Saving The World With Mushrooms

A few years back I attended a conference on the therapeutic benefits of medicinal mushrooms, and about half way through the lecture, I thought my head was going to explode! The amount of information and scientific data that was offered to back it all up was astounding. I left thinking “This is it! Could it be that we have stumbled upon an organic form of the Holy Grail?"


In the years that followed, I had integrated medicinal mushrooms into my life on an inconsistent basis. I would use New Chapter's Life Shield mushroom spray http://www.newchapter.com/product-categories/ lifeshield-mushrooms when flying, spraying it in the back of my throat to block all of the wonderful things one can catch when seated in a relatively small space, with only recycled air to breathe. (Yes, yes, I know, on a fundamental level, all air we breathe is recycled to a certain degree and yes, it is probable that you are breathing the same air molecules that the late, great Albert Einstein once did, but airplane air seems so much more unromantic and contagious.)

I must admit, since using the mushroom spray I have never caught anything from flying, and as a result have been able to enjoy my vacations with a clean bill of health.


It was recently though that I rediscovered the many wonders of mushrooms when watching TED talks. I stumbled across a lecture on mushrooms by Paul Stamets, a mycologist who’s focus has been the Northwest’s native fungal genome, mycelium. His credentials include 22 patents for mushroom-related technologies, including pesticidal fungi that trick insects into eating them, and mushrooms that can break down the neurotoxins used in nerve gas.



In this particular lecture, Paul discusses how mushrooms can save the world. I encourage you to take 16 minutes out of your day to have your mind blown and to perhaps explore a possible new passion for sustainability and good health.

http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html

It's Hot...Drink up!

In summer months, it's important to stay hydrated - so remembering to drink water, half your weight in ounces, is particularly important when the climate is toasty. But, while it's hot -and a reccession, save on starbucks and try whipping up some cool drinks that are low in calories and easy to make.

Lemon Mint Cooler

ingredients

2 cups fresh squeezed lemonade

2 cups soda

4 cups ice cubes

2 lemons, halved

8 sprigs fresh mint, garnish

directions

In a blender add lemonade and ice. Blend until ice is crushed. Pour into 4 glasses half full. Fill up glass with soda water. Dip each lemon half in sugar, then attach to the rim of each glass. Garnish with 2 mint sprigs.

Kiwi Melon Smoothie

ingredients

1-2 kiwi's peeled

1/2 honeydew melon - peeled, seeded and cubed

1-2 cups ice

1 lime, juiced

directions

In a blender, combine, honeydew, lime juice & ice. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

Best Iced Mocha

ingredients

1 1/2 cups cold coffee

2 cups skim milk

2-3 tbsp Cocoa Camino Powder

Honey to taste

directions

Pour coffee into ice cube tray(s). Freeze overnight or until solid.

In a blender, combine coffee ice cubes, milk, cocoa powder (or syrup of choice) and honey. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve. *Yummy*

Sun Screens

I love June. The weather has just been amazing. I don't know about anyone else, but I believe I am solar powered. Each day the sun pours through my window when I open my eyes,I feel that yellow glow illuminate me from the inside out, automatically turning up the corners of my mouth into a perma-sunny smile. Life feels good. Vancouver positively shines when the grey clouds of winter finally part and our perfect climate is revealed. Every park is full of people basking in the sunshine, playing Frisbee, walking their dogs, having picnics with friends and family - everyone is stoked just to get outside & soak it up while it lasts.

Being Canadian, I know our skin is far more delicate than most. It's important to take this into consideration before you decide to bike the seawall on a cloudless Saturday, sun screen free. You will pay for it with a painful peely red sunburn. There are very few of us that can spend a day in the sun and look like a lovely bronzed Aussie (hence Aussie, not Canuck.) As a seasoned sun worshiper, I have a few tips that can help you achieve a copper glow - if you are willing to be patient and work up to it. It's no secret that over exposure to the sun can be harmful, but this is no reason to avoid sunshine altogether. Sunlight stimulates the body to produce vitamin D which has been proven to offer protection from some cancers, osteoporosis, diabetes and depression. Being smart about the sun will enable you to get out and enjoy it longer.

There is some chatter out there saying that sun screen has far more cancer-causing agents than the sun. It would make sense if you have ever taken the time to look at the ingredient list on a bottle of sunscreen. If you can't pronounce it, would you smear it on your skin?! However chem-y it may be, sun screen does help in protecting our icy Canadian skin from getting roasted the first few times we're out.

I am a believer of sunscreen on your face at all times. For most people, a daily moisturizer with an spf of 15 is enough. Don't forget to reapply if you're out doing lots of activity. If you are on a mission to tan, and you are braving your bikini for the first time this season, slap on a 30 spf, 45 if you are really pale. It will save you from burning and after you have spent a few days in the sun getting a good base, you can start to move down the spf scale. Zinc provides the best protection for harmful uv rays. Since anything goes in fashion these days, set a trend & sport the neon zinc. Hey, hottie surfers & snowboarders do it...

Look for sunscreens without the unhealthy preservatives. Purchasing sunscreens with natural skin softeners such as olive, sunflower and jojoba oils, shea and cocoa butter is healthier than buying petroleum-based ones. A good more-natural sunscreen is Badger All-Natural Sunscreen. Badger broad spectrum sunscreen is one of the world's safest and most effective sunscreens according to the Environmental Working Group's Safe Cosmetics Database. This type of sunscreen is known as a "barrier sunscreen" rather than a chemical sunscreen. Although this maybe not suitable for all skin types, after I have aquired a good base tan, I opt for coconut oil. A great moisturizer and natural sun reflector. I also recommend covering up during the hottest parts of the day, chests, cheeks, tips of noses and shoulders tend to get extra crispy between 11-3. Be smart, safe & soak up that glorious sun!

Flicks, Food & Shakespeare

With the DOXA (documentary film festival) underway, there is a good buzz surrounding some of the Canadian films in the line up for the rest of the week. Check out the festival program here, buy your tickets online & surprise a friend with a lovely spring evening night out.

If you have time for a bite before a show... check out Nuba. A stone's throw from the Vancity Theatre, their bustling cafe location on Seymour at Davie offers fresh, good, food fast. If you skipped dinner before the flick, and are in the mood for a late nibble and glass of wine - try Nuba's newest location at Hastings & Cambie. Wafts of aromatic spices excite your taste buds as you make your way down a few candlelit stairs, leading to a modern day take on 1940's Beirut. Gorgeous interior with a sultry mood, a great place to unwind and sample some amazing and healthy Lebanese cuisine. Inspired, tasty and reasonable.

This week kicks off Bard on The Beach located at beautiful Vanier Park. Vancouver's midsummer's eve is the perfect backdrop for this years productions of Othello, A Comedy of Errors, All's Well That Ends Well & Richard II. Enjoy a sunset set to Shakespeare, shows from May 28 to September 26.

Banff & Biking

I do apologise for my little hiatus from blogging. I took some time to go visit my sister in the Rockies, which also used to be my seasonal stomping ground for nearly 7 years. It was lovely to go back, although I took a slight temperature hit as I left Vancouver's blossoms for Banff's scattered flurries. Still, the mountains there are glorious - and I had a few really warm blue bird days while I was there. (*Blue Bird - Albertan terminology for "not a cloud in the sky"...)
Aside from a great visit with my sis, I spent time hiking through the forest, went for an epic bike ride with a couple of my closest friends, got a fantastic haircut and took a vacation from cooking for myself! Banff is lovely. If you haven't been - you must go. With no PST it is quite affordable and has a small town charm that I feel Whistler lacks (maybe I'm just Banff Bias ;-)
There are some great hikes close to town as well as hundreds throughout in the national park. 3 local mountains to ski/snowboard, amazing resteraunts (The Bison is a personal fave) there are oodles of places to stay, even a castle ;-)



Coming home to Vancouver, I felt rejuvenated from all the fresh air and good mountain life. I arrived back just in time for "bike to work week" although I am happy to report I ride my bike to work everyday, rain or shine :) One less car on the road, a time & money saver - if you don't bike, you should... I love it!

Bike to work week wraps up tonight with a fun and free BBQ at scienceworld hosted by the Vancouver Area Cycyling Coalition. Kicking off at 4pm, the bbq will include free food, entertainment by peddle powered amps, and a chance to meet thousands of cyclists from around the city. See you there!