Only Kale Can Save Us Now

Ok, so I chuckled too the first time I saw this t-shirt. But only because I relate to the sentiment so sincerely. And yes, I own the t-shirt, and it's awesome. Check it out at Herbivore Clothing Company.

Herbivore Clothing Company

 
If you haven't discovered kale then it's high time you did. Until about 3 months ago I could count the number of times I'd eaten kale on one hand. These days I eat it or juice it, or both, every single day. You see, kale is a power food, and mama needs her power foods.

You've heard of power foods, right? You read about them in the news. You see them on Dr Oz. But are you eating them? Power foods, like kale, contain multiple disease-fighting nutrients. Kale is rich in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, is low in calories, contains protein and omega 3 oils, and has detoxifying properties. It's pretty much a perfect food. Licionato, or "Dinosaur" Kale (shown below), is my personal fave. Licionato is a bit sweeter and keeps longer then other types of kale but all are worth trying. I juice kale every day, I bake it into chips (recipe below), I toss it into my salads, cook it into my soups and sauces, and roll it around herbed quinoa for an amped up version of lettuce rolls.

Licionato, or "Dinosaur" Kale

How to buy, store and use kale
Look for kale that is stored on ice or in the cool-mist section of the produce section, room-temperature storage causes kale to become stronger and more bitter in flavor. You want crisp, brightly colored leaves with no wilting or discoloration. Store your kale in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator and don't wash until you're to use. You can also freeze kale leaves, just lay the leaves out on a baking sheet in a single layer until frozen then transfer to a ziplock bag, pressing out all the air. Kale tends to be dirty and sometimes buggy so wash it thoroughly in lots of water. You can soak the leaves in the sink, giving them a shake and repeating until they're clean, but I prefer to wash each leaf individually under running water. Kale can be eaten raw, baked, sauteed or steamed.

Baked Kale Chips

1 bunch kale, washed and dried

1 teaspoon olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 
2. Remove the center ribs and tear leaves into bite sized pieces
3. Toss the leaves in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper
4. Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and bake 10 minutes
5. Shake the pan to move leaves around and bake until crisp, 5-10 minutes more

Toxic? I'm not toxic!

Well yes, actually, I am, and so are you. Sorry, but it's true. Toxicity is a natural product of living, breathing and eating. We take in toxins all day every day from the foods we eat, the air we breath and the water we drink. Our bodies have a built in detox system that eliminates toxins naturally, it's not something we have to think about or work at. Unfortunately, our modern lives expose us to much more toxicity than most of our bodies can handle. And to make matters worse, many of us have "elimination systems" that are functioning far below the optimal level.

Our bodies eliminate toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin, or to be really blunt, through sweat, urine and poop. If your body does not eliminate efficiently you can develop a whole mess of health problems that range from mild (constipation and allergies) to life-threatening (cancer and autoimmunity).

So how do we help our bodies? Below are suggestions based on my own detox program for rheumatoid arthritis.

• Breath deeply. Most of us breath inefficiently, focusing on the inhale rather than the exhale. It's the exhale that eliminates carbon dioxide. Yoga is a great way to learn to breath more deeply and efficiently, but you can practice better breathing anywhere, anytime. Simply direct your attention to your breath and slow it down a bit, then focus on exhaling for at least as long as you inhale, giving a little "push" at the end of your exhale. Do this for about 8 breaths.
• Sweat. Without a doubt the most efficient way to sweat out toxins is by taking infrared saunas. I take saunas three times a week for 30 minutes at a time. I was sure I would hate this, after all, I practically melt every summer in Texas, but I have come to actually crave my saunas for the immediate benefits I feel. Exercise is another great way to eliminate toxins through sweat. Make sure you drink lots of water before, during and after a sauna so as not to become dehydrated.
• Eat clean. Consume plenty of fiber-rich veggies, fruits and whole grains, and drink at least 2 quarts of filtered water daily. If you're not poopin' every day you're not eliminating enough toxins. If you have constipation consider drinking aloe juice in the morning and at night. Try George's Aloe Juice, it tastes like water, 1/2 cup morning and night.
• Juice. And I mean that as a verb not a noun. Make juicing part of your daily routine, or go on a 2-3 day juice fast for more intense results. I juice every day, usually in the morning on an empty stomach, but an afternoon juice is a great pick-me-up too. A good juicer can be had for under $200 (check out amazon.com). I have a Breville juicer that I love (pic below). My morning juice blend is detailed below.
• Don't mess with your liver! The largest organ in your body carries out many functions critical for health, one of which is metabolizing toxins. At the onset of my RA symptoms I was shocked to be told by both my acupuncturist and my rheumatologist that my liver function was off. To get my liver back on top of its game I follow an anti-inflammatory diet (Dr Weil offers great guidance on this subject), I avoid caffeine and alcohol, I drink plenty of water and green tea, I take saunas, I avoid all drugs including over the counter meds, and I take a number of supplements and Chinese herbs.

My "B-A-C-K to Health" Juice Blend

The exact measurements here are not important, so adjust for your taste or what you have on hand. The ginger and turmeric are optional, I add them for my RA, but they do add a nice punch of flavor to balance out the sweetness of the beets. Buy organic whenever possible, especially the kale since you can't peel it. If your carrots, apples and beets are not organic then peel them before juicing.

2 red or golden Beets

2 green Apples

6 Carrots

6 Kale leaves

2 inch segment of fresh ginger root, peeled (optional)

2 inch segment of fresh turmeric root, peeled (optional)

other optional add ins: basil, cucumber, lemon or lime, romaine lettuce

Juice all ingredients and drink immediately. Get ready to feel the rush!

T is for Turmeric

If you haven't discovered the wonders that are Turmeric you are surely missing out. Originating in India more than 2,000 years ago, turmeric is prized for its anti-inflammatory properties and is currently being hailed as a treatment for a slew of inflammation-based illnesses including Alzheimer's and cancer. Check out what Dr Weil has to say about turmeric. Turmeric is a key element in my alternative treatment program for rheumatoid arthritis. Everyday I take the supercritical extract in capsule form, I drink home-brewed turmeric tea and I juice it.

Similar in appearance to ginger, turmeric is a bright orange, segmented root that should be peeled before use. The fresh root is wonderfully aromatic and quite potent in flavor. Its brilliant color that is so coveted as a natural dye will briefly stain your fingers and cutting board, but that's a small price to pay for this natural wonder. 

Turmeric Tea

This is a potent brew. You may want to start by using a smaller amount of turmeric and ginger in your tea, and work up to the full amount. The exact measurements here are not important so brew at a strength you can enjoy at least twice a day. I drink about 16oz a day. The dried goji berries are optional but they do add a subtle touch of sweetness that helps take the edge off the turmeric and ginger.

16 cups filtered water

1 cup peeled ginger root, shredded

1/2 cup peeled turmeric, shredded

1/4 cup dried goji berries

Combine all the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil and remove then the heat, allowing to sit and steep for 30 minutes. Strain and store in the refrigerator. Serve hot or cold.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Won't Get Me Down!

This is a story of pain and healing, of despair and hope. I promise a happy ending.

Imagine you are a bakery owner, cake designer, mother and wife. You are at the top of your game, highly sought after for your custom cakes, a regular competitor on Food Network Challenge, working on multiple book and TV projects, featured frequently in the press. Your children are happy and healthy, your marriage strong and loving. You are essentially living your life beyond your wildest dreams. Imagine then that you become quite ill, quite suddenly. Your once limber, strong, and capable body is wracked with pain, your joints stiff and rigid. Imagine feeling betrayed by your own body, unable to do the most mundane daily tasks much less work 60-90 hours a week to create the magnificent tiered and 3-dimensional cakes you've become known for. Imagine feeling that everything you had worked so hard for is slipping away, that your life as you know it, is over. Imagine the frustration, anger, and hopelessness. Imagine being told your illness is incurable. Imagine hearing from your doctor that the "good news" is that there will be periods of remission from the pain, and that the new drugs you'll take for the rest of your life are vastly improved over the drugs of old. Never mind that these drugs will sometimes make you even sicker than you are now, or that some could kill you. The good news is you're less likely to become crippled, or die, than persons diagnosed 20 years ago.

Imagine you are me.

Nine months ago this week my body began to fail me. On November 19, 2010 as I stood in the High Noon studios in Denver, preparing to film my fourth Food Network Challenge of the year, I knew something was not right. As I assembled my T-Rex armature during "mise en place" my hands didn't want to work, they were stiff, tight and tingly. I shrugged it off and quietly berated myself for accepting two Challenges in one 30 day period, a decision I knew would likely lead to sore muscles, achy bones, and the requisite post-Challenge sinus infection or strep throat. But wasn't all that pain was supposed to come AFTER the Challenge? AFTER I carved a 5 foot dinosaur out of cake, not before? I didn't give it any thought until the next week, the week of Thanksgiving, when instead of getting better, it got worse. I didn't give it much thought until I realized that the pain was equally bad in the joints on both sides of my body, not just the right side as I would expect from overuse. I didn't give it much thought until I was much, much worse. Until the week before Christmas when I nearly lost my mind from the pain. Until I had to go to the doctor begging for pain meds so that I could enjoy a pain-free Christmas day with my family.

Bet you're wondering where that happy ending is, huh? Let's fast forward 5 months. It's spring, I'm still in physical and emotional hell, and I've finally gotten all my tests back. The Dr. confirms my diagnosis as Rheumatoid Arthritis. At the age of 42. RA is an autoimmune disease, it's basically a malfunctioning immune system. My immune system was attacking my own body. That's obviously not the happy ending, so hold on. She laid out my treatment options and wrote me several scripts. I asked about dietary changes I should make. She looked me in the eye and told me that "diet has nothing to do with it". I walked out of her office and began to cry. And that's when I knew. I knew right then and there that this doctor, no, NO doctor would give me a viable solution for fixing my immune system. I would have to find another way. If my immune system was broken, I figured, why not fix the damn thing?

Now for the happy ending... Fast forward another 3 months and I'm in my 7th week of freedom from the pain, swelling and stiffness without taking ANY medications. Not only that, but I feel better than I have in 20 years! I have tons of energy, my mind is clear, those cruddy chronic "issues" we all deal with are gone, my adult acne has even disappeared. My immune system is happy, happy, happy! After seven and a half straight months of absolute hell, I AM WELL. Am I cured? Nope. It doesn't work that way unfortunately, but I have found a natural approach that keeps my immune system in check. I radically changed my diet, I do regular acupuncture and saunas, I take loads of Chinese herbs and supplements, I juice daily. I've made changes to keep my life in better balance. I closed my bakery storefront to relieve the stress that comes with running a retail business- full time employees, massive overhead, inflexible work hours. I spend more time with friends. I enjoy my kids more. I worry less. I remember to slow down and take time for myself. I work with the clients I want to work with and say no to the freakin' Bridezillas.

This natural, or "alternative", approach is more work than popping a few pills every day, but the side effects are all positive and they definitely won't kill me. I've been so amazed by what I've learned about wellness and diet in these past few months. I've always had a healthy approach to food but this experience has taken it to a whole new level. Food, the "right" food, is nurturing, it's healing, it's life-changing. I'm starting this new food blog so I can detail what I've learned, share recipes and resources, and hopefully offer a little inspiration to others who have been told "diet has nothing to do with it". It seems that almost every day lately I meet people who are struggling with their health, looking for better answers than those they've been given in the doctor's office. Today I met two of those people in the produce section of Central Market. One lady couldn't wait to share my story (and my email address) with her aunt who also suffers from RA and has been frustrated with her "nasty" medications that make her so sick. These are the folks I hope to reach with this blog.

So that's the story, or at least the first chapter anyway, we'll see what comes next. For some of my friends and cake world peers this probably answers some questions you were afraid to ask about why I didn't seem myself for a while, or why I closed my retail location so suddenly. I couldn't "go public" right away, it took some time to get to where I am, but boy am I glad I'm here now!

And for the record, I'm NOT making excuses for my pathetic showing at Food Network Challenge "Extreme Dinosaur Cakes". Our problems with our poured sugar and subsequent inability to stay on the intense time line we had created would have derailed us anyway.

In closing, I owe a HUGE thank you to my husband Van, and my son Cade, both of whom had to use every last ounce of patience and love at their disposal to help me through those tough months of hell. I couldn't have done it without you and you both continue to be a huge inspiration on those days when I feel like complaining about what I can't eat anymore.

As for what the future holds? I'm still doing cakes, I'm just a bit more "selective" about my commissions now. I'm also working on a book and teaching classes. I'm still doing all the things I did before, just in a more moderate and sane fashion. Will I go back to Challenge? Hell yes I will, I wouldn't miss it for the world!