​Several months ago, I applied for and received a grant to produce a television pilot about gender discrimination and sexual violence.  It’s a topic that’s been trending a long time and recently has really blown up the headlines with everything from Ellen Pao’s lawsuit about “micro indignities” (among other things) to the U.S. Marine Corps. scandal to the deeply satisfying Taylor Swift lawsuit, in which Swift refuses to be cowed or intimidated by her assaulter’s lawyer. 
 
Data shows virtually every American woman has experienced some level of gender discrimination and that American women of color get a double whammy of it.  African American women are the most likely to be forced to prove and re-prove … and re-prove … their competence; Latinas are written off by colleagues as “angry” and “overly emotional” and are the most likely to be dismissed when they offer viewpoints contrary to their male colleagues; Asian American women are most likely to be expected to conform to so-called “traditional feminine” stereotypes, to be sexually propositioned and they are dead last of all racial groups to be promoted in the business context.  Apparently, the stereotype that Asian Americans are “smart,” hurts rather than helps because, for females, it generates feelings of envy and resentment…not respect.
 
Last week, an incredible VP at CBS brought me and two of my team members in to make a presentation about the new pilot to CBS’s diversity group and, afterwards, one woman was in tears.  It was raw, powerful and intense to talk in a real and vulnerable way about race and gender and what it means to us as a society and as individual human beings.  It was also empowering to think of the potential for what this television series can do for women – and men! – by raising awareness and opening our eyes…kind of like the Taylor Swift lawsuit is doing right now in social media feeds.  Entertainment media isn’t just for “fun.”  It is a powerful means of affecting and shaping our perceptions, as a culture and as a society, of race, gender and sexuality.  As study after study has shown, perceptions create their own reality and oftentimes that “reality” is distorted and negative and false, a bad reflection in a bad mirror.  Which leads us to the title of the new series:  “Mirror Mirror,” a comedy about all the reflections of ourselves we see, whether of our own making or of others, whether real, imagined, created, or distorted.
 
As we work on our series arc, I want to reach out via this blog to ask people to share their own stories of gender discrimination – whether they engaged in it, experienced it, fought it, or tacitly approved of it by observing and doing nothing.  There will be no judgment and every story can be anonymous.  You can email stories to our production team at filmlabproductions@film-lab.org or post them on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/AAFLTV #MirrorMirror
 
I have done almost all those things.  I have discriminated based on gender, although I didn’t mean to.  I have also seen it and fought back.  To encourage others to share their stories, I’ll share a few of mine here. 
 
When We Do It Ourselves
The most dangerous forms of gender discrimination to me are the unconscious biases that we engage in without realizing it.  As a young lawyer working for a female partner who had just given birth, I found myself on a conference call with that woman and two male opposing counsel.  In the background, I could hear the sounds of my female colleague’s new baby and I recall thinking, “How unprofessional!  Couldn’t she put the baby in another room for this call?!”  I didn’t say anything about it out loud and never brought it up, however, internally, I judged her negatively.  Fast forward a year and I am still a lawyer and on a conference call with three male attorneys.  We hear the sound of a baby and everyone pauses, surprised.  One of the male attorneys says, “Sorry!  I have junior counsel here with me today!”  We all laughed and the call continued.  In my head, I thought, “How cute!  What a nice dad.”  It was not until I was on the train home that it hit me that in basically identical scenarios, I judged a woman negatively and not only did not judge a man for doing the same thing, but actually gave him props and extra credit for doing the same thing.  I was horrified by my own manner of thinking.  I thought, “If I consider myself a feminist and I am having these biased, knee-jerk discriminatory reactions, what are people who DON’T call themselves feminists thinking and doing?”  Since then, I have made a concerted effort to be very cognizant of my own behavior and to recognize and address these kinds of reactions as soon as they happen, and they DO happen and admitting that is important for helping reduce gender bias and making us able to talk about it and deal with it.
 
When It’s Done To Us
Taylor Swift’s suit is making the ass grab a headline and that is fantastic.  It’s fantastic because too many people shrug off ass grabs as no big deal and thereby legitimise sexual assaults. I was in DC with colleagues and a young man grabbed my ass and I chased him down the street, stopped him and had the cops arrest him. A person with me urged me not to file charges and to think of what it would to do the young man, advice which I ignored. It is not incumbent upon us to accommodate the needs of sexual assaulters. Taylor Swift has made this very clear and very public - good for her!
 
There have also been situations where bias was taking place and I did not know how to address it.  Once I was conducting interviews with a male colleague who was very junior to me.  Interviewees would come in and make eye contact primarily with him, defer to him and just assume he was the senior person.  It was disconcerting, but I couldn’t figure out the appropriate response at the time…other than to ding the ones that did it in my reviews of them.
 
Recently, I have had a large renovation of my home done and the company we hired has been unprofessional and unpleasant.  Just about everything they could do wrong, they have.  It’s been an ordeal.  One of the lead project coordinators interrupted a business call I was taking from home to order me to vacuum up piles of debris his crews had left behind.  I told him clean up was his job and he stormed out (without cleaning up).  I contacted his boss and complained.  The next day, the coordinator came back to our house, walked right by me and went to my  (male) significant other and asked if I had something personal against him.  My significant other said not only that I was RIGHT THERE and could answer for myself but also that, “No, she has nothing personal against you – she just doesn’t tolerate incompetence and a lack of professionalism…and I agree with her.”  Drop the mic. 
 
That same coordinator, when showing me a bathroom he had designed, lamented that one area was very narrow and advised me “Don’t get fat” and started inappropriately discussing my body type.  I very much doubt he would have said anything remotely like that to my (male) significant other.  How is that acceptable?  How is that ok?  I told him many times how inappropriate I find his conduct but he doesn’t change it.  It’s too late in the project to fire him, although, obviously, we will never hire this company again.
 
FIGHTING BACK
As human beings, I think we owe it to each other to do our best to defend one another, to try to make things right and equal.  Each of us has different skill sets we can utilize to do that.  In the upcoming television series, Mirror Mirror, my goal is to harness the power of entertainment media to get people talking about this and maybe help make someone’s life just a little bit better.

If he were still alive, today would have been my grandfather Andrew Yen's birthday.  I miss him.  When he passed away, I wrote a little piece about his life which I want to share today:
​
In Memory of Andrew Yen
 
Life goes very fast. We blink and our 20's are gone. Another blink and our 30's have gone by. A few more blinks and we are 40, 50, 60, 70. Most of us spend our brief time here racing from perceived milestone to perceived milestone, onwards towards our inevitable end. We fail to pause, to breath, to enjoy the beauty of a tranquil moment, the peacefulness of a quiet night. This is a failing. A failing Andrew Yen did not have. On the exterior, Andrew was something of a soldier--strong, dedicated and hard-working. When he first came to the US from China in the late 40's, he began work at a brokerage firm in NYC. One day, his boss came to him and told him he would have to be demoted. "It's not me," his boss said. "I know you're great. It's the clients; they don't want a Chinese on their accounts." Andrew quit on the spot. He walked out and never looked back. It was the principle of the thing. He was a soldier--courageous, principled, a man of integrity. But inside? Inside, he was a poet. Everything he touched bloomed with life. He tended a garden for many years in which the vegetables and flowers thrived under his gentle, calm, patient care. He understood how to stop, to pause, to savor the moment, to nurture life without rush, without pressure. Andrew created beauty and poetry and stillness out of the cacophony that sometimes surrounded him. From his rich, expressive brushstrokes of Chinese calligraphy to his articulate English prose that made each note and letter he sent a special treat; a gift, to his photographs, for which he won many awards, in which he captured solitude and beauty and depth all in a moment of patient breath. Andrew saw the brilliance in a deflating hot air balloon, sagging into the dirt. When everyone else ran off in search of the next thrill, Andrew waited, patient, sure the best was yet to come, and indeed snapped an unbelievable photo of the light piercing the sides of the colored fabric as they billowed down to earth that has taken the breath away from the many who have seen it. During his stay in the hospital and care center these past long weeks, he wrote my grandmother, his wife, poetry. Trying to reassure her that he would soon be with her again, he wrote, in part, "One day I'll pick up my sandals, walk through the front door and thank the Lord." It was, as it turns out, a different front door he entered, however, in my heart, I believe that he has arrived in a place full of the peace and loveliness he spent his life so patiently nurturing. This wonderful, beautiful man; this poet in the body of a soldier, has in fact picked up his sandals, walked through the front door and thanked the Lord. Those of use who knew him were lucky; those of us who loved him, luckier still.

Many excellent options exist for fine vegan dining in NYC, however, I just want to share 3 of my favorites:

1.  Vegan brunch, lunch and fun dinner with a multitude of options, great wine selection and helpful indicators on the menu to note nut-free, gluten-free and soy-free options:  BLOSSOM
http://www.blossomnyc.com
Locations on 9th and on Columbus in NYC.
**Note:  outdoor seating in the summer so if you want to bring your dog (as I do mine!) and enjoy dining al fresco, you can!

2.  Fancy date night/special occasion dinner with delectable tapas-style dishes focusing on fresh, wonderfully prepared vegetables and grains and superb wine in an absolutely beautifully decorated, intimate setting:  AVANT GARDEN
http://www.avantgardennyc.com
East 7th Street in Alphabet City
**Note:  you can actually watch the chef prepare the food, which is really fun.  This place is very popular so best to call ahead and make reservations.  

3.  Pizza and calzones.  Vegan.  Delicious.  Casual.  Nuff said.  SCREAMERS PIZZA.
http://www.screamerspizzeria.com
620 Manhattan Ave. in Brooklyn
**Note:  Yes, this one is in Brooklyn.

Go forth and eat delicious, cruelty-free nom noms!  

I have to share this so so so good make-your-own healthy, gluten-free, vegan crackers recipe from Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods:

You'll need:
2 C flaxseed meal
1/2 t salt
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t onion powder
1/2 t poppy seeds
1 t sesame seeds
1 C water

Then:
Preheat your oven to 400 F. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add in the water and mix until dough forms. Spread onto a baking sheet and flatten to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares and bake until crisp with brown edges (about 25-30 minutes). Makes 3 dozen crackers.

Happy snacking!

More nifty recipes using whole grain flours, oats and seeds at http://www.bobsredmill.com​.

It was my privilege to give opening remarks at the Launch Party of the 2017 72 Hour Shootout filmmaking competition.  The competition's theme this year is "Welcome to the New Normal," which the Film Lab felt was particularly on point given the current cultural and social climate in the United States.   This year, a sponsor generously hosted the party in a private residence with a no shoes policy.  It was so different and fun giving remarks that I've done in years past all dressed up on a stage in heels instead barefoot in a lovely living room.  It gave me more of an opportunity to interact with the audience and gauge their reactions to my words.  As is always the case, some people will agree with what I had to say and others will not.  Sharing the speech (or watch/listen here):

To put it lightly, we’re living in interesting times right now.  Perhaps never before in many of our lifetimes have we seen such deep political divides in our country, such animosity, separation and alienation of people.  We are living in a time when people fear one another based on religion and skin tone and where free and open debate in the so-called “free world” is stifled.  We live in a time where the freedom of the press is under direct assault by the executive branch of our government; in a time when xenophobia – fear of foreigners, of immigrants – is at an all time high; [is anyone here a true American by ancestry – meaning they can trace their ancestry all the way back to here, this country?  Any Cherokee?  Any Navajo?  If not, then everyone in this auditorium is or comes from people who are not native to this country.  Think about that] This is something to think long and hard about when our actual native people – specifically, the Sioux Native Americans - are again being violently abused and robbed by American authorities.  The same American authorities who committed genocide against them but we don’t really talk about that in school, do we? 
 
Lady Liberty has had her hands tied.  The media is having its tongue cut out and it sometimes looks like the only one left standing is Lady Justice…and she’s on pretty shaky ground. 
 
Both the alt right and the alt left – from the anarchists to the fascists – want to break the system.  Destroy it and create something new.  For some, the collateral damage, the people who are destroyed in the process, doesn’t matter because the ends justify the means.
 
What does that have to do with the Film Lab?  With the 72 Hour Shootout?  Everything.  The Film Lab promotes diversity in entertainment media.  Not just for fun or out of hubris, but as a positive and constructive means of effectuating necessary social change.  Entertainment media is power.  It’s power because it shapes our perception, a culture and as a society, of race, gender, sexuality, and religion on a national – if not a global - level.  Perception creates reality. 
 
The Film Lab’s 72 Hour Shootout provides a platform for people, faces and voices marginalized, stereotyped and erased altogether from the mainstream media.  The Shootout enables those who have been silenced and hidden to be seen and heard in a meaningful and substantive way.
 
2017 is the Shootout’s 13th year.  Lucky 13, I hope.  It is, perhaps, the Shootout’s most important year in terms of where America is, politically and culturally.  And what we at the Film Lab want to focus on is not walls or threats or divides; we want to remind everyone what brings us together.  What connects us.  We want to focus on our common humanity.  The black woman lighting the candle at the vigil for the fallen Asian American police officer.  The Latino man at the Women’s March shouting, “Equal pay for equal work!”  The white woman standing in solidarity at the Black Lives Matter rally.  The straight, Asian American man waving a rainbow flag at an LGBTQ demonstration. 
 
We need to support one another – now more than ever.  We need to create entertainment media that shows our possibilities and our potential.  In order to create an equal playing field where all are welcome and respected, we need to welcome.  We need to respect.  We need, Ladies and Gentlemen, to stay woke. 
 
This is easier said than done.  But it is possible if we care enough to try hard enough.  With the Shootout, you have the power to control the narrative.  You have the power to shape our reality.
 
I’ll close with a quote I love from Ernest Renan, who said, “People are slaves neither of their race nor of their religion, nor of the course of rivers nor of the direction taken by mountain chains.  A large aggregate of people, healthy in mind and warm of heart, creates the kind of moral conscience which we call a nation.”
 
This year, our Shootout hashtag is #StandTogether.  We hope you will.  I hope you will.

My significant other was born in raised in the South where BBQ is a form of art, hunting and fishing are "normal," and "everyone" eats meat.  Now, he is a vegan (sometimes, on a bad day, a vegetarian).  However, he still loves the taste of, well, meat.  So, we've worked really hard to continue to give him the taste he craves without any of the cruelty endemic to the meat industry.  For more on that, click here.  We also make sure we get enough plant-based protein to support an active lifestyle.  As Lightlife explains, "Many plant protein sources, including soy, legumes and quinoa, are complete proteins, which means they contain all nine essential amino acids.  There's no difference between these protein sources and animal protein!"  If you don't know where to start, I highly recommend the sampler packs from The Herbivorous Butcher - loads of "meats" and "cheeses" that are all vegan.  And, now, here are some top picks for healthy, meaty, cruelty-free noshing:

1.  BACON
Oh yeah.  We know.  The taste of bacon is ... pretty universally loved but, then again, humans are also supposed to taste delicious and we prefer our piglets alive and well, so we get our bacon fix from these two piglet-approved providers:

Upton's Naturals BACON Seitan.  These strips look like bacon and fry up deliciously.  One of my favorite things about this brand is that they donate a portion of their proceeds to "keeping happy pigs happy" at Farm Sanctuary.  This means, we get to enjoy the crispy delicious taste of bacon while HELPING pigs and our own health ("real" animal bacon is NOT good for your health, just in case you didn't know.  More here).  Instead, we get protein and veggies withOUT the nasty nitrates, cholesterol, oil, antibiotics, and, of course, cruelty.

Sweet Earth Hickory and Sage Benevolent Bacon.  This is for people who like a little more spice, kick and marinade to their bacon.  It's "smoky, saucy, savory" good.  Brilliantly, their frozen bacon can be thawed and stored unopened in the fridge for SIXTY DAYS.

2.  BURGER
Beyond Meat wins my favorite burger award.  It's the burger of Ripple milk.  Ripple is the only non-dairy milk alternative I've found that looks, tastes, smells, etc., like - and is virtually indistinguishable from cow's milk.  Likewise, Beyond Meat burgers look, taste, smell - are virtually indistinguishable from hamburgers made from a  cow's body.  I know because I grew up eating meat.  My significant other and I both kind of freaked out the first time we ate Beyond Meat burgers because we thought they had to be "real" meat.  I re-read the packaging ten times just to reassure myself I was not eating an animal.  The Beyond Meat burgers look like raw beef in the package and, in Whole Foods, I've found them in with the meat-meat section and I bet you money someone took them home, having no idea they were eating vegan.  They sizzle up from red to cooked-burger color in about 5 minutes in the frying pan.  Add mustard, red onions,  some of the above-referenced ethical "bacon" and you'll be in heaven.

3.  SAUSAGE
After bacon, what's more fun than sizzling sausage patties for breakfast?  Our top vegan picks for a sizzly deliciousness that's cruelty-free, protein and iron-packed are:

Lightlife Gimme Lean meatless Veggie Breakfast Patties.  These tasty patties provide 6g of veggie protein a patty.

Yves Veggie Breakfast Patties (vegan).  Yves is for people who like their sausages a little softer and less "crispy" and their patties have 5g of protein each.

For more breakfast ideas, click here and here.

4.  PEPPERONI
Love pepperoni pizza?  We have found a meatless pepperoni that even my meat-loving significant other proclaims is BETTER tasting than "real" animal pepperoni.  It's hands-down delicious:  Lightlife Smart Deli Veggie Pepperoni slices.  They have 8g protein per serving and they are incredible.  Just buy some, put them on a pizza with a little vegan mozzarella "cheese" and bake it and eat it and you will never go back to animal pepperoni again.

5.  MEATY KABOBS
Our favorite cruelty-free kabob meat is Sweet Earth's curry recipe Seitan.  It has an unbelievable 28g of protein a serving, is low fat, sustainable, cholesterol-free, nitrate-free, antibiotic-free, and, obviously, cruelty-free.  The seasoning is lovely and these are savory, juicy and tender in a stir fry or on kabobs.  I love them with a bit of coconut oil and shiso leaves.  These show off as very "fancy" party appetizers and are great for entertaining as well.

6.  CHICKEN, STEAK AND PORK STRIPS
Our favorites are Smiling Hara Hempeh (1) miso ginger strips and (2) smoked salt and pepper steaks.  These strips can be fried, baked, etc., like strips of chicken or pork in a stir fry or on their own.  You can put them in tacos, quesadillas, on sandwiches, in salads, and even in vegan sushi rolls.  They're tempeh made with soybeans and hemp seeds.  They're gluten free and full of protein (18g per serving).  No cholesterol or cruelty (they're vegan, of course).  The miso ginger seasoning in the miso ginger one is, just, well, heavenly.

There are MANY many more vegan meat alternatives that are healthy, tasty and ethical.  These are just a few of our favorites.  If you have any recommendations, please feel free to message me and I'll update this post with more!

A little while ago, I blogged about how nickel allergies from ingesting foods high in nickel can cause dermatitis.  The responses were overwhelming so I figured I'd add another post about skin barrier creams that protect your skin from topical contact with various heavy metals, like nickel, that may cause a rash or other allergic reaction.  

One great way to protect your skin is with barrier creams.  These work by creating an invisible barrier on the skin to protect you from (light) contact with various heavy metals.  According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, barrier creams have been studied and aid in binding with nickel and preventing its absorption into the skin.  See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3047925/ ("Binding Agents and Barrier Creams" sub-heading).  Somewhat scarily, "Nickel is the most common sensitizing agent worldwide. Allergic contact dermatitis due to this metal represents great morbidity, as well as cases of systemic allergic contact dermatitis, which can be misdiagnosed as adverse drug reactions, delaying the correct diagnosis and leading to inappropriate treatment."  See id.

So...barrier creams.  How do you find one that is effective, simple, cruelty-free, and kind to your skin?  Research and try them!  I looked high and low and found one I really like:  Skintifique is a cruelty-free, ethical French skincare line that is specifically formulated for people sensitive to heavy metals.  I purchased and tried (1) Cleanser P; (2) Moisturizing Lotion HP; and (3) Protective Cream HPS. 

My favorite is the cleanser, which is cool and calming and removes even waterproof eye makeup with ease.   I actually put some in a small spritz bottle and carry it with me because I find that, in addition to removing makeup and cleansing, it serves double (or triple!) duty as a refreshing toner and a makeup setting spray as well. 

The lotion is great for daily moisturizing and as a protective barrier against pollutants and irritants.  You can read more about what it does here.  It is heavier than I am used to, so I find a little goes a long way, however, if your skin is extremely sensitive, you may want to use more.

The cream is fine.  Like the cleanser and lotion, it is calming and cool.  I actually find the lotion more pleasant to use than the cream, which for some reason, feels a little powdery to me.  If you have oilier skin, though, you'll probably love the cream.  It gives the skin a matte look.  The cream is also in a much smaller container so it goes fast!  I carry the cream in my purse for moisturizing and protecting my hands after washing.

The website offers a free full-sized product to try if you've never used their line before and I recommend using the freebie on the cream because it's the most expensive.   You can also order packs together for ease, efficiency and discounts, depending on your specific skin concern - there is a Nickel Allergy Pack, an Eczema and Dermatitis Pack, a Tattoo Pack (!), and a Discovery Pack.  My favorite two products are the Cleanser and Lotion and, if I had to pick just one, I'd pick the Cleanser because it is just so versatile.
​
https://www.skintifique.me/#skaid=BETI1704

A little while ago, I blogged about how nickel allergies from ingesting foods high in nickel can cause dermatitis.  The responses were overwhelming so I figured I'd add two more posts, one about the only nickel allergy cookbook I could find and one about skin barrier creams that protect from topical contact.  The second one will be coming soon.  For now, though, more on food!  Charity Bratz has a severe nickel allergy - as in, she will die if she consumes too much.  Pretty intense stuff.  She and her mom co-wrote what might be the world's only comprehensive cookbook for nickel allergy sufferers.  I have a copy and, although it is for meat eaters, I was able to modify it for a vegan and vegetarian diet by substituting applesauce for eggs in the baking; vegetable oil for butter; and mushrooms and/or eggplant where the recipes called for meat (chicken, etc.).  It actually cooks up really well like that!  I thought it would be neat to interview Charity about her experiences with the allergy and her diet and how the cookbook came about.  To my delight, she obliged, so here is her story:

Q.   Can you tell readers a little about your background and what inspired you to write a cookbook for those who suffer from nickel allergies?
To start with, I’ve moved a lot over the years. I lived in Canada when I was little, in a town that had a nickel mine. We moved to Wisconsin when I started elementary school and I was your typical kid. I had my ears pierced when I was old enough, and that’s when we found out for sure I had a nickel allergy. I had to wear jewelry that was nickel free so I wouldn’t rash. I had other issues that didn’t come out until we were researching nickel foods and reactions to them. I thought it was normal for everyone since it was normal to me. For instance, my mouth would get ripped apart whenever I’d eat chips. I would get blisters that would burst as I ate, and I’d have skin hanging down in my mouth. We lived in Pennsylvania and a few more places in Wisconsin, where I got my degree in teaching. It was during my college years when things started going horribly wrong. I reacted to my tetanus booster, finding out it was the suspension I had a problem with. I can’t have another one of those or I could die. I had my first severe allergic reaction. My throat was swelling up and my mom had to hold my head back to get an airway while the ambulance came. It took two hours to stabilize me, and about a month before I could walk without getting winded and tired. I had two more severe allergic reactions after that, to what seemed like completely different food items. The allergist couldn’t figure it out, but required me to carry two epipens because the reaction was so severe. When I graduated from college, I went to Japan to teach English and French to high schoolers for a year. I had a reaction the second night I was there in Tokyo. They debated whether they should send me home or not, but I made it through the reaction and stayed. I had two more severe reactions while in Japan, which led to my decision to leave when the year was up. We still couldn’t figure out my allergy and I was risking death every time. I had several more before moving to Alaska to teach in a remote village along the Alaskan Highway. I taught a multigrade classroom for four years, and it seemed like I would always get very sick. I didn’t have another severe allergic reaction until the last year I was there, but it was a bad one. I was in Fairbanks when it happened and had to drive myself to the hospital (about 5 minutes away, luckily). I went for allergy testing again, and this time the allergist suggested that I look into a nickel allergy since all the foods I reacted to were high in nickel. For the first time, I had answers, and was tested for a nickel allergy. The patch test showed a severe reaction to nickel, leeching over to the ones around it. I also found out I’m allergic to gold at the same time. The allergist gave me a list of forty foods, both good and bad, to follow. With my reaction being so severe, I wanted to avoid high nickel foods and be safe, but a small list like that doesn’t give you a whole lot of options. After days of poking around the internet and finding contradictory lists, I decided to go research-based. I went to the FDA website, which had tested 300 foods and their nickel levels. When I cross referenced it to what the allergist had given me and found the range to look at, I started compiling a list of foods to eat, moderate, and avoid. I had to eliminate quite a few foods from my diet, and it wasn’t perfect. I had another severe allergic reaction that year, and I was not close to a hospital. My tongue was so swollen I was choking. I had to stab myself with an epipen, then a few more times along the 56 mile drive to the hospital. Apparently Jelly Beans are out. The main problem with my type of allergy is that it’s continuous, meaning when the medication wears off, I go back into it until what is setting it off (the nickel in my system) goes back to normal. This can take days, and makes it trickier to treat. I moved to North Dakota to teach second grade in the oil fields. I researched as much as I could on my allergy to live normally, and discovered there is very little out there in way of recipes. My mom and I started creating recipes so I could figure out how to use things like rice flour without it becoming a disaster. The gluten free recipes didn’t help much because a lot of ingredients used in gluten free products are high in nickel. Through my trial and error with the list, I had more severe allergic reactions, one of which to artificial almond flavoring that swelled my tongue up. I had been given some emergency prednisone pills (they help with swelling) and Benadryl from my allergist to stop these reactions faster so I don’t die. I took them, but didn’t realize how high a dose the pills were. I started swelling again the next day when they wore off, so I took another one, and another half pill the day after. Well, it was too much, and they had to catch me at the ER as I collapsed from a tachycardia. What a lot of people don’t realize is that some of the medications you take for these reactions can be just as serious as the reaction themselves, and you have to be careful when taking them. After a year in North Dakota, I decided to move back to Wisconsin to be closer to family and to seriously start work on The Nickel Allergy Cookbook. We had enough recipes that we were coming up with to make a cookbook, and since there is nothing out there for nickel sufferers, decided to publish it so there was. It took two years to kitchen test all the recipes and to put together the cookbook. We took our own pictures for each of the 188 recipes, and had the books printed locally. What kept us going was hearing from people we met that they suffered from nickel allergies and would love to have a cookbook to use. It’s their stories that motivate us to continue with the business we created called Low Nickel Enterprises and pursue selling the cookbook to those that need it.
Q.  In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge (and way to overcome it) for those who suffer from a nickel food allergy?
Personally, I think the biggest challenge today for those who suffer from a nickel food allergy is figuring out what information is helpful and what is misinformation. Just because someone types something on the internet doesn’t mean it was based on research, and those false assumptions can kill someone with a reaction as severe as mine. The main question is how do you sift through it all to find the facts that will help you? Really, the best way to do this is to research, find credible sources, look at the studies, and see if there are multiple studies saying the same thing. Approach any topic with a bit of skepticism, and make sure if it is a food you want to try that’s supposedly low in nickel, that you take a small dose during a low nickel week (a time when you haven’t been eating moderation foods). Nickel allergies need more research, and if we can spread the word that there is such a thing, maybe more people will take the initiative to do that research. 
Q.  What tips do you have for dining out with a nickel allergy or going to friend's homes for meals and other social gatherings?  
The biggest issue with dining out is that you don’t know everything that is in your food. That can be dangerous for someone with a nickel food allergy, and that meal you thought was low nickel could be your last. Nickel allergies are so tricky that it is not safe to eat out or to eat meals at social gatherings. The safest thing you can do is to make your own food and bring it with you. Only eat from what you brought, and watch that it doesn’t get cross contaminated. Even the most well meaning relative can still get the cooking process wrong and raise the nickel level, and it’s the person with the nickel allergy that will suffer.
Q.  When faced with an unfamiliar (yet delicious looking) food and unable to determine any easy resource regarding its nickel content, are there any safe ways to "test" the food to see if it can be safely consumed?
The problem with nickel food allergies is that some people can have a low tolerance and others a high tolerance, making it easier for someone with a high tolerance to do what I’m proposing. If you have a high tolerance, and you’ve been eating low nickel foods (so the level in your body is low), then it would be fine to take a small nibble of the food and wait about 10 minutes to see if you react. You need to know your body and how you react so you know when you’re reacting. For me, my first sign when it’s a less severe reaction is that my sinuses on my face start to swell and fill. So, if I start to get the sniffles, I know it’s too high in nickel. If you’re fine after the 10 minutes, you can proceed to take a little more and wait. Then try a little more, and wait. Of course, with nickel allergies, you need to remember the motto “Everything in moderation.” Eventually there is a point where it will be too much, and your body will react. This is the same process they use sometimes at the allergist’s office, and seems to be safer. Of course, for someone like me with a low tolerance, it’s a gamble whenever you do this. When I had the imitation almond flavoring, I only had a couple of drops in the batter mixture for four waffles, and after two bites, my tongue swelled up. You just have to debate whether the food you’re trying to add into your diet is worth the risk. For me, it’s safest to just pass it up.
Q.  The no/low nickel diet creates some serious challenges when trying to get complete nutrition - especially for vegans and vegetarians.  For those who don't consume animal meat or milk, especially those who do so for moral and ethical reasons, making animal products completely not an option for them, do you have any nutritional tips? 
The thing to remember about nickel allergies is that it is a restrictive diet to begin with. I have trouble myself with getting the proper amount of nutrition into my diet. Protein tends to be an issue since it’s almost entirely restricted to animal products and byproducts. Iron is hard to get since most leafy greens are out, and even taking nutritional supplements like I’ve had to, are not always enough. You need to balance in your diet different vitamins and minerals, and some of the vegan and vegetarian options are too high in nickel to do. I would highly recommend talking to a nutritionist to find out which foods you could go heavier with that are also a low nickel food. For vegetarians, I would suggest going heavy on the milk and egg products, since those are some of the only foods that have a nickel level of 0. They are freebies, which means you can eat as much as you like without having your nickel level go up. The only other foods that we found are like this are beer and wine, not exactly the healthiest of foods. There are some foods that I’ve personally added because they are vitamin superfoods, such as a kiwi a day. It gives me so much extra vitamin a, c, and potassium that they’re worth eating often. Make sure you don’t ignore your nutrition when going on a restrictive diet. 
**Note from interviewer:  eggplant and mushroom can be substituted for meat in the recipes and also have a nickel score of 0.  For more on the health benefits of eggplant, click here.  For more on the health benefits of mushrooms, click here.  You can also substitute vegetable oil for butter, rice milk for dairy milk, and applesauce for the eggs when baking.  Apples also have a nickel score of 0.**
Q.  Do you have any positive or funny stories to share relating to the making of cookbook and/or its publication?
Well, my mom would always get on my case about taking a picture and writing down the recipe whenever I’d make something new. This would happen frequently, and my answer would always be, “Well, I didn’t do that yet because I was hungry. I ate it!” I’d always have to remake the recipe a second time to make it so we had SOMETHING to put into the cookbook. The funny thing was that I would purposely not do this with a few I really liked, so I’d have the excuse of making it over and over and over again so I could eat more of it. Let’s just say the custard recipe is now a complete perfection. The other funny one was when we were doing multiple recipes in the same day, and would have to take a hard look at the pictures afterwards to figure out which recipe it was from. I know my mom will never let me live it down, but some of our recipes came about by accident. I tried to make some scones, not realizing they should be thicker than how I was making them. After baking, we realized my mistake and ended up with a cookie instead. Tasty, but a complete accident. Sometimes things turn out different from what you expect, but it tastes just as good. 
Q.  We know you're a nickel allergy sufferer, however, we also know you're a lot more than just your allergy!  You're a daughter, a self-taught cook, and the co-author with your mom of perhaps the world's only cookbook for those who suffer from nickel allergies.  Can you tell us a little more about you, Charity, aside from your nickel allergy?
To start with, I love to travel. I lived in Japan for a year, the best time of my life, and saw so many unique and extraordinary things. I went to France during my college years for a month with a family from Germany. Since I was studying French, it was great to really experience the culture first hand and see things like the stones of Carnac, the palace of Versailles, and the Eiffel Tower. After I was in Alaska, I went on a vacation by myself for a month and a week in Europe, spending time in Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. It was a great time, and easy enough to cook in youth hostels. You meet a lot of different travelers in those places. I’m an avid reader and love my home library of over 1,000 books, especially when I get to read my picture books to kids. I also like to write and am slowly putting together a fiction ebook novel based in disaster and suspense that I hope to eventually publish. I’m an aunt to my newly born nephew this past year, and have enjoyed spending time with him. I like to draw and paint, and have dabbled in gardening (trying to overcome my black thumb). I’m hopelessly addicted to tv shows, but find the time to get out and go for a walk or bike ride around town. I’m in the process of taking the leap into home ownership for the first time, and should be in my new home by the end of May. And, most importantly, I love strawberries. ;)
Q.  Last but not least, what does the phrase "Ethical Is Beautiful.  Be Beautiful" mean to you?  
A person with a nickel allergy should focus on being healthy for them. If you feel better, then you look better, and you will be better. 

If he were still alive, today would have been my grandfather, Raymond Betit's birthday.  I think of him often and miss him.  He was the glue that held a large extended family together and pretty much personified "family man" to me.

He did many great things in his life, from serving his country in battle in World War II to testifying on behalf of the FBI in a trial that made news headlines; from being one of the first in his family to achieve a college degree to starting his own business.  His achievements have been recognized and honored by everyone from the Knights of Columbus to the Catholic church.  Of all these accomplishments and honors, however, the accomplishment Raymond would consider his greatest was his role as the quintessential family man.

Raymond recognized long before it was mainstream to do so that one's family was not just those people who shared a bloodline; it was also those people who shared traditions, culture and, most of all, a desire to do good.  To that end, Raymond strove not just to provide the best possible life and opportunities for his beloved wife and daughters, but also to serve his town, Bennington, his church and his community.  Everyone who knows Ray, knows the door to his and his wife's home was always open; everyone was welcome in this home, regardless of race, color or creed.  Ray spent his life dedicated to this larger notion of family, to educating, caring for and serving his community.  He believed that life wasn’t about being a war hero or a star witness for the FBI or even the world’s best dad—which his daughters will assure you that he was!—it was about more than that; it was about being a peacemaker, a facilitator. . .in the most humble terms, a servant. 

Ray was the glue that held together many different personalities and viewpoints and strove always to provide a common goal, a common purpose, an all-encompassing love and acceptance.

He took great joy and pride in his daughters and grandchildren, in surrounding himself with an ever-growing family.  As a wise person once said, ‘No cowboy was ever faster on the draw than a grandparent pulling a baby picture out of a wallet’ and Ray was no exception! 

We lost the physical presence of this great family man on Wednesday, January 19th, 2011.  A man who cared deeply about, and worked steadfastly to protect and nurture, his faith, his family and his community.  Ray must have rejoiced in returning to the arms of his wife, a woman he loved beyond all measure.  His only regret, perhaps, would have been that he was unable to welcome, in person, his first great grandchild when he arrived that summer in 2011.

I like to think that Raymond’s spirit—his sense of family dedication, selflessness and loyalty— remains with us to inspire, to encourage and to love us.

I got called in for a voiceover audition that called for a woman who was relatable and personable "with a hint of an Asian American accent."

Pardon my French, but what the #$%^&*(*&^% is an "Asian American" accent?  By definition, isn't that just "American"?  I am Asian American.  I was born in the United States and both of my parents were born in the United States.  We are native English speakers and our English is as unaccented as it can be - I guess it's regionally accented, in the sense that we're from the Northeastern portion of the United States and we're urban dwellers so we don't have southern accents or midwestern twangs, but what does that have to do with being of Asian descent?

If they mean an ASIAN accent, that's still weird because Asia is a REALLY BIG PLACE with a ton of languages and dialects and accents.  There is no "Asian accent" that I am aware of.  There's definitely no "Asian American" accent.  That's like saying an "African American accent."  WTF would that mean?  Or a "White American accent" - ain't that the same thing?  We're all Americans with some cool ancestry, whether it be Asian, African, European, whatever.  Thinking an "Asian American" sounds like she has, say, a Filipino accent better mean you also think a "White American" sounds like he has, say, a German accent.  This is just dumb.

The audition was for a huge corporation that should know better.  I got to the studio and was promptly surrounded by Asian American women, all of whom, like me, spoke unaccented American English.  The one sitting next to me, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as it turned out, asked me if I saw the "accent" description, which promptly launched us into a discussion of exactly why Asian American actors are relegated to these bizarre and meaningless stereotypes and why we are sent out for roles that don't even make sense - for example, me and the Philly girl should just go for ANY American voiceover job.  Nobody can SEE us.  Our racial background won't disrupt any racist's listening pleasure.  They'll have no idea we're of Asian descent, listening to our pretty voiceovers.  
​
Auditions like that also put native English speaking Asian American actors at a huge disadvantage.  We are getting put up against non-native English speakers who actually have authentic accents from various parts of Asia.  How can we compete with that with our popcorn and bubblegum American English?  We should be reading for the "regular" American roles...but only the white people are in that room.

Or are they?

Because, after the audition, I walked home and, the more time went on, the more riled up I got.  I contacted my (wonderful) agency and explained because I am a native English speaker and my English is American English, I am concerned that I am not going to be competitive against actors who are actually non-native English speakers so could I read for the other role - the "regular" American role?  They immediately said yes without any argument whatsoever and booked me back into the studio within the hour.  So, maybe half the battle is just...asking.  

But now we'll see what casting thinks.  Because if the ad agency thought it was brilliant to tell agencies to give them actors with a "hint of an Asian American accent," there's no telling how they're going to make this casting decision.

On the bright side, it did motivate me to write my own monologue for another audition, which went swimmingly well:

A Hint of an Asian American Accent
A 2 Minute Monologue
By Jennifer Betit Yen
 (c) 2017

Oh buckle up, Buttercup.  I’ve got one for you.  Yesterday, I got an audition.  They said they wanted someone “personable” and “relatable.”  I was like yay!  I’m personable!  I’m relatable!  So, I go over to the casting office and I read over the sides and they’re cool and I go into the studio and I do my read and I’m feeling good!  Feeling great!  And the casting director says, “That was wonderful, but we’ll need you to do it again, this time, with just a hint of an Asian American accent.”
 
                                                                                                                     …
 
What.  The.  Fuck.  Is an “Asian American accent”?  I mean, hello!  I’M Asian American so my accent must be as authentic and genuine as you can get!  But I didn’t say that, of course.  I just said politely, “I’m so sorry.  What do you mean exactly?”  He said, "You know, like you’re from Asia.”
OH.  Because all Asian Americans are from Asia.  No.  No, we’re not.  I was born in New York City.  My parents were born in New York City.  One of my parents?  Not even Asian.  My grandparents were born in New York City.  But at this point, the casting director is getting all annoyed and impatient and he says to me, “Just do an Asian accent!”  And I wanted to be cool.  I didn’t want to be the high maintenance actor.  But now I’m thinking, WHAT IS AN “ASIAN ACCENT”?  Because, Asia?  REALLY BIG PLACE.  Full of countries and languages and accents.  And just because I am of Asian heritage does not mean I know them all.  Plus, isn’t this all just a little racist?
SO, you know what I said?!  You know what I did?!
I did my “Five dollah!  Chinee medicin’!” accent.  Yeah, I totally compromised all my values and principles…
I think he liked it.
Fingers crossed for a call back!
​(c) 2017
May not be reproduced or disseminated without author's written consent.

Recently, I discovered that nickel FOOD allergies can cause systemic dermatitis (read: rashes, eczema).  Just as a side note, nickel is a carcinogen listed by OSHA as a toxic metal.  See ​https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/metalsheavy/nickel.html.  

Nickel is found in high concentrations in beans, nuts, seeds, soy, legumes, chocolate, and leafy greens like kale and spinach.  This can particularly impact you if you are vegetarian or vegan since most of you will drastically up your intake of just those foods since they're terrific vegan sources of fiber and protein (assuming you're not allergic to nickel, that is).  At first, a nickel allergy can lead to complete and utter panic especially for those of us for whom, ethically, eating meat is just not an option.  It's also easy to be overwhelmed by the new long list of high nickel foods.  Also, cutting out dairy (low nickel) was the best thing in the world for my face.  It made my skin so much clearer insofar as breakouts so there's no way I'd ever go back to dairy.  It took 4 solid months of no dairy before I saw the results so, if you're trying to go dairy free for your skin, have patience and stick with it!  But, back to the nickel...

I posted on social media about nickel causing systemic dermatitis but seeming like a near impossible diet for vegans and was shocked by the number of messages I got in response, almost all from people suffering from eczema/dermatitis who wondered if they might have a nickel food allergy.  Some of them were self-treating and had found relief by ingesting a lot of Vitamin C, which makes sense because Vitamin C binds to nickel and prevents the body from absorbing it.  I mentioned this to a dermatologist friend and, to my horror, she said, "What?!  Nickel isn't in food!"  I showed her NIH, FDA and American Contact Dermatitis studies (links below) showing nickel consumption can cause systemic dermatitis and she was flabbergasted.  This was a common theme among the dermatologists I spoke to.  Although they treat patients with eczema and rashes all the time, they're just putting band aids on the wound by dousing their patients with steroid creams which just keep symptoms at bay instead of actually locating and addressing the source of the problem.  You can go to an allergist and a dermatologist and, rather than communicating and sharing information, they're so highly specialized, they can't see beyond one thing - the symptom - which is all they treat.  They're like the story of the 3 blind men and the elephant.  If you haven't read that story, click here.   Maybe someone else has an awesome physician who is way better than the myriad of doctors I spoke to and, if you do, please let me know who they are!  

At any rate, a very kind woman who works with a colleague of my husband's found and gave me what I believe is the only no/low nickel cookbook in the world (love her!).  The link to the cookbook is in the Resources section, below.  Using that, the American Contact Dermatitis Society research, an Italian study, an FDA publication, and an NIH study, I created a list of no/extremely low nickel foods.  I find it easier and less overwhelming to focus on what you CAN eat, rather than what you can't.  Since it is really difficult to locate resources for vegans who have nickel food allergies, the general advice I list below is for them.  Here is a brief (kind of) synopsis of what I found.  I'm not a doctor and this isn't medical advice.  Everyone is different and you know yourself and your body best so do your own research and seek professional advice for any health problems.  That being said, here are some general tips and tricks - ranging from food to skin care to makeup - that I hope you find helpful:

ACNE?  BREAKOUTS?  CUT OUT THE DAIRY

I'll be honest.  I thought it was a myth that eating dairy caused blemishes.  I never had true acne but I would definitely get breakouts and, as anyone who breaks out knows, they're super annoying!  Dermatologists I went to gave me drying topical creams and cortisone shots into a blemish as a means of last resort but they didn't really help.  Last year, I did a lot of research into how horrible, inhumane and unsafe the dairy industry is and went dairy-free cold turkey.  It was NOT easy.  I used to eat a lot of cheese and I love lattes.  However, I found great substitutes and stuck with it.  And, yes, you have to cut out goat milk, too.  It's all dairy, not just cow milk.  One unintended but very welcome consequence was that my face became much clearer.  It took about 4 months for me before I saw the results, so have patience and stick with it.  If you want to go low nickel, you're going to want to avoid no-dairy "milks" made from nuts or soy.  Your best bets will be (white) rice milk and coconut milk (coconut is a fruit, or, more specifically, a "drupe," not a nut).*  My favorite "milk" for taste and consistency is Ripple, which I cannot give up.  It tastes, looks and acts just like cow's milk.  It is made from pea protein.  I have no negative reaction to it but some people with severe nickel allergies might because peas can have a lot nickel in them depending on where they're grown, the soil, etc.  So, if you have a nickel allergy or just want to cut out heavy metal foods, cut them out and then test yourself with Ripple and, if there's no reaction, yay!  You're good to go!  More at http://ripplefoods.com.

*Please note:  the co-author of the Nickel Allergy Cookbook, Charity Bratz, contacted me regarding coconut and advised that, "Coconut, which while not being a nut, still has a high level [of nickel]. Check out http://dietgrail.com/nickel-in-food/ , which mentions coconut itself, but the coconut milk may test lower."  Ms. Bratz, who has a severe and life threatening nickel allergy, has done a tremendous amount of research into foods safe for nickel allergy sufferers so, if your allergy is severe, take it from her and be cautious with coconut!

NO NICKEL?  LOW NICKEL?  

1.  WHAT DO I EAT?
First, the bad news and then the good news.  The bad news is if you want to avoid high nickel foods, you have to avoid some serious nutritional powerhouses, like beans, granola, leafy greens, nuts, raspberries, oatmeal, seeds, soy, and whole grains (also avoid chocolate, citric acid and garlic).  Nooooo!!!!!!!

The good news is it's do-able with a few substitutions and you may even end up a little healthier.  Basically, whenever you were eating soy or whole grains, substitute eggplant and/or mushrooms.  For example, instead of that processed soy veggie burger from the frozen foods section (not really all that great for you anyway), make a portabella mushroom "burger" with stir-fried onions in olive oil.  Instead of beans and brown rice, make a stir fry (or bake) strips of eggplant, summer squash and zucchini in olive oil with fresh raw tomatoes.  And so on.  Second, take a chewable or powdered vitamin C (500mg) immediately before, during or right after meals to prevent absorption of the nickel.  Be sure to stay well hydrated.

Here is a list I created of "good" foods and a sample one day menu.  If you guys like it and enough people request them, I'll add more recipes.  I also have skin care and makeup recommendations at the very bottom for people with topical nickel intolerance.

THE "GOOD" FOODS
apples (including apple juice and apple sauce)
bagels (plain only, not whole grain - sorry)
baking soda
bananas
basil
beer (YAY!)
​beets
berries EXCEPT raspberries
black pepper
boiled potatoes (no peels)
bok choy
brussels sprouts
cabbage
chives
cinnamon
coffee (YAY!)
corn
corn tortilla chips
corn tortillas
cornmeal
cornstarch
crushed red pepper
cucumbers
dill
eggplant
eggs *not vegan
flour (white rice flour)
grapefruit
grapes
green onions
honey
kiwi
maple syrup
milk- white rice milk
mirin (Japanese rice wine for cooking)
molasses
mushrooms
nutmeg
okra
olive oil
onions generally
oregano
pears
popcorn (air popped)
raisins
red onion
rhubarb
rice flour (white rice and sweet white rice)
rice paper wrappers (like for spring rolls; again, white or sweet white rice)
salt
strawberries
summer squash
thyme
tomatoes (raw)
turnips
vanilla
vinegar - apple cider vinegar
vinegar - balsamic 
vinegar - rice
vinegar - white
wine (YAY!)
zucchini

SAMPLE ONE DAY MENU
Breakfast:
*  Mixed berry bowl (no raspberries)

*  Corn flakes cereal with (white) rice or coconut milk

*  Coffee with (white) rice milk or coconut milk

*  Glass of water with 1/8 t water-soluble L-ascorbic Vitamin C powder
According to the American Contact Dermatitis Society, you must take the Vitamin C immediately before, during or immediately after eating because it must be in your stomach at the same time as the food to bind to the nickel and prevent its absorption

Lunch
*  Bok Choy salad with apple cider vinegar and chopped up apples

*  Grilled portabella mushroom "burger" with onions, cabbage and tomatoes if you want them

*  Glass of water with 1/8 t water-soluble L-ascorbic Vitamin C powder

Mid Morning and/or Mid Afternoon Snacks
*  Air popped popcorn with truffle salt and olive oil

*  Corn tortilla chips with homemade tomato and basil salsa

*Grilled brussels sprouts with olive oil, sea salt and cracked black pepper

Dinner
*  Sliced raw tomatoes with fresh basil and balsamic vinegar

*Veggie spring roll appetizer of green onions, cabbage, cucumbers, summer squash, and zucchini in rice paper wrappers

*  Grilled vegetable stir fry of sliced eggplant, mixed mushrooms (I love Maitake and Cremini), summer squash, zucchini, onions, and diced peeled potatoes in olive oil.  See here for another sample stir fry recipe.
​
*  Glass of water with 1/8 t water-soluble L-ascorbic Vitamin C powder

*Glass of wine or bottle of beer if you want one 

2.  WHAT SKIN CARE DO I USE?
Skintifique is a cruelty-free, ethical French skincare line that is specifically formulated for people sensitive to heavy metals.  I purchased and tried (1) Cleanser P; (2) Moisturizing Lotion HP; and (3) Protective Cream HPS.  I was a little bummed by how small the size of the cream was, but it's all pretty good.  My favorite is the cleanser, which is cool and calming and removes even waterproof eye makeup with ease.  The lotion and cream are fine.  Like the cleanser, they are calming and cool.  I actually find the lotion more pleasant to use than the cream, which for some reason, feels a little powdery to me.  The website offers a free full-sized product to try if you've never used their line before and I recommend using the freebie on the cream because it's the most expensive and you'll either love it or not.  I am sticking to the Cleanser and Lotion, which I like a lot.  
https://www.skintifique.me/#skaid=BETI1704

If you want a clean, safe, cheap body moisturizer you can get from your grocery store, a tiny bit of plain old olive oil will always work in a pinch!  Just avoid Italian olive oil (which is often mixed with other oils and not actually olive oil).  Here's a good link to resources for "real" olive oils:  /www.mamanatural.com/virgin-olive-oil-scam-fraud/  My favorite is Trader Joe's Spanish Olive Oil.  I also like California Olive Oil.  Just keep in mind, olive oil doesn't offer the same protections against nickel content that the Skintifique lotion is formulated to provide.

3.  WHAT MAKEUP DO I USE?
Omiana is a cruelty-free, ethical and eco-friendly cosmetics line developed for people who want "clean" makeup as free from chemicals as possible.  I purchased the powder foundation, anti-redness concealer, a lipliner, and some eyeshadow.  I am still waiting on the products so I will update this after I try them.  
https://www.omiana.com

4.  OTHER SOURCES OF NICKEL
You can test the metal around your home with a quick and easy nickel test (available at https://nonickel.com/collections/solutions-for-nickel-allergy and you can buy them in some Walgreens).  I was horrified to discover my bathroom sink faucet and pipes were nickel.  That kind of replacement is extremely expensive, however, if you have a serious nickel allergy, well worth it for your health and well being.  Additionally, check things like doorknobs, which can be quickly and easily replaced, and jewelry.  You can use Nickel Guard (or regular old clear nail polish) to coat, for example, a doorknob that you can't replace but that is nickel and is causing you to suffer an allergic reaction.  Just keep in mind, you'll have to re-coat it periodically to keep it safe and it doesn't work on things you get wet, like your sink faucet, for example.

5.  RESOURCES
1.  Nickel sensitization and dietary nickel are a substantial cause of symptoms provocation in patients with chronic allergic-like dermatitis syndromes, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388878/

2.  No Nickel Cookbook
https://thenickelallergycookbook.wordpress.com/about/
This cookbook, written by a mother and daughter team, is comprehensive and easy to follow.  It is for meat eaters, which I am not, however, I found that if I (1) substituted vegetable broth where their recipes called for meat broth and (2) substituted eggplant and/or mushrooms (especially portabellas because they're so hearty) wherever their recipes called for chicken, beef or other meats, and, (3) in baking, substituted applesauce for eggs, it was not too difficult to convert the cookbook into a vegan cookbook and even easier to convert it to a vegetarian one.  If you have questions about how to do this, just message me here and I'll do my best to help!

3.  Non Dairy Milks
Read my blog post about this here.

4.  Skin Care
Skintifique is a cruelty-free, ethical skin care line for people with metal sensitivities.  I particularly recommend their cleanser and lotion.  Take advantage of the one free full sized product to try offer on their website.
https://www.skintifique.me/en/

5.  Makeup
I'm giving Omiana a go.  I'll update this after I've tried their products consistently over a period of time.
https://www.omiana.com

6.  Nickel Test Kit
You can carry it around to test jewelry, pipes, door handles, whatever.  You can also get a nickel "guard" to cover said items (but you'll have to re-apply periodically and it doesn't offer much (any) protection for items that get wet frequently, like a faucet):
https://nonickel.com/collections/solutions-for-nickel-allergy  

7.  "Low-Nickel Diet Scoring System for Systemic Nickel Allergy," The American Contact Dermatitis Society Journal, Vol 24, No. 4, July/August 2013 - http://journals.lww.com/dermatitis/Abstract/2013/07000/Low_Nickel_Diet_Scoring_System_for_Systemic_Nickel.9.aspx

8.  Italian study of nickel content in common foods:  www.torrinomedica.it/studio/alimenti/nichel/en/Nickel_Foods_Cont.asp

NOTE:  I have also been researching ethical, cruelty-free, environmentally-friendly household products that are free of heavy metals, such as laundry detergent, hand soaps and the like.  Please let me know if you want me to add in this information.
​

My latest kick is heavy metals and/or toxic or potentially problematic metals found in food.  One example is nickel, which is a carcinogen listed by OSHA as a toxic metal, although it's primarily only an issue for most people if inhaled.  See ​https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/metalsheavy/nickel.html.  

A growing number of people are allergic to nickel - possibly due to increased exposure to it from cell phones, iPads and the like, and it can cause rashes and other dermatological problems.  It's in a  LOT of foods, particularly...sorry everyone...chocolate.  See, e.g., www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3667300/.  

To actually eliminate nickel and other metals from your diet is virtually impossible, however, you can keep them to a minimum.  Here is one of my favorite nickel-free/low nickel recipes from "Garden to Table":

BOK CHOY MUSHROOM STIR FRY
Ingredients:
2 t olive oil
1 cut thinly sliced onions
1/2 c chopped red bell pepper
3-4 cloves minced garlic
1/2 t grated ginger
1 lb. coarsely chopped bok choy
1/2 lb chopped mushrooms - pick your favorite or try a variety of different kinds!
2 t fresh lemon juice

Directions:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add onions, pepper, garlic, and ginger,  Stir fry about 1 minute.  Add boo choy and onions and story fry another minute.  Add lemon juice and stir fry 3-4 more minutes.  Enjoy!

This is a vegan take on Better Nutrition's Paleo-friendly, gluten-free Quiche Dijon and it's scrumptious!    

Ingredients:
4 baked sweet potatoes or garnet yams, cooled
8 t Chia seeds mixed with 16 t water (let the seeds soak 5-6 minutes before using)
1 T dijon mustard
3/4 hot sauce (if you want)
1/2 t sea salt
1/4 black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Yves Vegetarian "pepperoni"  (optional)
1/4 c finely chopped baby kale
2 T finely chopped green onion

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F

Slice off the top of each potato and scoop out the middle, leaving enough inside to let the potato hold its shape  (set the scoops aside to use later as a mashed sweet potato side dish for tomorrow's dinner)

In a bowl, mix the chia and water, mustard salt, pepper, kale, and, if using, the hot sauce and Yves Vegetarian "pepperoni."   Spoon the mixture into the potatoes and top with green onion

Bake 30 minutes.

​ENJOY!!

When subtracting actually adds to the whole.  That is what the G20 faces today.  Based on the views of the current administration in the U.S., it may be time for the G20 to become the G19.
 
According to the BBC, the G20 leaders – the ministers representing the world’s twenty largest economies – left their two day meeting after publishing a communiqué in which climate change and the G20’s long-standing pledge to protect free trade were excluded.  The changes were due to the new U.S. “president,” who has vowed to slash environmental protections and support isolationist policies that draw to mind those of the 1930's which we all know worked out so well for the world back then...
 
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble said the meeting had reached an impasse when it came to the issue, and added that his counterparts could not "force partners" - read the United States - "to go along with wording with which they don't agree".
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39315098
 
Schauble’s comment was merely the polite way of saying that our current administration is again acting like a petulant child.  A common refrain from the “president” and his aides is that he knows best what works best and what does not work best in politics (even though he has literally the least experience of any president in our history on such topics).  Unfortunately, he rarely does know what is best and the world can tell.


When Germany’s Angela Merkel visited the White House, our so-called president refused to shake her hand.[1]  It was another humiliating moment for Americans, highlighting our continued loss of standing in the world and the fact that our representative to the world is an arrogant bully who represents all the worst things the U.S. has to offer – greed, cruelty, short-sightedness, and an unearned sense of entitlement.  He lacks all the things a respectable leader should have – intelligence, gravitas, grace, thoughtfulness, commitment to country and people, or the ability to negotiate and dialogue in a meaningful and substantive way.  In his first 100 days in office, the so-called president has proposed to increase defense spending by $54 billion while cutting money from more than 18 other agencies. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency would see its budget cut by over 30 percent, the departments of Agriculture, Labor and State would be cut by over 20 percent, and he proposes to eliminate support for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting entirely, among other things.[2]  The general rule of thumb is if it’s something that will protect the planet, animals and people, it’s a red light.  If it’s something to create or support war, avarice or isolationism, it’s a green light. 
 
The current U.S. “president” is creating a country that will be poor on all fronts – one with an uneducated, unhealthy and isolated populace.  One that will impose severe import taxes on its citizenry in a country which imports practically, well, everything, while exporting very little other than the entertainment and innovation that the “president’s” policies intend to stifle and eliminate.  This means two things for other world leaders: the current U.S., if it continues under the present leadership, is not and cannot be the leader of the free world.  It is rapidly losing all respect and standing and will continue to drastically decline under the current administration.
 
While it is understandable that other world leaders, such as Ms. Merkel, are trying hard to do the right and professional thing and work with the U.S. “president,” it is like trying to work with any other illegitimate bully – like Korea’s Kim Jong Un or the Philippine’s Rodrigo Duterte – virtually impossible.  So, world leaders should recognize there is a power void and they need to consolidate and work together to fill that void in a way that maintains the principles Ms. Merkel has talked about recently – liberty, freedom of speech and of the press, free trade, environmental protections, and collaboration across borders.  The rest of the world can and should move on without us.   The current U.S. will not just hold everyone back, it will do so in a way that imperils the health and future of generations.  The bully that leads us will only continue to lie to and disrespect other world leaders and countries, delegitimizing us as a country and any agreements he enters into on our behalf with the rest of the world.
 
World, sadly, you may not need us anymore.  We have money (but that may change soon), showbiz (and that may change soon, too) and innovation (that will definitely change soon if our "president" is allowed to continue, unchecked), but that’s about it.  You need to step up, fill in the void, get together and forget about the angry, blustery little U.S. “president” for now.  Save the world.  If you have to leave us behind to do it – and you probably do – that’s ok.  
 
It’s time to stand up for what is right.  It’s time to disregard the bully and move forward without him.  It’s time for G19 and an agreement that reflects a respect for and support of free trade and environmental protection.  
 
Let’s just be honest:  the U.S. “president” has abdicated, through his words and actions, the position of the leader of the free world.  That title goes to Angela Merkel now and every decent leader who values the continuation of democratic principles of justice should rally around her.
 
[1] http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/03/17/angela-merkel-donald-trump-handshake/99310398/

[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/03/16/trumps-first-100-days-what-the-budget-reveals-about-trumps-priorities/?utm_term=.a9148de0df73

I am constantly on the lookout for luxurious body products that are not just effective, but actually healthy and good for you; cruelty-free, vegan, organic, and, of course, that smell wonderful.  As you can imagine, finding this type of product can be a bit like finding a unicorn.  Well, I found a brand that actually does it all.  It’s handmade in tiny batches in the founder’s kitchen using only premium, organic butters and oils that smell delicious, look beautiful, make your skin feel amazing, and actually improve the health of your skin – not just its appearance. 
 
This winter did a number on my skin and I was getting rough, red, irritated spots which were driving me crazy.  I happened to be at a health food store in Manhattan and a pretty glass jar caught my eye, promising a body butter made of organic avocado butter, meadowfoam and green tea (all ingredients whose many health benefits I am familiar with) that was vegan and cruelty free.  I picked it up and a delicious vanilla scent sold me at once.  I bought it and tried it the next day.  The body butter turned from a soft, ultra light mousse in my hand to a sultry oil on my arms and legs.  I smelled wonderful and my skin was so soft.  The patchy dryness vanished.  I was hooked.
 
A few weeks later, so impressed by the product was I that I tracked down the founder and creator of the brand - Cyrah’s Au Naturale – to see if she’d tell me her story.  She obliged and it’s so neat, I have to share it with you:
 
Mom, Businesswoman and Nature-Lover
Shellaine Plunkett, the creator of Cyrah’s Au Naturale, is the proud mama of a 9-year-old daughter, a businesswoman and a nature lover.  About 4 years ago, she began experiencing strange rashes and had trouble breathing.  Doctors told her she had allergies, however, none of the medications they gave her - from allergy shots to Benadryl - worked.  Shellaine, a native of Jamaica, who grew up a nature lover surrounded by grass and trees, had never had allergies before and, with Western medicine failing her, began to seek holistic remedies.  She spent years researching oils, butters, natural remedies, nutrition, and ways to take care of the body in a “clean,” chemical-free and holistic manner.  Over time, she discovered the only way to guarantee purity of products and ingredients was to make them herself.  Because her daughter, Cyrah, loves being her mom’s little sidekick and helping to make the products, Shellaine decided to call them after her.  Cyrah’s Au Naturale was born.
 
Starting Up
There was a lot of trial and error in the beginning, including a day when the top of a bottle of essential oil came loose and the entire bottle emptied into the Shea Butter Shellaine was melting, ruining her entire batch of lotion.  Another time, the lid came loose off the blender, covering Shellaine, her daughter and the entire kitchen with avocado butter. 
 
To Shellaine, the most important aspect of her products is their integrity.  She will not use an ingredient that is not organic.  Being “natural” is not enough.  When I asked about this she reminded me that “So-called natural products can contain synthetics.  I will not put synthetics in my products.”  All her ingredients must be responsibly and ethically sourced, cruelty free, organic, and of the highest quality or she just won’t use them.  These are the products she puts on her skin and her daughter’s skin so, she explains, they must be pure and safe and healthy. 
 
The products are all plant-based and she uses essential oils as natural preservatives.  Some of Shellaine’s favorite go-to ingredients are tea tree oil, Vitamin E and Rosemary, all of which preserve the product and are good for the skin.  Although the products come in a range of fragrances, the fragrances are created through infused essential oils, not chemical perfumes.
 
Cyrah and the Brand Mentality
Shellaine’s little girl, Cyrah, is the inspiration for these organic, holistic bath and body luxuries.  Cyrah, a sparkly-eyed, energetic 9-year-old, particularly loves the lotion bars she makes with her mom – a pretty-shaped solid bar that “gives you a massage as you use it!” 
 
To Shellaine, the business is an opportunity not just to create and market a great product that is good for people, the planet and animals, but a way to bond with and teach her daughter.  They create the products together and test them out together.  “The business means so much to me because I’m doing it for her,” Shellaine explains, referring to Cyrah.  “This is something for her to have one day to call her own.  A legacy to leave for her.”
 
The Products
Right now, Shellaine (with Cyrah’s help!) makes every single product personally.  She manages to keep her price point low by doing it all herself based on a passion for authentically organic and pure products.  Currently, there are eight Cyrah’s Au Naturale body and hair luxuries and Shellaine plans to add soaps to the offerings by March 2017:
 
For HAIR
1.  Hair Fix Shellaine’s very first concoction and the one that turned Cyrah’s Au Naturale from a hobby into a business: an organic hair butter made with essential oils which enhance the healing properties in of the Shea butter.

2.  Peppermint Oil for the Hair This is Shellaine’s best selling product.  It’s good for men and women (for men with thinning hair, the peppermint oil is really great for reducing build up on the scalp that can lead to clogged, irritated hair follicles and hair loss!). 

3.  Hot Oil Treatment Crafted with deeply penetrating essential oils that repair, restore and revive dead hair, this heat activated, triple enriched formula conditions and soothes the scalp and hair.  And it’s only $10(!!!!)

For BODY
1.  Whipped Body Butter My personal favorite.  The vanilla infused fragrance will make you want to eat it.  Shellaine said it moisturizes for 24 hours, however, I think it actually works for longer than that.  It’s AMAZING.

2.  Body Oil Cold-pressed oils handmade to order for use in a hydrating massage or as a moisturizer.  Shellaine uses jojoba oil, avocado oil, bergamot, rose, lavender, lemongrass, orange, lime, and tangerine oils to make these delectable oils.  The rose one has actual dried organic rose petals in it and is as pretty as it is healthy and effective.

3.  Lotion Bar This is the one little Cyrah uses every day because it is a quick, easy and mess-free hydrator.  Shaped like a little flower, the lotion bar is too cute for words.

4.  Hand Salve This is packaged in a tin for easy use and you can rub it on your elbows, knees, feet – anywhere your skin is rough and needs some TLC.  It smells like soft, bright, happy citrus.  This one is vegetarian as opposed to vegan because it contains beeswax.

5.  Body Scrubs Crafted with raw Shea butter for deep hydration and the finest Blue Mountain Jamaican coffee grounds and organic brown sugar for gentle but effective exfoliation and cold pressed oils, this one is particularly good for folks with eczema or cellulite (the coffee grounds!!!  I’ve blogged about their benefits in this area before!).
 
Wonderful Products Made by a Wonderful Human Being
One of the nicest things for me is using a wonderful product that I love while knowing at the same time it is sustainable, cruelty-free and organic.  It’s practically a miracle when I can add that I had the honor of personally meeting the product’s creator and discovered she is such a genuine, kind, nice human being!  I couldn’t recommend her or her products more!

A couple of years ago, I slipped a disc in my back.  The pain was frustrating and the doctors basically told me to rest and try to keep the inflammation down.  This led to a ton of research on my end about various ways to keep inflammation at bay.  That, in turn, led to lots of conversations with people – old and young – who suffered from injuries leading to increased inflammation, arthritis and other conditions that would benefit from anti-inflammatory regimens. 
 
Now, inflammation in general is not a bad thing per se.  It can help our immune systems fight off disease and even help us repair damage so some short term inflammation IS good.  It’s the chronic inflammation that is worrisome and can cause harm to our bodies.  I collected a few general bits of advice here that seem to work for the majority of people I spoke with in healthily keeping that chronic type of inflammation at bay.  Obviously, this is not medical advice and you should consult a doctor you know and trust for any medical condition.  With that caveat, here goes:
 
The Top Three DO’s
 
1.Eat:
TURMERIC
Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory.  It’s a spice and you probably know it best from Indian foods.  Read more about turmeric and its health benefits here.  A little trick is that mixing black pepper with turmeric boosts your body’s ability to use and take advantage of turmeric’s anti-inflammatory qualities.  Read more on that here.
 
So, toss some turmeric and black pepper into your stir fry, stew, salad, smoothies, whatever!  I even add turmeric to melted dark chocolate, stevia and shredded coconut for homemade chocolate sweets to munch on.
 
BLACK CURRENT OIL
You can get black current oil supplements at most heath food stores.  One I like is from “Health from the Sun” and is available from Swanson Vitamins here.  Black current oil gives you lots of omega 3and 6 fatty acids and gamma linolenic acid.  The gamma linolenic acid can particularly help with skin issues like eczema.  More info here 
 
KALE and SPINACH
Dark leafy greens are a tremendous source of Vitamin E which a lot of studies suffest plays an important role in protecting the body from chronic inflammation so eat your salad.  I now eat a small salad BEFORE every meal, even breakfast.  It helps me to make greens an automatic part of my diet at least three times a day.
 
BEETS
Beets are not only anti-inflammatory, they’re anti-cancer so yay!  My new favorite thing is beet noodles – spaghetti-like noodles made entirely of beets.  You can get them at a growing number of health food stores or make your own.  Example here.  I also make a “Beet The Detox Salad” I’ve blogged about before that’s delicious, filling and healthy.  I’ve also re-printed it below.
 
GINGER
Another nifty spice, ginger can also curb nausea if you’re sick or pregnant or on a boat in tumultuous seas.  Add some ginger to sautéed veggies, rice dishes, stews, soups, and even desserts for a little kick of healthy deliciousness.  I also grate ginger and melt it into dark chocolate with shredded coconut, stevia and turmeric for a tasty sweet to have on hand (yeah, I know.  I mentioned that already in the turmeric section, above).
 
TART CHERRIES
Tart cherries also help soothe muscle soreness, prevent insomnia and help deal with jet lag.  I’ve used them to combat jet leg whenever I travel long distances for years, however (see my blog post here).  I only learned that they also help fight inflammation more recently.  Careful if you drink cherry juice only because there is a not insignificant amount of natural sugar so just keep it in mind if you’re watching your weight.  I dilute a little pure tart cherry juice with seltzer water at night for a yummy spritzer that also helps you sleep better.  See more cherry info here.
 
Dried “Just Cherries” are easy for carrying around and snacking on (perfect for travel) and, of course, fresh cherries are the best.  You can also throw them in smoothies, pies, tarts, salads, and all that jazz.  
 
2.Exercise
Moderate and consistent exercise is so good for you on every level.  Here is a cool study that looked into which types of exercise improve inflammation issues the most (https://breakingmuscle.com/learn/what-kind-of-exercise-improves-inflammation-the-most).
Just make it part of your routine.  It may suck at first but, if you force yourself to do it consistently, it will become routine and then you will start to love it.  Really.  You will.
 
3.  Use Healthy “Green” Beauty Products
A lot of personal care/beauty products contain inflammatory agents (dyes, fragrances, etc.).  Source your beauty products from companies that put customer health first.  “Natural” doesn’t really mean anything in terms of advertising.  It’s more of a marketing ploy.  I mean, plutonium is “natural” and you sure don’t want that in your moisturizer, right?  So, look for companies that are well known, endorsed by ethical and sustainable watch groups that you know and trust and that have ingredients that are ones you recognize. 
 
My top three favorite awesome skin care go-to’s (for the stuff I can’t make myself) are;

1. Acure, a sustainable, organic and very effective beauty brand  (https://www.acureorganics.com @acureorganics)
2. acuderma e, fabulous vegan skincare line that I adore (http://dermae.com  @derma_e) and
3. I also recently discovered a local New York brand called Cyrah’s Au Naturale, which I found in Health Nuts (@TheHealthNutsNY).  I bought the Vanilla Whipped Body Butter.  Not only does it smell good enough to eat, but it turns from this super soft mousse in your hands to a sultry oil on your body!  Cool, right?  If you’re not convenient to New York City, no problem!  They’re available on Etsy too at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CyrahsauNaturale

 
The Top Three DON’T’s
 

1. Sugar– sorry, but no.  Avoid it.  Use honey, stevia or even a little fennel powder for sweetness but not sugar. 
2. Saturated Fat – always bad.  For so many reasons.  How to avoid it?  Pretty much by avoiding overly processed food and fast food.  Your body will thank you.
3. Meat.  Especially red meat.  Not good.  Stay away!

 
My Favorite DIY Body Balm for Calming Soreness:
 
Mix:
coconut oil
1/2 t cayenne pepper
2 drops peppermint oil
 
Rub it directly onto wherever is stiff and achy.  I tried this and, again, tingly and nice sensation but the cayenne is a little messy (don't wear white clothes while you do this) and it didn't provide amazing relief so...maybe try it and see how it works for you.  I get the sense if you're someone who likes Tiger Balm (it doesn't work for me), this would be good for you.
More DIY balms here (http://jenniferbetityen.weebly.com/ethical-is-beautiful-be-beautiful-a-blog/more-uses-for-coconut-oil-as-a-skin-therapy). 
 
My Favorite Anti-Inflammatory Recipe:
 
Beet the Detox Salad
Beets are rich in butane, a natural digestive system helper (which is also fantastic for liver cleansing and digestion – bonus!).
Makes 4 side servings.
Ingredients:
 
1 large beet, coarsely grated
 
1 large carrot, coarsely grated
 
1 large apple, diced
 
2 tbsp almonds, chopped
 
2 tbsp flax, hemp, perilla, or pumpkin seed oil
 
2 tbsp lemon juice
 
4 cups mixed greens
 
Optional additions:
 
2 tbsp fresh dill or parsely, finely chopped
 
2 garlic cloves, minced
 
1/4 tsp gray sea salt or pink rock salt
 
Directions:
1.Toss all ingredients, except for the mixed greens, together in a large bowl. Mix in optional additions if using. You can make the dressing up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate.
2. Divide mixed greens between 4 plates and top with apple mixture
 
More recipes here