccine’s Benefits for the Elderly Have Been Wildly Exaggerated6

I only wish this surprised me.

The flu vaccine has met with not-insignificant controversy as those like myself who advocate more natural preventive health measures have long questioned the necessity of an annual jab. But until now, even “alternative” health experts have conceded that the flu vaccine is necessary for the immune-compromised and especially the elderly (among other vulnerable populations). Turns out, even this accepted wisdom is little more than another case of the ever self-serving Big Pharma.

The Lancet has the details and I encourage you to read up (start here) if this is a matter that interests you. As for the merit of the flu shot, I’ve never been sold on it. I think intelligent supplementation, exercise, rest, prudent nutrition and extra hand-washing during the worst times of the year is a more sensible and safe approach. But that’s just me.

Further Reading:

The 10 Dumbest Drugs Ever Invented

My Radical Health Care Proposal

Flickr Photo (CC)

Technorati Tags: flu, influenza, vaccine, elderly

Posted: Aging, Big Pharma, Health, Hype, Prevention

The Oreo Pizza7

The Oreo Pizza gives you an Oreo mustache. And that’s the selling point…

Further viewing:
Me at the gas station: how to eat healthy on the road.

Technorati Tags: oreo pizza

Posted: Carbs, Humor, Marketing, Nutrition

A Visual Guide to Antioxidants (Fridge-Friendly!)7

Antioxidants serve as a powerful first line of defense against oxidative damage from aging, stress, and inflammation. Moreover, antioxidants appear to contain cancer-fighting properties and to support the immune system (among many other benefits). The ones included in this graphic are considered some of the most important. Though many, many foods contain these valuable antioxidants, we’ve listed a few of the most potent and popular choices for each class of antioxidants.

- Antioxidants can be broken into two general categories: antioxidant nutrients (including phytonutrients) and antioxidant enzymes. Vitamins, minerals and the various -noids detailed below are in the first category.

- Flavonoids (also called bioflavonoids) are pigment compounds and are polyphenolic. They are present in most flowering plants and number in the thousands. They are commonly grouped under anthocyanidins, proanthocyanins, and phenolics. The coolest fact about flavonoid antioxidants: they offer a double-punch because they improve vitamin C’s antioxidant capabilities!

- Carotenoids are fat-soluble. (Beta carotene is the most studied, but there are 600+ carotenoids we know about so far. Other popular ones include lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene.) Carotenoids are not interchangeable with vitamin A, nor is vitamin A an antioxidant! This is a common misconception. Beta carotene can convert to vitamin A in the body, of course.

- The antioxidant enzymes are superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). SOD: Cruciferous vegetables are a must! CAT: Get enough iron from beef, tofu, mushrooms and sturdy greens to ensure proper catalase production. GPx: Selenium activates this enzyme, so get plenty of eggs, chicken, and fresh garlic in your diet!

This list of antioxidants is certainly not comprehensive, as there are thousands of phytonutrients currently being studied and more are discovered every year. Bottom line: the more you get, the better! A combination of prudent supplementation and plentiful, colorful vegetables is your smartest bet.

Sources 1, 2, 3

Further Reading:

10 Easy Ways to Boost Your Serotonin

16 Ultimate Super Foods

Flickr Photo Buddies (CC license): nuts, tomato, kale, egg, veggies

Technorati Tags: resveratrol, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, antioxidants, aging

Posted: Aging, Diet, Health, Nutrition