Coconut Milk
Why must we still have that little voice in our head? You know the one. “Don’t eat that, it’s high in fat and calories.” Zip it, my imaginary friend. You’re not welcome here. So many folks shy away from coconut milk due to its high calorie and fat content. You shouldn’t; that fat is lovely. It comes in the form of medium chain triglycerides. From NYU Medicine: Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are fats with an unusual chemical structure that allows the body to digest them easily. Most fats are broken down in the intestine and remade into a special form...
Salty Snack? Try Clams
I discovered a new snack I am enjoying the hell out of, smoked clams in olive oil. Of course, I must share my pleasure with you and encourage you to partake. There is no logical reason why tuna in a can is mainstream while other tin-enclosed seafood remains relegated to a niche market. Now that we have brands devoted to sustainable fishing practices, we can feel better about breaking out our can openers. From Matthew G. Kadey, M.Sc., R.D.: If fresh fish seems inconvenient, expensive, and hard to prepare, you’re forgetting about a handy option: canned swimmers. In many ways...
Life After Injury – Collin Balester [Guest Post]
The journey to the big leagues is a grind. Getting there, suffering a career threatening injury and starting over challenges the strength of even the most conditioned mind. Collin Balester is prepared for that challenge. I’ll let him break it down. I always considered myself a relatively healthy pitcher. When that belief went the way of Tommy John surgery, I was forced to re-evaluate everything in order to come out on the other side. I was drafted in 2004 by the Montreal Expos and spent eight years with the combined Expos/Nationals organization. I was blessed to continue my career with the Detroit...
Squirrels and Society
I told you I might have ADD. One mention of squirrels on my twitter feed, and next thing you know, my mind is chasing them. I would really like to eat a squirrel. In many countries, like Vietnam, squirrel meat is regularly hunted, prepared, consumed and enjoyed. Some claim the flesh is delicious. From the Guardian: The owner of a local Budgens supermarket has defended selling squirrel meat as a sustainable way of feeding people and says it has a “lovely” taste. That’s going down in London, England, and I’m fascinated. Europe isn’t the only continent experimenting and enticing...
Improving Focus and Attention
I am constantly toying with ways to improve my focus and attention through nutrition, sleep and exercise. When I was a child, I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. I didn’t like being labeled (I despise labels in general) but I wasn’t alone. I rubbed elbows with 13.5% of boys 3-17 years diagnosed with ADHD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. My early educational career was a grind. By the time I was in 7th grade, I was ditching classes. I had next to no interest in the material and spent an extraordinary amount of time...
Bike Sharing
Minneapolis, I love you. It isn’t because you’re hosting the All-Star Game or because Prince lives here (although that helps), but because you encourage folks to ditch their cars and hop on a bicycle. As I do in every city, I began my visit by searching for a local co-op or organic grocery store. I found one and hit the road, navigating through the streets with my face buried in my phone. A few blocks into my two-mile journey, I picked my head up just in time to delight in my newfound pleasure, Niceride. From niceridemn.org: Nice Ride is...
Flexibility and Stretching (with sample routine, video)
Stroll into a gym and you’re much more likely to hear “How much do you bench?” rather than “How’s your range of motion?” Over the years and after much trial and error, I learned the easiest method to touch our toes over the course of time. I’m pleased to teach you today. When I began weight training as a teenager, flexibility never entered my mind; I just wanted to be bigger and stronger. As such, I never did anything to improve it…for years. At some point, little boys have to grow up. I did (sort of) and found the...