NOISE: Embody

My Thoughts Eggsactly

With the recent start of many of our area's Farmer's Markets, I feel the need to dispel some myths. However, I spent a great deal of time looking for on-line sources that were reliable that could back up my claims here, and fell short of locating anything but a bunch of opinion forums, being forced to rely on my Food Science education, my 10+ years of working in the restaurant business, and my lifelong experience growing up around chickens. So you can take this post with a grain of salt, I suppose. Perhaps you'd like to take it with a few grains of salt and a few grains of black pepper, 'cuz we're talkin' 'bout eggs! The perfect food, the perfect packaging, and widely available from your favorite local farmers anywhere. In fact, eggs are probably the easiest thing to switch over in your diet from that icky stuff in the grocery store to the delicious tasting, glorious food that is the pastured, farm-raised egg.

                                        

    Labeling in stores these days is tricky- if it says 'organic', 'farm-fresh', 'pastured', or even 'cage-free', it could still mean the hens that lay the eggs are kept in close, dank quarters with no sunlight or fresh air available to them. My suggestion to you on buying eggs from sources that are what they claim they are is to talk to the farmer. Ask them about their birds, their living conditions, and visit the farm if you can. Seeing first-hand what the birds look like in their true element will be a great indicator of the truth in the label on the carton.

 A popular myth that is is about as old as the question of "which came first" is that eggs need to be refrigerated. I am sure that many people have some type of chemical reaction when they hear that eggs are perfectly fine on your counter or in your cupboard, and they will go scrambling (pun intended) to find some type of proof that either I am nuts for suggesting it or that the idea is of some old, hippie standard- but for the truth one need only to consider an era only about a century ago in which no electricity existed. Farmers kept chickens for eggs and meat, a much needed source of protein when you spent your days plowing, cooking, and tending livestock. They didn't own Frigidaires or Kenmores, they kept the eggs in a cool, dark place and knew they would still be good the next week. Generations of humans have survived on eggs that were not refrigerated; my thought on it is that I can, too.

Another myth is that you can get Salmonella from raw eggs. The interior of an egg- the raw part- is actually sterile. When eggs are handled or cooked improperly, this can result in the bacteria being ingested and causing illness. Consider, also, that conventionally raised birds have less effective immune systems due to their poor diets and living conditions, and therefore may be more likely to carry the bacteria that causes Salmonella than birds raised in a more healthy, natural environment.

At my house, I keep eggs in my fridge because I have no counter space and annoying, misbehaving cats that will tip over anything left on the counters. If I get some out and forget about them, I still eat them the next day. I don't wash them unless there is obvious dirt or other stuff stuck to the shells, and ALL of my eggs come from a local farm where the birds run around in the sun, eating bugs and kitchen scraps, like chickens should. As for that question, though, of who came first...I might have to sit on it for a while ;D

"Happy Hour" on the Lansing River Trail

    Monday I took a much-needed and long- awaited ride on my mountain bike on one of Lansing's most under- appreciated gems: the Lansing River Trail. If for some silly reason you have never utilized this incredible asset of our city, the Trail has nearly 13 miles of paved trail that stretches from Old Town to MSU campus to Frandor to Jolly Road. It passes through numerous parks such as Adado Riverfront, Hawk Island, Potter Park Zoo, and Scott's Woods. It is perfect for mountain biking, roller-blading, jogging, strollers, kids, dog walking, skipping, bird watching, and being generally immersed in nature when we get a little claustrophobic in the city.

    This time of year is great on the Trail, because all along the densely-wooded areas, there are clumps of wildflowers blooming everywhere. If you peek into the depths of the greenery, you can see the fragrant blooms as far as your sight can carry.  (By the way, if you can identify these white and violet flowers, please contact me- my guides have failed to reveal their identity!) I caught an immensely beautiful bunch of Wild Columbine near the intersection between LCC's leg of the trail and the Zoo's leg, and little critters like black and red squirrels, wild rabbits, and Robins galore scurried about their woodland business gathering, chattering, and basking in the sun. I'll never forget an early morning ride about 4 years ago when I saw an elusive Mink near Moore's river Park, and any evening near the river there, you can watch hundreds of native Brown Bats scooping up mosquitoes at dusk- a truly awesome experience that I recommend to anyone with a desire to learn about   these amazing, misunderstood creatures. 

                                                                       
       Near Hawk Island, I came across the marked points of distance for the annual Hawk Island Triathlon this weekend- in chalk, sayings such as 'Finish Strong', 'You Can Do It!', and 'Almost There!' urge the participants to keep going. I enjoyed a little make-believe myself, and imagined I was nearing a finish line of my own: setting small goals for yourself as you recover from illness, surgery, or just getting started on a new commitment to health can be incredibly fulfilling as you realize the progress you have made retrospectively. For me, I considered the distance I had come since my transplant last fall, and my pulse quickened a bit as I even chanced a bit of consideration towards training for the Hawk Island Tri next summer. 

    On my way home, as I pedaled a little slower to take in the smell of fresh-cut grass, late-blooming Lilacs, and dense undergrowth along the river's edge, I looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of a billboard peeking out from behind some trees. "Clara's Happy Hour, 3-5", it read. I glanced at my watch, feeling a bit sorry for any schmuck who was sitting in air conditioning at a greasy bar on this gorgeous afternoon. I took in a deep breath of fresh air as I looked out across the swollen river surrounded by vivid green, and tiny fluffy seed pods floated lazily around me. I felt joyful, fulfilled. Happy Hour, indeed.

There's Always Time to Get Back to Good

    When I was a kid, I thought 5 am was a mysterious time period that only Santa Claus and my parents existed inside of. I can tell you from first-hand experience, however, that as I dragged myself out of bed Thursday morning at 5 am to head to the gym, this time period does exist.

    So what might possess a person to get up at this absurd hour and go- gasp- exercise? Well, for me, it's a few reasons, including the fact that I have spent the last 6 years of my life on dialysis or  more recently, recovering from a kidney transplant. This is the first time in years I have had enough energy to be active, plus it just makes me feel good!

    There's nothing mysterious about the links between exercise and depression, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, all of which are, unfortunately, incredibly common in our nation. You could find an extensive canon of information on-line, in any health magazine, or in a variety of periodicals that supports the idea that moving around regularly can make you healthy. If for some reason you want/need some type of proof, you can check out the Mayo Clinic's page on the subject. The Mayo Clinic is renown throughout our country as a health care facility that specializes in complex illnesses and diseases- in layman terms, they know their sh*t.

    Sometimes, however, there can be a lot of of what seem like obstacles to keep us from either starting or sticking to a regular exercise regimen, including some very real issues like lack of funds for a gym membership, special health needs (like dialysis or wheelchairs), or flat out lack of motivation. So I've included a list of some helpful links, ideas, and sites to get help with moving your body around and get back to feeling good; not just physically, but mentally and spiritually, too. 

YMCA- locations all over the Lansing area, they offer scholarships, have dirt- cheap and free classes for ALL levels and interests, have daycare, and the exercise equipment, pool, and classrooms are all handicap-accessible.

Mayo Clinic- tons of info about nutrition, men's and women's health, pregnancy and post- part-um care, recipes, and more.

Free Yoga- classes all over the city, for any level (this means beginners, too!) in any style you could ask for, taught by seasoned teachers with your safety as their priority, and experience with all types of special cases.

Lansing Parks and Rec/ E. Lansing Parks and Rec- find out about community classes and get maps and info on our beautiful, local parks, trails, and pools. Everything featured on this site is accessible.

Beal Botanical Garden- spend some time here walking, meditating, contemplating near the pond, and just taking in the beauty of flowers, trees, and more- plus it's free, and accessible.

LCC Japanese Garden- park nearby and walk to this hidden tranquil spot on LCC's campus. Watch the Coi fish, get inspired under the waterfall, and breathe the scent of roses and other perennials. It is also free and accessible.

Good Form Running- a free clinic held twice a week at Playmaker's in East Lansing, this class is aimed at helping all levels of runners run safer and more efficiently. 

Community Gardens- Gardening is a fabulous way to get outside in the sun and fresh air, burn some calories, and get involved with your community while learning a lot about where your food comes from. It is essential in creating a bond between us and our sustenance. Check out my fellow blogger's page on Dig In to learn more. Most gardens are accessible, and many are free to join.

Meditation- proven to reduce stress and foster an overall sense of well-being, meditation is offered all over the Lansing area in free classes and seminars for the practiced or the curious seeker. Also free classes available at Heartdance on Michigan Ave. on Tuesday nights.

Freaky 'Sandwich' from KFC Not as Cool as The Bearded Lady

    I don't watch much TV. I know, I know, it puts me in a bit of a minority and makes me a little bit of a freak. To be honest, I never watched much TV growing up, either. When I was about 13, my mom threw our television out- literally, out the back door into the yard. So TV has always been a bit of a novelty to me, and on the rare occasion that my boyfriend and I catch something on cable, it feels a little like seeing the Bearded Lady at the carnival: we're disgusted and enchanted at the same time.

    Recently, we caught a commercial for KFC's new sandwich, the Double Down. You can see it on their site at www.kfc.com, since it dominates the home page and is accompanied by a slick, funky bass line that will loop over and over unless you turn your sound off. Now, I love sandwiches. But the Double Down is not really a sandwich, since it's just 2 chicken slabs with bacon and pepper-jack cheese in the middle. And, like the Bearded Lady, the Double Down is enchanting for a few moments as you sneak peeks, mouth agape, taking in its freakishness.   

    But like all good carnival tricks, the wonderment will give way to disbelief, which will give way to the utter ridiculousness of the idea of eating a greasy, fried hunk of hyper-processed meat for your lunch or dinner. The sandwich has around 500 calories according to the data supplied on the KFC site, which might seem relatively low considering its contents, but remember that the USDA suggests most adults with moderate levels of activity follow a rough 2000-calorie per day diet.

          
This would make that Double Down 1/4 of ALL your calories consumed in a day. And the truly freaky part? The sodium content is near the TOTAL of what the American Heart Association recommends daily for a healthy heart and to reduce risk of hypertension (high blood pressure). When more than 30% of adults in the USA over age 20 have high blood pressure, it stops being a little freaky and becomes more than a little frightening.

    I'm not saying that everyone shouldn't have the chance to indulge in greasy food we know is bad for us every now and then. But indulging in  a novelty once in a while is OK- eating this type of food every day is not. And using our common sense in regards to these decisions will usually help guide us towards a better choice...like a salad, or some fresh veggies, or heck, a plain old peanut butter and jelly!