Archives

It’s common knowledge that corn and tomatoes are the two summer vegetables that simply can’t be faked. Unless you hit a farm stand or grow your own, the only way to ensure the quality we’ve come to expect is to shop at the farmers’ market.

While there, load up on crunchy, bursting-with-flavor cucumbers; a spectrum of sweet and spicy peppers; mountains of tiny summer squash; and tender young green beans. The disappointment that may come with the waning profusion of locally-grown blueberries and blackberries is tempered only by the arrival of early apples and table grapes. And for desserts and warm-weather snacking, there’s still time to get our fill of juicy watermelon and glistening red strawberries.

All of this terrific produce heralds prime-time for homemade salsa. This one, dotted with oven-roasted sweet corn for depth of flavor, is a welcome diversion from the classic tomato-centric variety.

The recipe is quite forgiving; so vary the ingredients to suit your mood. A whiff of finely minced garlic; chopped fresh cilantro and/or creamy cubes of diced avocado would be right at home here.

It’s no surprise that Roasted Corn Salsa makes a terrific appetizer with tortilla chips; but also try it alongside grilled meat or fish, quesadillas, or scrambled eggs.

Roasted Corn Salsa with Poblano & Lime

Poblano chiles are usually rather mild, but some mavericks can be surprisingly hot. To err on the safe side, taste the roasted peppers before adding the full amount to the salsa.

2 fresh poblano chile peppers

Kernels from 4 ears of farm-fresh corn (about 2 cups)

1 tablespoon California olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 vine-ripened tomato, seeded and chopped

1 green onion (scallion), thinly sliced or chopped

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1. Place the peppers on a broiler pan or small baking sheet and broil as close to the heat as possible, turning with tongs, until charred all over, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, roast the peppers directly over a gas flame, turning, until charred, about 5 minutes.) Seal the peppers in a paper bag and let steam for at least 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle. Peel and/or rub off as much of the blackened skin as possible. (It’s okay if small bits of it remain.) Cut the peppers open and discard the stems and seeds. Finely dice the poblanos.

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the corn kernels with the oil to coat. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Spread out the corn into an even layer and bake, stirring once or twice, until some of the kernels are lightly browned at the edges, 10 to 15 minutes. Scrape into a medium bowl and let cool slightly.

• Add the diced poblanos, tomato, onion, lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss gently to mix.

• Transfer to a bowl and serve at once, or cover and refrigerate for up to 6 hours. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Recipe adapted from Great Party Dips by Peggy Fallon (John Wiley & Sons 2009)

A Bit of Corny Advice

There are dozens of varieties of corn, each of which differs according to sweetness and tenderness. To find which is best for you, ask the grower who is selling it. He or she has invested a lot of love into this crop, and will happily share their passion.

The minute corn is picked, its natural sugars begin to convert to starch. For the best possible flavor, serve corn the same day you purchase it. At most, refrigerate unhusked ears in a plastic bag for up to 3 days.

Mind your market manners! Peeling back the layers of husk to expose the kernels dries out the corn for other shoppers. 

For the best flavor, avoid buying pre-shucked corn as it is nearly impossible to determine how long ago it was picked. Instead, look for tightly closed, plump green husks with fresh-looking cuts at their stems. The golden-brownish silk at the very top of the ear should appear glossy and feel slightly sticky.

Don’t shuck corn until you’re ready to use it. To remove the husks, peel down with a firm tug–and listen for that squeak of freshness. Pull off as many of the fine silks as you can, then wipe off the remaining threads of silk with a damp towel.

If boiling is your preferred method of cooking, freshly shucked ears require only 1 to 3 minutes.

Grilled corn on the cob is a little bit smoky and totally irresistible. And yet another delicious vehicle for consuming melted butter. It’s also warm, sweet, and slightly crunchy—with a preferred manner of eating that defies every rule of etiquette. To cook, place farm-fresh ears in their husks over a medium-high hot grill. (There’s no need to pre-soak in water.) Grill, turning occasionally, until evenly charred, 15 to 20 minutes. When cool enough to handle, the husks and silk will come off easily.

Removing kernels from long ears of corn can be problematic, if not outright dangerous. The tapered ears are wobbly and impossible to keep in place, and the kernel trajectory as you cut can be downright frustrating. A little bit of prep work will make the job a snap: Place a small cutting board in the middle of a rimmed baking sheet. Cut each shucked ear of corn in half crosswise. Working one at a time, carefully hold the top of the cob with your fingers and firmly place the cut (flat) end of the ear on the cutting board. To remove the kernels, use a large, sharp knife to cut downward with a gentle sawing motion. The ears remain more stable this way, and the baking sheet will catch any flying kernels. Scrape the bare cobs with the dull side of a knife to release flavorful milky juices to add whatever corny dish you’re preparing, and freeze those naked cobs to flavor soup stock.

If you find yourself with an extra ear or two in the refrigerator, consider removing the kernels and tossing them into a green salad. Other fitting destinations include pancakes or waffles, muffins or cornbread, polenta, pasta, omelets, or any sort of veggie stir-fry.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad & Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.org. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well!

Last month on July 4^th, we celebrated our nation’s birthday with annual festivities including parades, family and friends’ get-togethers, barbeques, fireworks, and especially patriotic music. Similar celebrations occur on Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day each November. What could be more appropriate than honoring the men and women of the five military services—the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard—than by playing patriotic music?

Most people in America know these patriotic songs and many even know the words. These songs have been with us and are part of our heritage our entire lives. We often take them for granted, but how many know the origins of the songs? Not many I would venture to say.

United States Marine Corps: The oldest of the service songs belongs to the Marine Corps. Both the words and the music date from the 19^th century. Some of the words were taken from corps mottos. “To the shores of Tripoli” were from a service flag after the battle of Derna, Libya in 1805. Some words have been attributed to Colonel Henry C. Davis who was in Mexico during the Spanish American War (1846-1848). “The Halls of Montezuma,” came from that conflict. Later, lyrics in the song came around the turn of the 20^th century. A Marine magazine called The Leatherneck first published the Marine Corps song in 1919, and ten years later in 1929, it was officially adopted as the official song of the Corps.

Since the aviation branch of the corps was added, a revision of the words was changed to reflect the presence of the air-corps and pilots in 1942. The change was from “On the land as on the sea” to “In the air on land and sea.”

From 1880 to1892 the famous and revered director of the Marine Band was the indomitable John Philip Sousa. Some of his most famous marches were composed while he was the director of the band.

The melody of the Marines Hymn most likely came from the French operetta by Jacques Offenbach called Genevieve de Brabant, of Can-Can fame. The Marines Hymn is not the only piece of music attributed to the Marine Corps. The march, Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) was written by Sousa in 1888. This march was honored by becoming the official march of the Marine Corps. Sousa himself said it was one of his finest.

United States Navy: The official song of the U.S. Navy is Anchors Aweigh. It was originally conceived and composed as a fight song for the football team at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. It was the custom of the academy band director Charles A. Zimmermann, to write a march for each graduating class.

Alfred H. Miles was a midshipman who was a junior. He collaborated with director Zimmermann to write a piece for his class of 1907—one that would be both inspiring and would live forever.

Zimmermann agreed to Miles request and set out to compose the piece. Miles took Zimmermann’s music and wrote two stanzas of words that were to be used at the annual Army-Navy Football game. Navy had not won the rivalry since 1900. The crowd was downcast in anticipation of losing another game. Lo and behold, the band played Anchors Aweigh and suddenly Navy scored. The band played the song again and Navy scored another touchdown. The game ended in a Navy shutout. Army did not score. The crowd went wild. Many thought the win was due to the academy band playing Anchors Aweigh.

The song was not made the official song immediately, but as time went on, it was officially adopted by the Navy. Some of the lyrics were changed in 1997 from an emphasis on the Naval Academy to become more representative of all the members of the Navy.

United States Army: Historically, the Army is the oldest branch of the armed forces. In its long and revered history it has several songs, marches and other pieces of music. They were first played by bugles and fife and drum corps. However, it was many decades before the army adopted an official song. The origin of The Army Goes Rolling Along dates back before WWI. The story goes that in 1908 Lieutenant Edmund L. Gruber, of a field artillery unit, was watching his men move the caissons (carts to carry ammunition) when he heard a command “Come on, keep ‘um rolling.” Upon hearing this, Gruber wrote several stanzas and with fellow officers came up with a tune for his words. He called the song The Caissons Go Rolling Along.

The song really caught on with the soldiers and the army; so, in 1917, they sought out J.P. Sousa and commissioned him to orchestrate it into a march. In 1918 the U.S. Field Artillery March was published for the first time. This march was still not considered the official song of the army until many years later. Ironically by the end of WWII, every branch of the service but the army had an official song. A contest was held with over 700 pieces submitted. The chosen song, The Army’s Always There was written by a civilian, Sam Stept. It was played at President Eisenhower’s inauguration in 1953 but it proved to be unpopular.

Officials voted to ask the army’s major commanders to decide and they voted for the song that had been sung for decades, The Caissons Go Rolling Along. To bring it up to today’s army the lyrics were changed by Harold W. Arberg, a musical officer stationed at the Pentagon. On Veterans Day, 1956, The Army Goes Rolling Along became the official song of the U.S. Army.

United States Air Force: The U.S. Air Force did not exist as its own branch of the service until 1947, two years after the end of WWII. In earlier times they were the aviation branch of the U.S. Army Air Corps. In the 1930s the song about the “wild blue yonder” was composed. U.S. Brigadier General Henry Arnold thought the Air Force needed a fight song. He had the idea to hold a national songwriting contest to select an appropriate song. In 1938 Liberty Magazine sponsored the contest. They received hundreds of submissions. The one selected came from Robert MacArthur Crawford, who was also an amateur pilot. The song was called The Army Air Corps March. The first time it was performed was in 1939. After the Air Force became a separate branch it was re-named The U.S. Air Force Song. It became the official song at the time the Air Force was established.

United States Coast Guard: During WWI President Woodrow Wilson created the Coast Guard in 1915. That was 41 years before the U.S. Air Force came into existence. Many may think the Coast Guard was the last service established, but that is not the case. A contest was held to adopt a song for the new service in 1927. Captain Francis F. Van Boskerck entered the contest with a song he had earlier composed. He was inspired by the Coast Guards motto, Semper Paratus, which translates to “Always Ready.” At the time he was writing the song, he was the commander of the Bering Sea Forces in the Aleutian Islands.

He composed the song on an old borrowed piano that apparently was the only one for miles around. The captain’s song, Semper Paratus, won the contest in 1928. It was then adopted as the official song of the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Millions of Americans have most likely heard these service songs, some many times over. They are an important part of our heritage, our national pride and our sense of patriotism. What person does not have a special feeling when a military band marches down the street playing their service song?

I, for one, swell with a sense of great pride to be an American and I get an emotional rush when I hear one of the great service songs being played or sung. Long live the great songs of the five military branches of our armed forces.

The idea for this article came from Linda Aguirre, talented oboe and English horn player in the Danville Community Band. She not only recommended the title but also provided the research material, entitled How the Services Got Their Songs, by Linda Mcmaken.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net

Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the  Danville Community Band.

A friend of mine recently moved into a newly purchased condo. Knowing I love to read almost as much as I love movies, she invited me over to give me a few of her treasures. I told her my bookcase and DVD tower were past full, but I went home that afternoon with a big plastic tub that she gleefully provided, full of good stuff. After telling her that I would keep some of it, give some to friends, and donate the rest to the library, I realized she more than likely just wanted this “gift” out of her new space.

I am so glad I said yes to the gift, as I popped one of the treasure items into my DVD (yes, I still have a DVD built into both of my TV’s). From the moment this film started, the weaving began. Not one Slam Bam in the film—just a beautiful true story, amazingly crafted and brilliantly acted.

Behind the Mask is the true story of Dr. Robert Shushan, a man passionate about helping others. He founded a non-profit that employs the otherwise unemployable. He chases grants and hunts down contracts and mostly abandons his family for his dream.

One day in his rush to a meeting he has a heart attack in the parking lot of the business.  He slams his car into the building and the last thing he remembers is being saved by the janitor. This starts a much-unexpected chain of events. The Doctor has a new friend that at first blush appears unwanted. As the friendship develops they both find they have a huge hole in their life that, at least for now, propels them in a direction neither expected. 

Dr. Shushan is brilliantly portrayed by Donald Sutherland. It had been quite a while since I had seen one of his movies and I had forgotten just how well he crafts a character. When this was filmed in 1999, Mathew Fox was playing in Party of Five. His character, James Jones, was complex and challenging but somehow, with a little coaching from Sutherland the transformation blossoms. Brian Shushan is played by Bradley Whitford who definitely holds his own. Rounding out the cast is Mary McDonald who never loses faith in her husband, Robert.

In this film, an unlikely hero is made and a rare friendship born that proves to be life-altering for them both. I loved it but it took me a while to learn that it was originally made for TV by Bravo so it’s not rated.

The writer is Gregory Goodell, who won an Academy Award for Rain Man. This little jewel was highly acclaimed but modestly distributed, yet it is worth the effort to find and watch. As always I would love to read your comments at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com.

Welcome to part four of my series on the financial planning process.  This six-part series kicked off in May’s Investor’s Edge column.  As I wrote then, financial planning is a dynamic process comprised of six steps. As you consider how best to manage your financial future, it will help to have an understanding of this process. Tax planning, an essential element of the six-step process, is highlighted this month.

Taxes are a constant.  They are also a certainty, as Benjamin Franklin put it best, “…but in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”And, for the extremely wealthy, taxes are even certain at death, in the form of their estate (death) tax. So, with the constant certainty of taxes in our lives, it is simply prudent that we include tax planning in the construction of our comprehensive financial plan. 

I am not a CPA (Certified Public Accountant). I am a CFP however. While there are many differences between the two professionals, a primary one is as basic as the difference between “tax planning” and “tax preparation”.  Over my career as a Certified Financial Planner, I have made tax-efficient investment planning a cornerstone of my wealth advisory approach.  Unlike a CPA, I cannot prepare a tax return for a taxpayer.  Tax planning looks forward, seeking opportunities and strategies to reduce your tax liabilities in the future. In contrast, tax preparation requires looking in the rear-view mirror, and gathering and organizing your information from a past year, primarily for compliance with tax laws. 

While the goal of tax preparation is to avoid leaving money on the table, the goal of tax planning is to have more money on the table in the first place. My hope in this article is to share some tax planning concepts that will help you with optimizing your financial plan. 

Here are some tax planning strategies you might consider now and every year, not just each April as the 15th nears. By no means is this brief column intended to be an exhaustive, be-all, answer-all to effective tax planning. This important financial planning discussion cannot be summed up in such a limited space. Tax planning is as unique to an individual or family as any other component of the financial planning process.

Most of us, regardless of work status or age, can benefit from some tax planning strategies. One is “harvesting losses.” This is done in taxable investment accounts.  Basically, a tax planning technique is a matter of realizing investment gains and offsetting them with realized losses to minimize capital gain taxes. Other tax planning concepts, such as timing income and deductions across different tax years, choosing the best retirement plan options, or converting IRAs and 401(k)s into “Roths”,  are advisable on a case-by-case basis and highly dependent on one’s age and work situation. 

Here’s another example of what I think is an effective tax planning opportunity, and unfortunately, often misunderstood, or worse yet, unknown.  This is the savings plan with a “Triple Tax Advantage.”  They are called “HSAs” (Health Savings Accounts). These are a type of savings accounts that allow you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. Saving—and investing—for medical expenses in HSAs can provide valuable tax benefits.  As I noted above, they can deliver a triple tax break. 

First, all contributions are tax-deductible, second, withdrawals to pay qualified medical expenses are never taxed, and third, interest (gains) on savings in an HSA accumulate and compound tax-deferred.  The 2019 HSA contribution limit is $3,500 for individuals and $7,000 for families. Individuals age 55 or older not yet enrolled in Medicare may make a catch-up HSA contribution of up to $1,000 per person—an amount that remains unchanged from last year’s “catch-up” limit.  This means that the maximum contribution limit to an HSA in the 2019 tax year is $8,000. I wrote an article about HSAs in June of 2017 when the individual maximum contribution was $3400 and the family limit was $6750 (you also had the $1,000 catch-up allowance then).  So, they have only gotten better.  Nothing new here.  HSAs have been around for over 15 years.

With the impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act taking full effect this tax season, 2019 may become the most talked-about tax filing time in a generation.  Now is as good a time as ever to collaborate with your tax preparer professional and your tax planner professional. This will help you to optimize all your opportunities and take all appropriate new laws into account as you move forward this year and ahead.

I hope you enjoyed part four.  Look for part five of the financial planning process in my Investor’s Edge column in the September issue of ALIVE Magazine.

Shifting gears this month to cover health and fitness. After all, health and fitness are always in style, no? Either way, it’s always nice to reset during summer and take a moment to reflect on how we are loving ourselves.

Working to keep health and fitness as a part of the regular routine throughout summer can be a difficult task. There are so many occasions to indulge and most of our free time is spent outdoors—whether we’re heading to a weekend BBQ, splashing around at the pool, or on vacation. The opportunities for margaritas, chips, and guacamole are endless. Still, this doesn’t mean we have to lose sight of our overall health. It’s all about balance. Take part in the summer activities and enjoy the goodies; while staying active and keeping healthy nutrition at the forefront.

I struggle with feeling like I am not taking part in a party if I don’t have all the chips or all the cake. I don’t know about you but, I can slip into that mindset with a little too much ease. So how do we enjoy these summer days and maintain an overall healthy mind and body?

The way I have found works best is to decide on a plan! You know the saying, “Fail to plan and plan to fail.” Without a plan of action, summer days (or any season) can become a free-for-all, which can lead to fueling our bodies poorly.

A plan of action might look something like this; exercise for 30min-60min, four to five days a week and plan out your meals/snacks. When you know Saturday is a big family BBQ, plan accordingly. Opt out from consuming alcohol during the week when you know come Saturday you’ll be enjoying a delicious margarita. Set the time of day you are going to exercise and prep as needed for meals.

Coming from a person who loves goodies and has always looked as food as a reward, this can be a difficult shift in mindset. One might even say this is too regimented. It’s difficult to nourish our bodies with thoughts for what we may consume in the future, but when we shift our perspective and look at it from a standpoint of, “How can I love my body best?” it doesn’t seem so strict, right? We are simply choosing to make our bodies a priority. Choose to know that food is nourishment; it is meant for fuel to keep our bodies going. Our bodies can’t take indulgence 24/7. That isn’t to say we shouldn’t indulge! By all means, it is okay to have treats. I am for sure one to jump on that train! With that said, the things that make our bodies the happiest are the foods that sometimes comes off as boring during an occasion like a BBQ.

I can go on and on about good treats but, let’s get back to planning for success…once you know the time of day you are going to exercise, set out your clothes or pack your bag the night before. Whether you are working out in your living room or at the gym, prepping your clothes/gear is a recipe for success. You’re more likely to get the job done when the items needed are waiting and ready to go!

Along with that, whether your days are spent at home or at work planning meals and snacks is the other crucial aspect for overall health. Again, a plan of action is such a helpful way to stay on track. I love to write down my meals and exercise routine each day. The satisfaction from checking things off once finished is so simple and yet brings such a sense of satisfaction.

In the end, it’s all about the effort. No one is perfect. No one should be. That’s boring. All we can do is our best to love our bodies by staying active and fueling our bodies with holistic, nutritious foods.

Thanks, so much for reading dear ones! Stop by maccarose.com to share thoughts or questions. I’d love to hear from you. You can also find more details on fitness, and if you’re in need of an accountability partner, I’m your girl!

William “Prime” Hall served our nation for more than twelve years in the Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC), which took him to areas such as Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

During a combat deployment to Afghanistan, his unit suffered heavy fire from multiple rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).  The attack left Prime with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches, dizziness and vertigo, and loss of memory.  The years of hard service also left him with debilitating back injuries.  He was forced into medical retirement with no clear plans for his future.

Prime decided to pursue his Executive MBA from the University of Southern California which focuses on entrepreneurial strategies.  It was then that Sentinels of Freedom stepped in with financial support to help him work his way through the program and attain his goal of becoming an entrepreneur.

Utilizing his education and MARSOC training, Prime attained his dream of founding two businesses:  Underwater Torpedo League (UTL) and Deep End Fitness.  SOF connected him with the proper mentorship and meaningful network which allowed him to successfully launch these endeavors, and to make plans to take them nationwide

“SOF has given me the support I needed so that I could focus on the strategic priorities and goals that I wanted to set getting out of the military.  Can’t say enough about this organization!”

Prime recently was selected as one of the Top 100 Best and Brightest Executive MBAs in the country for 2019!  If you would like to help more deserving wounded veterans like Prime, please donate today at www.sentinelsoffreedom.org.

Q. I had a wonderful crop of blueberries this year.  Should I continue fertilizing them as the plants are still very lush looking?

A. The short answer is, “yes.” One continues feeding Blueberries after harvesting the crop. Blueberries like to be fed monthly throughout the growing season—March through October. They prefer an acid-type fertilizer, so a Camellia, Azalea, and Rhododendron food is recommended. And for the extended version for those who need to know more… Mycorrhizae type fertilizers such as Dr. Earth or EB Stone Organic are very advantageous for blueberries as the plants have a somewhat unique root system. Their roots do not have typical “root hairs” like most other plants. Root hairs are the fine, white fibrous roots that absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Blueberries compensate for the lack of root hairs by evolving a symbiotic relationship with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in the soil. The thread-like hyphae of the fungus connect with the plant roots and extend into the soil. The hyphae then act like an extension of the plant’s root system by absorbing nutrients and transporting them back to the plant roots. In exchange, the mycorrhizae receive sugars manufactured by the plant through photosynthesis. Mycorrhizae fertilizers add, enhance, or replenish the naturally occurring fungi in the soil. Another benefit with established plants is the improvement of phosphorus intake as it’s not a mobile nutrient, unlike nitrogen that moves throughout the soil. Phosphorus remains at the soil surface until it’s exhausted by the surface roots of a plant. Phosphorus is the key nutrient for fruit production; however, this shouldn’t be a concern if you’re on a regular feeding schedule. The end of the harvest season is an excellent time to check the soil pH as blueberries like acid soil. Early next year would also work. They like a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. The soil pH can rise during the non-rainy season, especially if your water quality is marginal or varied. An improper pH will affect the crop of berries next year. It’s not necessary to have your soil tested by a lab. Instead, you can purchase a simple pH kit at your favorite garden center. I’d take three different readings and then average the results. You correct a pH problem by adding an acidifier to lower it. Aluminum Sulfate, PH Adjuster, FST and Soil Sulfur are a few of the acidifiers available. The amount and frequency depend on the acidifier. This ensures that plants continue to be productive year after year.

Q.  I had a fantastic crop of potatoes this year, however, I noticed that some of the potato skins had areas with a green discoloration. I’ve been told they’re poisonous. Should I discard the green potatoes?                                        

A. Potatoes are an edible tuber that forms underground. It’s important to keep the tubers covered during the growing season so that the maturing potatoes are not exposed to sunlight. The potato skin turns a green or a greenish-blue color when exposed to light. The damaged area could be large or small depending on the exposure. The green portion of the skin contains toxins and should not be eaten, but this isn’t the issue. The greenish coloration is merely a sign that a potato has been exposed to light, prompting it to produce more chlorophyll, and chlorophyll is not toxic to humans. What creates the problem is that light exposure also produces a substance called solanine, a glycoalkaloid, which has been shown to be toxic when consumed in significant quantities. Solanine is a natural defense mechanism of potato to ward off fungus and pests. It can also be triggered when a potato is bruised. Since solanine collects only under the skin and not throughout the potato, it is safe to peel away the skin and a thin layer of white flesh before cooking; however, I would discard any potato that is entirely green. Again, this is an individual problem that doesn’t affect the other potatoes you harvested, so enjoy them. Potatoes should be stored in a cool dark location. I’d used brown paper bags or a cardboard box and then cover them with newspaper. Dark or amber plastic bags can be used, however, you’ll need to punch holes in the bag for air circulation to prevent moisture from collecting. This keeps the potatoes dry and prevents mold from forming. The kitchen counter is not an ideal location except for short-term use. Next year when you plant, you can avoid the problem by adding potting soil or other types of organic matter to cover the seed potatoes as they grow. This is sometimes referred to as ‘Hilling,’ and it’s not unusual to add a foot or more of material during the growing cycle. Note: Scientists have determined that an adult would have to eat about four and a half pounds of light-exposed potatoes to reach toxic levels of solanine. Potatoes are, to a certain degree poisonous, though not in a deadly manner, and usually not enough to make anyone sick. The leaves of the potato plant contain high levels of a toxin and are direct relatives of the deadly nightshade plant, but so are tomatoes. In the US, it has been over fifty years since anyone has succumbed to potato poisoning, so the risk is very low. And finally, according to Wikipedia, deep-frying green potatoes at high temperature, three hundred and sixty degrees, effectively lowers the level of toxins while boiling them at two hundred twelve degrees is ineffective.

The aging process causes bone density to decrease due to reduced bone formation and collagen production, hormonal changes, and lack of weight-bearing activities.  The loss of bone density or hardness is called osteopenia or osteoporosis depending on the severity. Certain people are even more prone to this condition depending on their sex, race, height, weight, social factors, personal medical and family history, which can be identified by the FRAX tool.  The DeXA scan is the test that measures bone density and the T score indicates the risk of a bone fracture.

The most serious consequence of having more fragile bones is a fracture, which can be due to a fall or other trauma or can even occur with a minor stress of the bone. A fracture of the vertebrae, or bone of the spine, is one of the most painful conditions that I see on a regular basis. A spine fracture is particularly dangerous because the pain is so severe that it immediately affects one’s ability to do minor activities such as taking deep breaths, coughing and sitting up or standing easily. Even opioids are minimally effective at controlling the pain. Depending on a variety of factors it may take 6-12 months for the fracture to heal on its own. Understandably, people who sustain spine fractures spend most of their time lying down and moving as little as possible in order to control the pain.

For over 20 years, a non-invasive procedure called a Percutaneous Balloon Kyphoplasty, or PBK has been available that can immediately fix the fracture, alleviate acute pain and prevent chronic pain related to the fracture. PBK involves injecting bone cement into the fracture to create an internal cast. It immediately relieves the fracture pain and also prevents the bone from becoming deformed which can cause the “humpback” appearance that prevents people from being able to stand up straight. The most important effect of the PBK is that people are able to resume their pre-fracture activities within one or two. Recent studies have shown that people who undergo PBK have lower death rates and improved function at one year and five years, compared to people who are treated with only medication and back braces.  Quite frankly, this is the most successful treatment that I perform in my office, but it is also the treatment option that patients are least informed about.

Once a person has had one vertebral fracture, the risk of having another one is five times greater. This is why it is extremely important to start a regimen to reduce the ongoing risk with a balanced multimodal plan. The plan should include aggressive medication management to increase bone density, careful weight-bearing exercise including balance and core strength reeducation, and appropriate lifestyle changes such as dietary improvement, smoking cessation, and alcohol moderation.  

If you have been suffering from back pain that has become more severe and uncontrolled despite the usual treatments, you may have an undiagnosed fracture that can be treated. Call my office for an evaluation!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for more than six months. This fatigue cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition. The process for diagnosis usually begins with ruling out possible underlying diseases and chronic conditions until the only choice left is chronic fatigue syndrome. Currently, over one million Americans suffer from this condition and women are more than twice as likely to have CFS than men. In addition to the profound fatigue experienced, other serious symptoms often accompany CFS, such as:

• Feeling exhausted for more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise
• Not feeling refreshed after sleeping, or having trouble sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating, or problems with attention and memory
• Muscle pain or joint pain without swelling or redness
• Headaches of a new type, pattern, or strength
• A sore throat that is constant or goes away and comes back often
• Joint pain that moves from one spot to another
• Digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome
• Mood swings, panic attacks and depression

Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Sadly, research has yet to identify a root cause of CFS.  It often starts after a stressful event in life like a divorce, loss of a loved one or an injury or illness. It is my belief that CFS is a multi-factorial syndrome because preliminary research findings show that viral and bacterial infections, toxicity, hormone imbalances, weakened immune system, chronic stress and nutritional deficiencies are all contributing factors.

Standard Treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Conventional medical treatment treats the symptoms rather than the underlying causes. Often individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome are prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping pills. In many cases, the side effects from these drugs are actually worse than the original symptoms and they do not heal the condition.

Steps to Heal Your Chronic Fatigue

1. Eliminate Food Sensitivities and Allergens.

Remove foods or allergens that could be causing inflammation or reactions related to fatigue. In our office, special allergy testing can be performed with a simple finger stick test.

2. Test for Your Specific Deficiencies.  Vitamin, mineral and amino acid deficiencies have been linked to suppressed immune function and contribute to chronic fatigue, inflammation, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and much more.  Specialized blood testing can zero in on any deficiencies.  Micro-Nutrient Testing allows a person to know exactly what to eat and/or supplement in order to support healing. By correcting nutritional imbalances the body is given the building blocks it needs to heal.

3.  Increase Magnesium and Potassium

Symptoms of magnesium and potassium deficiency include common CFS symptoms: fatigue, irritability, and muscle cramps. Eating a diet rich in magnesium and potassium can help to relieve these symptoms.

4. Take Lemon Balm (also known as Melissa) for its antiviral and immune-enhancing properties. 1000-2000mg in divided doses may be helpful.

If you or someone you love is suffering from CFS you know that it is a stubborn, debilitating condition that drains the quality out of your life. Using a combination of science and nature we are able to create a holistic protocol that will ignite the healing process and get your energy back.

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA.  For more information or to set up a complimentary consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.