Fresh-Squeezed Veggie Juice Finally Comes of Age

NEW YORK — At midmorning, the line at Liquiteria is almost out the door.

Customers at the bright, cheerful juice bar can’t seem to get enough of owner Doug Green’s menu of smoothies and fresh-squeezed juices. Some of the drinks are billed as energy builders; others promise to burn fat, boost the immune system or detoxify the lymph system.

On the counter, a tabloid photo shows Natalie Portman clutching a bottle of Liquiteria’s signature cold-pressed juices (meaning the liquid is extracted by chopping and pressing, rather than spinning in a centrifuge). Beside the picture is a framed thank-you note from another actress, Rachel Weisz, “for all the juice.”

But New York’s hard-core juicers don’t need to trek to this trendy East Village neighborhood where Liquiteria has been serving a loyal clientele since 1996. There are dozens of juice bars all over the city, including 18 branches of the California-based Jamba Juice.

Once the drink of hard-core health nuts, fresh-squeezed vegetable juice — along with its far more popular sibling, fresh-squeezed fruit juice — has come of age.

Today there are more than 6,400 outlets across the United States that sell fresh juice and smoothies, ringing up $3.4 billion in annual sales, according to industry consulting group Juice Gallery Multimedia. It’s a far cry from the early days, when juice bars were often drab affairs tucked in the back of health food stores, emitting the grinding, horror-movie sounds of fibrous beets and carrots meeting industrial-strength blades.

Fish Oil Still Fights Pain

In the 17th century, cod liver oil was quite different from its present form. Initially, it was produced by rotting cod livers, so it stunk and was black in color. Naturally it tasted yucky.

Despite that, people knew it to be good for health and they drank it as an all-purpose supplement though no one knew exactly how it worked.

By the 18th century, cod liver oil was produced by heating with steam. This resulted in a paler and better quality oil though it was still far from tasty and mothers had to force it down the throats of children, especially those who suffered from rickets.

In the 19th century, owners of The British Cod Liver Oil Producers (Hull) Ltd. found that some trawling companies operating in Hull, England, were using the sea boiling technique that produced a light golden brown oil that was far superior in quality, low in acidity, and had a bland taste. Kenneth McLennan, previously from Lever Brothers, came up with the idea of producing cod liver oil in tiny capsules and also came up with the name Seven Seas.

For Healthy Joints

The Eskimos have a reduced incidence of rheumatoid arthritis because of their fish-rich diet. The Japanese diet is also rich in fish, which may explain why they have fewer cases of arthritis compared to people of other countries.

Studies have shown that for patients with mild rheumatoid arthritis, fish oil supplements were able to reduce their nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug requirement.

Fish oil high in omega-3 fatty acids is crucial for adults suffering from arthritis and other bone-related problems. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the production of chemicals that cause inflammation of the joints.

Vitamins Help Battle Sun Damage

With the heat and old man sun bearing down mercilessly, using Vitamins C and E can help in the battle against skin damage.

Studies in Britain’s Journal of Dermatology says Vitamin E cream is useful in stimulating the body’s antioxidant defenses.

Meanwhile, a report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology says people taking daily 1,000-unit supplements of Vitamin E alongside Vitamin C suffered less skin damage from ultraviolet rays than test subjects taking a placebo.

But experts say neither can completely replace the role of good common sense on going out into the sun. Limit your exposure each day, particularly if your skin is still in its winter pallor stage, and always use an effective sunscreen.

Don’t Shy Away from Soy

Q: I am confused about the benefits of soy in the diet. I have read comments from several doctors claiming that soy as a source of protein in the diet (especially in place of animal protein) is a no-no. What are your thoughts?

A: You’re right, it can be hard to know what to believe with so much conflicting nutritional information out there. We used to think that soy was not a complete protein, but as testing methods have improved, we now know better.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of a food claim for soy products which states that 25 grams of soy protein per day as part of a diet low in saturated fat will help lower blood cholesterol.

Many well-conducted research studies back-up this claim. And a new tool that measures protein quality — specifically amino acid quality — finds that soy is equal to animal protein. In fact, schools are now allowed to use soy as a one-to-one replacement for animal protein.

Bottom line? If you’re looking for a high-quality meat protein alternative, consider soy your best friend.

Diet of Colorful Foods Boosts Immunity

A U.S. health and wellness expert says an easy way to boost immunity is to eat more fruits and vegetables in different colors.

Amy Hendel says says a study published in the Phytonutrient Report found eight in 10 Americans are missing out on the health benefits of a diet rich in colorful fruits and veggies — resulting in a phytonutrient gap.

The report looked at fruit and vegetable consumption in five color categories — green, red, white, blue/purple and yellow/orange and the phytonutrients found in each color category.

Hendel recommends eating two foods from each of the five color categories. For optimal health, aim to eat two foods from each of the five color categories for a total of 10 servings each day.

Foods in the red category — tomatoes, pomegranate, red cabbage, cranberries, even pink grapefruit — boost immune systems and support heart health, Hendel says.

The health benefits of foods in the yellow/orange category — carrots, squash, sweet potatoes and pineapple — also boost immunity and help vision and heart health as well as maintain skin hydration.

For Love and Chocolate

You love it, you crave it, sometimes you can’t get enough of it. Is that so bad? Why do so many women have such a visceral reaction to chocolate? Nutrition expert, Elizabeth Somer, answers those questions and explores our relationship with chocolate.

Why do we crave chocolate?

Chocolate is the number one most craved food and women are the ones most likely to crave it. And rightfully so. As I mention in my book, Food & Mood, many of our cravings for foods are triggered by a stew of appetite-control chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Low and behold, chocolate tickles just about every brain chemical there is. For example, the sugar in chocolate affects two neurotransmitters – serotonin and the endorphins. According to research from Johns Hopkins University, the very taste of sugar on the tongue – such as the sugar in chocolate – releases endorphins in the brain.

These brain chemicals produce a euphoric feeling, making the chocolate experience immediately pleasurable. The sugar in chocolate also might raise brain levels of serotonin a neurotransmitter that also boosts mood. It is no surprise that most people don’t start craving chocolate until mid-afternoon. That’s when a brain chemical called galanin is at its all-time high. Galanin turns on the desire for fatty foods. Women are most likely to turn to the sweet-and-creamy foods with chocolate being the number one choice followed by ice cream, cookies, cakes, pies, and other desserts. Men are more likely to go for the protein-fat foods like steak, gravies, hamburgers, or meatloaf. Then of course the cocoa butter in chocolate is what gives this “moment of ecstasy” that “melt in your mouth” texture that is irresistible.

Diet Can Cut the Shocks

Some folks simply are more electric than others, not necessarily in personality but in generating static electricity. For people who constantly get shocked from touching metal objects such as supermarket shopping trolleys and cars, hypnotherapist/author Betty Shine says watching the diet could help.

“For anyone who suffers in this way,” she says, “I would recommend a diet rich in meats, seeds and green vegetables.” These, she explains, are rich in magnesium, “an effective conductor of the electro-magnetic energy surrounding our bodies” and more likely to reduce shocks from touching metallic objects.

Some people, she says, “are very powerfully electric,” and around them light bulbs can blow out, machinery will break down and even the electrical system in their car may play up. For those especially afflicted, “I would recommend using thin gloves while you are out doing your shopping.”

If it happens when you are at home, “and you are feeling electrified, try putting your hands under cold, running water for a while.” And if that doesn’t do the job, step into the shower for a long, soothing soak.

Dispelling Myths on Incontinence

A leading urologist says two common myths about female incontinence — that it’s a natural result of aging and that only surgery can help — should be dispelled.

The urinary disorder, affecting as many as 30 percent of women beyond the age of 60, is now treatable through a variety of medical options, says Dr. Karl Luber, head of Kaiser Permanente’s Female Incontinence Program in San Diego.

“We see women who have become so disabled by urinary incontinence that they’re afraid to visit relatives or attend religious services,” Luber says, adding the “incidence of depression among women suffering incontinence is twice the rate for women in the general population.”

Luber says some optional treatment for incontinence may include:

–Behavioral techniques: “retraining” the bladder by urinating on a set schedule and exercises which include locating and squeezing pelvic floor muscles to offset stress incontinence.

–Biofeedback: enabling patients to achieve better control of pelvic floor muscles and medication to reduce abnormal bladder contractions.

“Over the last 10 years there has been a general shift in attitude among physicians caring for women with incontinence,” Luber says. “Women have more choices and are more involved in the decision making process when it comes to their own care.”

Do Women Need Iron After Menopause?

Iron. Some women may have too much of it. And that, according to a recent study, may induce some types of heart disease, because an excess of iron can cause irregular heartbeat and disorders of the heart muscle.

A woman is relatively better protected than a man against heart disease until after menopause. Two things happen at the time: Estrogen levels drop and iron is no longer lost in her monthly menstrual cycle. That usually removes the need for iron supplements. The situation, however, is not that simple. Tens of thousands of older women eat so sparingly that they require iron supplements to avoid iron-deficiency anemia.

After menopause, be certain you’re eating a balanced diet. If it is balanced, meat consumption can be limited to three ounces three times a week, because meat is high in iron. And more fibrous foods and cereals can be added, because they absorb iron.

But don’t decide on your own what to do. Let your doctor assess your needs.

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Have You Ever Tracked Your Meals? Here’s Why You Should.

Food tracking is about as much fun as going to the dentist. But experts know that regularly tracking what you eat is one of, if not the best predictors of weight loss success.

Food tracking isn’t all about calories. In fact, I would argue that calorie tracking is less important than the timing, composition, emotions and location or your meal or snack.

Like any challenging activity (read regular exercise), constant reminders of the benefits are necessary to maintain the behavior. When you feel like giving up on your food tracking, revisit this list.

It is proactive: Food tracking is the ‘adult in the room full of children’. Behavior automatically improves

It is reactive: By reviewing your food records you can pin point ‘trouble spots’ and adjust your strategies accordingly

You can eat more: Like any smart shoppers knows, bargain shopping allow you to purchase more items for any budget.

Evidence: Phantom pounds that show up on the scale due to fluid shifts can be challenged with your food records and prevent ‘scale related’ breakdowns. As one of my clients stated, “The scale shows that I’m up a pound but that can’t be right. I’ve tracked my foods all week and there is no way I gained. It must be hormonal!’”

It makes you feel good: Tracking isn’t much fun. Neither are most pieces of exercise equipment. But you feel great afterward, a sense of accomplishment, order, and pride. Change your view of tracking from a form of captivity, to a form of freedom. You will spend less time thinking about dieting and more time enjoying what you eat.