Jennifer Betit Yen
Actor, "Recovering" Attorney and Author
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Closing the Loop: Plastic Bags and Luxury Totes

2/28/2020

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What does a chic artisan tote have to do with unwanted plastic bag trash?  A lot if you ask Alex Dabagh, a leathersmith by trade, who turned his attention to the plastic bag trash choking our waterways, landfills and trash dumps.  

Alex takes unwanted plastic bag trash and upcycles it into beautifully woven re-useable totes, each one unique, each one with a story.  The bags effectively close the loop as they require no virgin materials. His totes are a luxury good, carefully crafted by skilled workers in a midtown Manhattan facility, and each one is one-of-a-kind.  I have personally toured the facility and checked out everything from the plastic scraps to the loom to the finished products.  It’s pretty cool.  

If you want to be a socially conscious buyer and you know you need a chic new re-useable tote to have on hand – especially given the New York plastic bag ban going into effect – this is your bag.  You can purchase them at www.aNYbag.com.  If it rips or tears (an unlikely event), bring it back and get a new one and your old bag will be upcycled for yet another life.  No waste here!  

If $138 is too steep a price tag for you, you can still both support and personally benefit from this amazing idea.  The company is accepting donations of plastic bag trash (ripped and torn bags are fine; they just need to be clean) to make their totes.  This is a marvelous way to help the environment and responsibly rid yourself of all that plastic bag trash we both you know you have shoved in that cabinet under your kitchen sink!

In a large apartment residence complex or have a business that would like to have a collection box for plastic bags for Alex?  Contact him via his website and let him know!


P.S.  If you're wondering who the pup is in the below photos, that's my little rescue mix who toured the facility with me.  He gives aNYbag his woof of approval.
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Sweet “Sashimi” on Protein “Crispy Rice”

1/24/2020

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​Sweet “Sashimi” on Protein “Crispy Rice”
 
Ok, so the “sashimi” is cruelty-free and thus fish-free and the “Crispy Rice” isn’t rice but rather nutrient-dense teff, however, this is packed with healthy goodness and really visually stunning if I do say so myself.  It does take practice, though, so if your first one isn’t perfect just try again. The teff “Crispy Rice” is the trickiest – mostly in terms of getting the frying time just right.  With that said…
 
You’ll Need:
Fresh whole papaya
Teff (an Ethiopian grain that is protein-rich)
Olive or Avocado Oil
Optional: miso paste, carrots, ginger, red shiso leaves
 
Directions:
 
The Protein “Crispy Rice”
Bring 2.5 cups of vegan vegetable broth or water (optional: add in a pureed carrot, 1 t ginger powder and a scoop of miso paste) and 1.5 cups teff to a boil.  
 
Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer 15 minutes, uncovered.
 
Lightly spritz an 8”x8” pan with olive or avocado oil and pour the teff mixture into the pan. REFRIDGERATE FOR FOUR (4) HOURS.
 
The Sashimi
I peel papaya funny. I lop off one end to make it flat, balance the papaya on the flat side and slide a sharp knife down the side to peel off the skin.  After you do that, you can peel off sashimi- esque pieces from the sides of the papaya – this is your “sashimi.”  It will look a lot like salmon.
 
Putting It Together
Once the 4 hours of refrigeration time has passed, take out the pan of teff, which is now cool and firm and cut it into small sushi-rice-like rectangles.  Fry these cakes in a pan until crispy – it generally takes about 5 minutes per side.
 
Place the papaya sashimi atop the protein “crispy rice” and (optional) garnish with shiso leaves. You can also try a bit of soy sauce or coconut aminos as a light sauce / dipping option.
 
Why It’s Awesome
Not only is it super cool to look at, but it’s just fun and unique.  The teff is a great whole grain with lots of protein, fiber, magnesium, zinc, calcium, and more.  Your body can break it down easily, it’s gluten-free and anti-inflammatory. Win!  Papaya is also awesome because it is rich in Vitamin C, fiber and anti-oxidants.  DOUBLE WIN!

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Hot Chocolate!

1/6/2020

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I love hot cocoa on a cold day and since it is now January and definitely cold - at least on the East Coast of the U.S. - I want to share my favorite "healthy" hot chocolate recipe with you.  It has loads of antioxidants, protein, fiber, you know, all the good stuff:

You will need a blender.  In it, toss:

3 teaspoons of hemp seeds (shelled, please, or you will have a very gritty drink.  Provides protein, fiber and general joy)
1 cup warm very warm water
1 teaspoon maca powder (for energy)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
1/2 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
Pinch ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons cacao powder (fun fact: the processing of the cacao bean into powder actually gives you MORE antioxidants - one of the few instances in which processing actually makes a food healthier)
1 teaspoon of stevia or monk fruit extract for calorie-free natural sweetness
Pinch cardamom (anti-inflammatory)

Blend this all until frothy.  

Pour into your favorite mug.

Curl up with a good book in your favorite fuzzy socks and enjoy.  Bliss!


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Spinach Artichoke Dip - YUM!

10/24/2019

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I was really craving spinach artichoke dip and it’s tough to find a delicious vegan version, however, I found this one and had to share because it’s a really satisfying comfort food!  It's not exactly "healthy," per se, however, it's definitely cruelty-free and it's healthIER than the dairy-heavy versions, which have a lot more fat.


 
You’ll need:
2 t olive oil
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
2 t chopped garlic
8 oz. almond milk cream cheese (I like Kite Hill’s)
1/3 cup plain coconut yogurt 
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
3 T vegan cheddar style cheese (I like Miyoko’s) and/or 2 T chickpea miso (to taste)
1 cup coconut milk
½ t salt
1 14 oz. jar artichoke hearts
¼ cup bread crumbs (I toasted 2 slices of brown rice bread and crushed them into crumbs for this)
 
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 425 F.
 
Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the spinach and garlic, sautéing for about 1 minute until the spinach gets wilty, and then set aside to cool.
 
Separately, mix the almond milk cream cheese, coconut yogurt, nutritional yeast, Miyoko vegan “cheddar” (and/or the chickpea miso) until well combined (I use a blender for this). Fold the spinach mixture and the artichokes into this and transfer the whole thing to a baking dish.
 
Stir together your bread crumbs with a tiny bit of oil and sprinkle over the mixture in the baking dish.
 
Bake for approximately 15 minutes. It will bubble when it’s ready.
 
Enjoy with chips, pita, whatever you want.  Yum!

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Don’t Let Cruelty Kill Kindness.

9/13/2019

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A few days ago, I was booked to do a voiceover recording and a car service picked me up to take me to the studio.  Pretty soon, we were at a standstill in gridlocked traffic so I relaxed and used the time to read the script.  I barely noticed the man walking between the cars with a “Homeless Please help” sign until the driver of the car I was in rolled down his window and offered the man with the sign some money and wished him a nice day.  My first reaction was to say something like, “Oh no, it’s probably a scam.  Keep your money” but then I thought, “He did a nice thing.  Don’t say anything bad.  Don’t let cruelty kill kindness.”  
 
The rest of the trip to the studio proceeded without incident and I went in, did my job and, afterwards, the same driver picked me up to take me back.  I asked him if he was French (he had a French accent) and he laughed and said no, that he was from Guinea but that everyone there speaks French.  We talked some more and I found out he came to the United States a little over a year ago to study criminal justice and drives on the side to pay his bills.  He plans to return to Africa and work for social justice through the legal system.  His first week here, he was mugged on his way home from school by a group of men who punched and kicked him until he passed out while Brooklynites watched and taped on their smart phones – nobody helped him and nobody called the police.  When he came to, his backpack had been stolen.  Ironically, instead of a backpack full of cash or valuables as the thieves probably hoped, it was full of his brand new criminal justice textbooks. He called the police, who he said were kind but never found his attackers.  He said people should be kinder here; that people in his hometown were kinder.  He said now, when he walks around, he swaggers and mimics the look and walk of his attackers to ward off further harassment, even though it makes him feel silly.  I thought of how he gave the homeless man money and about how excited he seemed when talking about his plans to pursue a career in social justice and of the mugging. I hoped the meanness he experienced here wouldn’t make him jaded.  Don’t let cruelty kill kindness.
 
We had a nice chat and then he dropped me off.  As I got out of the car, I saw a homeless man half passed out on the sidewalk and walked around him.  About 10 steps away, I thought twice and turned around but the driver had beaten me to it.  He had already gotten out of his car and was offering the man help.  Even then, my initial thought was, “Oh, no.  He’s so naïve.  He is going to get taken advantage of.”  But then, again, I thought, “Stop it.  Be better. Don’t let cruelty kill kindness.”
 
Sometimes, when we are kind, the recipients of that kindness do react by overreaching or taking advantage or otherwise basically just being plain old mean and it sears more indelibly into the conscious than what – I think – is the more common scenario of reacting to kindness with more kindness.  I work with a charity group that provides collaborative production experiences to new and emerging artists.  We had a woman who aspires to be a writer take that kindness and react with inexplicable absurdity, demanding the whole production be given to her and her alone, never mind the other artists, also struggling, also looking for experience, who collaborated with her.  She went so far as to call one of the group’s employers and tell the employer that the group member was “unethical” and ask that he be fired from his job.  Her harassment left everyone shocked and appalled.  As a result of her misconduct, the charity group has been considering putting a stop to these collaborative projects … never mind that the vast majority of such projects end positively and constructively with excited, happy, inspired artists who have expanded their networks and experience.  I thought about that after speaking with this compassionate driver and contacted one of the Board members and advocated we not let this particular woman’s sad vitriol stop us from helping other people.  Don’t let cruelty kill kindness.

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Oils for Your Skin

8/20/2019

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I love playing with essential oils and making DIY products ranging from skin care to household cleaners, which I've blogged about several times already.  I have recently discovered some new oils that I want to share with you that are pretty amazing:

Break Outs
Black cumin seed oil.  I use organic only.  You can apply it directly to a blemish and, while it doesn't vanish overnight, it does vanish very quickly and it seems to minimize redness as well.  This also works for clogged pores.  If you have to wear a bunch of makeup for a film shoot, a play or a photo shoot, an event, or whatever and your skin feel just awful and congested afterwards, this is your go-to.  My favorite go-to for black cumin seed oil is Madre Nature because it is in a tinted glass bottle (the tint protects the oil from degradation caused by light exposure and the glass is so much better for the oil and the earth than plastic) .  It is also USDA organic AND very reasonably priced.  Check them out at madrenature.com.

If you need a carrier oil for oily skin, jojoba oil is perfect.  It isn't heavy and it's very soothing.

Dry Skin
Moringa, Petitgrain and Açaí oils are heavenly.  Petitgrain has a very distinctive smell - kind of woodsy - which people either love or hate.  I love it, but definitely smell before you buy just in case.  I mix coconut oil, rosehip oil and açaí for a super moisturizing and yummy smelling soother for face or body (coconut oil is heavy for the face so if you tend toward oily or combo skin, use jojoba or grapeseed as a carrier oil instead).  I mix Moringa and coconut oil as a heavy duty moisturizer for really dry skin.  Petitgrain is great for moisture and as a wound salve for little cuts and scrapes.  You can mix it with a carrier like apricot oil to strengthen your skin as well.

You can also make a body scrub with 3 parts oil and 1 part salt.  Rub it on dry skin pre-bath or shower and then rinse off.  Silky skin awaits. 

Wrinkles
Baobab and Rosehip!  The tiniest amount goes a long way.  Just tap a teeny tiny bit where you need it.  

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Arts & Activism: Why Representation Matters

5/10/2019

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Last night, I had the incredible privilege of being honored by the New York City Mayor, Bill DeBlasio, and the First Lady, Chirlane Irene McCray, as the official honoree of the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration at Gracie Mansion for my acting and activism work.  I spoke to a crowd of about 1000 people at the ceremony and, afterwards, several people asked if they could have a written version of the remarks I made.  I only spoke for about 3 minutes and the remarks are quite short, however, for those who would like them in written form, here they are:

Thank you so much to the Mayor, First Lady and all the incredible City staff behind this event for this tremendous honor.  I am truly humbled. I also in awe of your courage in giving someone who is both an actor and a lawyer a microphone.  Any other actors and lawyers out there?  Ok, you know why!  We’re terrible like that - we’ll just talk forever and ever.  Don’t worry.  I won’t do that to you today.  I’d just like to draw some attention to one area that is near and dear to my heart and that is representation – specifically Asian American representation – in entertainment media.  I run the Film Lab, a non-profit, that provides resources and production content that highlights Asian Americans, women and others of color.  We particularly focus on Asian Americans because unlike most other racial groups, as our population percentage has increased, our representation on TV and in movies has not followed.  In fact, in many years our visibility on screen has actually declined.  We remain largely unseen and movies like “Crazy Rich Asians,” are, sadly, still the exception and not the rule.  If we are seen at all, it is too often as the “Other,” the “Fresh Off the Boat” newcomer, or any one of a number of other tired stereotypes.
 
Now, there’s a lot going on in the world today and whitewashed entertainment may seem trivial, but I submit to you that it is actually critically important. Entertainment media is the method by which we, as a society, leave our history and tell the world who we are as a people.  When the mainstream media stereotypes, marginalizes or erases us, it creates widespread societal perception that we are not Americans, not equal, and that we do not belong.  The reality is this is our country.  Asian Americans have fought and died for the United States since the War of 1812.  But regardless of whether our families came here in the 1812 or in 2012, this is our home and we belong here.  We should not and do not need to ask permission to be seen or heard. And that’s the really exciting part about running the Film Lab – the ability to reclaim our story; create and support entertainment content that returns us – and others of color – to the story that we belong in.  To the story that is our story, too.
 
The Film Lab is small and we operate on a shoe-string budget, staffed primarily by volunteers, but I like to think we provide more resources and content to the community than organizations with 10x our budget.  And that is because of the great hearts of our volunteers.  If you’d indulge me just a moment – some of the Film Lab staff are here today and I’d like to ask them to stand.  They are the backbone of the Lab and nothing it accomplishes could be done without them.  This team has a lot of heart although sometimes, of course, it can feel like we’re pushing against a brick wall, which is why recognition like this is so incredible and so meaningful.  I am truly grateful to Mayor DeBlasio and the First Lady for this honor and to all of you for your support in ensuring that our faces, voices and stories are heard and seen, not just as whispers in the corner, but as shouts from the center of the stage.  So, keep shouting everyone and thank you very much.

Gracie Mansion
May 9, 2019




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Normalizing Gender Based Violence

4/3/2019

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​Imagine you are a female in a bar and some drunk guy keeps pushing your chair and bumping you and pushing you and then he finally escalates to actually touching you, brushing against you and being obnoxious.  Now imagine the guy is a white guy in nicely pressed business casual clothes, accompanied by a second – not obviously drunk – white guy in equally pressed business casual clothes, who is waving his Platinum AmEx around and ordering bottles of Moet.  You are wearing jeans and have had nothing to drink.  Finally, it’s all too much and you ask the guy to stop touching you. Both white men stare at you aggressively and the drunk one grabs your forearm tightly and sneers, “I would NEVER want to touch YOU” while he is – ironically – still clamping his fingers around your arm.  
 
What would you do?
 
This happened to me in the lobby of a Loews hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.  I reacted by jumping up and pushing the drunk man away from me. His friend, rather than apologizing for his handsy pal, remonstrated with me to “just let him order” and rolled his eyes at the (white) bartender and waved his AmEx and ordered more drinks, which the bartender promptly served him, while calling security over. Naively, I thought the arrival of the security guard meant assistance for me.  Not exactly…
 
So imagine you’re back in that bar and not 60 seconds has passed since you pushed the drunk guy away from you.  Imagine a security guard approaches you and tells you he will forcibly eject you if you don’t leave voluntarily, while the two white men laugh and the bartender continues to serve them drinks.  You haven’t had a drop to drink and have probably been present in the lobby bar for under 5 minutes total.  What would you do?
 
This happened, too.  I had no interest in being forcibly ejected so I walked myself to the front desk, followed closely by the security guard, and asked for the Loews manager and the Atlanta PD.  I explained exactly what had happened and the hotel manager looked confused and the security guard, well…
 
Imagine a tough, brawny security guard who weighs at least twice as much as you standing right in your face trying to stare you down.  Imagine him basically saying that the bartenders called him to remove you because the white guys looked “respectable” and were “good tippers” and had ordered lots of alcohol.  It didn’t matter that one had laid hands on you and you deserved to get kicked out for daring to push him away from you.  Then imagine a police officer from Atlanta Metro shows up…
 
All that happened as well. Luckily, this is where the story takes a turn for the better.  The Atlanta Metro Police Officer did what the security guard should have done; he calmly listened to my statement, politely asked me to wait and then went over to the white men and calmly listened to their statements.  He then determined the men were not credible and were posing a risk and he ejected them, professionally, from the bar.  
 
Now, imagine you’re still in the lobby and the drunk man shows up again and accosts you again and the security guard does not intervene.  The police officer has already left the vicinity and can’t help you.  The security guard thinks this is your fault and is furious the police officer defended you and ejected the drunk white man.  So, you start videotaping the drunk man on your phone, which scares him and he takes off and finally leaves the building for good.  
 
That all happened, too. What was even more amazing was that I was actually a guest at that hotel.  Although I complained multiple times, the hotel brushed me off.  Almost a full day passed before I got a call back from a manager and it wasn’t even the General Manager, Mark Castriota.  It was a housekeeping manager.  The whole situation reeked of sexism and racism.  Yes, the security guard was African American, however, merely being a person of color doesn’t protect you from having your own problematic biases against others based on race or gender or your perception of how “good a tipper” that person may be at the bar.
 
To me, this story is primarily about gender, but race plays a role as well.  In 2011, nearly 1 in 5 women in the United States had been sexually assaulted.[1]  In 2014, the CDC reported 1 in 5 women have been raped.[2]  Globally, “[b]etween 15 and 76 percent of women are targeted for physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the available country data. 
 
Quoting the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs:
 
•             Somewhere in America, a woman is raped every 2 minutes.3
•             National surveys of adults suggest that between 9-32% of women and 5-10% of men  report that they were victims of sexual abuse and/or assault during their childhood.
•             22% of victims were younger than age 12 when they were first raped, and 32% were between the ages of 12 and 17.4
•             The majority of male and female rape victims knew their perpetrator.5
Of surveyed college women, about 90%of rape and sexual assault victims knew their attacker prior to the assault.6
http://www.wcsap.org/how-often-does-it-happen
There is an incredible Jan. 24, 2017, piece in Aljazeera detailing the impact of the 2016 U.S. presidential election events on sexual violence.[3]The journalist argues that:
 
“[a] new far-right universe has come to power in the White House, and whether you listen to Jeff Sessions, nominee for Attorney General, or examine leaked Trump team proposed budgets, funding for the Violence Against Women Act will cease. That means 25 grants focused on "reducing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by strengthening services for victims and holding offenders accountable" will disappear.  And in scrapping The Violence Against Women Act, the new president, one who prides himself on being pro-police, will also be cutting grant programmes which teach law enforcement staff how to respond to domestic violence and sexual assault.
Trump's convenient demonisation of immigrants, minorities and Muslims will mask a real epidemic of sexual violence against women - largely perpetrated by white, middle-class men.  Think of the Vanderbilt University football players who gang-raped an unconscious young woman. Or former Stanford University swimmer, Brock Turner, found guilty of multiple felony counts including penetration of an unconscious person.”  There are many other news sources also detailing the far-reaching and significantly negative effects on women of having a high level politician openly bragging about sexually assaulting women and an administration that would repeal the Violence Against Women Act.[4]
 
Think, too, about the Kavanaugh hearings and confirmation and the devastating after-effects on many women (http://time.com/5413109/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-survivors-trigger-ptsd/).  This kind of thing has the power to shape our perceptions within our society and to direct how we perceive ourselves and others and how we think we “should” act within our society – in other words, is it normal and ok to grab a woman, like the man in the Lowes Hotel in Atlanta did, or not? 
 
But what about race?  Women of Asian descent, so often portrayed as sexual objects in entertainment media and as timid creatures who will be easy to dominate and who won’t tell anyone if they are attacked, often encounter a dangerous perception that can lead to higher incidences of sexual violence against them.[5]  
 
The drunk white man thought he could just bump me and grab me and it was totally fine.  The friend – who didn’t appear obviously drunk – legitimized and normalized his behavior by not stopping him, not intervening, and proactively defending him when his bad behavior was called out.  The bartender choosing the potential for big tips further normalized the man’s conduct by the eye rolling, by continuing to serve the men and by asking security to remove me and not the men.  Security and hotel management continued to enable, normalize and legitimize the bad behavior.   
 
Society tells us, as women and especially women of color, that we should be sweet and docile; that when a man – especially a white man – puts his hands on us, the default is that’s his right and, if we object to it, we ought to cry or cower or submit.  When we defy these cultural norms and stereotypes by, for example, pushing the man away, we are met with shock and hostility.
 
Personally, I think if a man puts his hands on you, you ought to break his hands and let him consider the time during which he rests them to mend to be considered a gift during which time he can reconsider the wisdom of his actions towards you.

--------------
**Of course, I mean FIGURATIVELY break his hands ... maybe.  But seriously, SPEAK UP.  Men and observers, most of all.  This kind of thing is on you.  You ignore it, you just legitimized it.**

[1]http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/health/nearly-1-in-5-women-in-us-survey-report-sexual-assault.html

[2]http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2014/09/05/cdc-1-in-5-women-raped-often-by-someone-they-know

[3]http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/01/sexual-assault-time-trump-170124124914906.html

[4]See, e.g., http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/donald-trump-end-violence-against-women-grants,http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/14/politics/trump-women-accusers/,http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trump-and-the-truth-the-sexual-assault-allegations,http://www.refinery29.com/2017/01/137406/trump-violence-against-women-grants-cut

[5]See, e.g., http://www.countercurrents.org/bhargava060709.htm
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Just Noise

3/21/2019

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I ran into a few people who usually see me sans makeup when I was very dressed up and made up after a film shoot.  All 4 of them exclaimed over how different I looked.  One said, “Normally, you just look like a normal girl but, with makeup, wow! You should wear makeup all the time!” Another said, “You look so great right now; like a totally different person.  I almost didn’t recognize you!”  The other two comments were similar.
 
I know these people meant well, however, the comments made me sad.    They seemed to suggest if I didn’t have a professional hair and makeup artist style me up, I was, well, ick, blah, vanilla, basic.
 
Why are so many of us women expected to spend hours coloring our faces and burning our hair into submission, lacing ourselves into literal corsets sometimes, and balancing on spindly little rods (aka high heeled shoes) in order to be considered “wow”?
 
Obviously, pretty much everyone likes to be told they look nice, however, I would rather all of us be considered pretty because our faces are full of joy than because we’re shellacked with make up and hair styled into the stratosphere.
 
If people say you’d be so pretty only IF (you wore makeup, etc.), then f*** ‘em.  
 
To me, beauty is defined by two things: joy and kindness.  If you have one, you’re lovely.  If you have both, you’re truly beautiful.
 
Everything else is just noise.

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Holistic Health

3/14/2019

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I am a huge fan of preventative medicine – using food and a clean environment and mindfulness to keep ourselves healthy and happy.  Western medicine can be great in times of emergency but it’s not always the greatest at prevention or holistic health.  Oh, could we combine them?!  Some practitioners are trying!  I had the opportunity to interview one holistic care provider, Dr. Anna Folckomer.  General disclaimer:  I am not a patient of Anna's and this isn't an endorsement or sponsorship of her.  Just an interview about how holistic treatment can differ from traditional Western medical treatment.  Ok, onwards!
 
Dr. Folckomer is the owner of the wellness facility, I.D. Lab New York, in midtown Manhattan. She is also the co-founder of the international seminar series, Immaculate Dissection, and an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Medicine and Pacific College of Medicine. She focuses on a unique combination of functional anatomy, acupuncture, rehabilitative exercise, and manual therapies that she creates via assessment, treatment plan, and most importantly, an educational experience for the patient, to better understand and respond to any given condition. 
 
In particular, I asked her about nickel allergies, since I’ve blogged about that before (here and here) and received so many responses from people suffering but who can’t find adequate assistance:
 
EIBBB:            Tell us a little about you, your background and what you do.
 
Dr. AF:             I’m a licensed acupuncturist, board certified herbalist, and anatomy teacher. I have a clinical doctorate and I get to teach a lot of anatomy! I teach gross dissection at Seton Hall School of Medicine, Anatomy and Physiology at Pacific College, and I co-founded a continuing education seminar called Immaculate Dissection with two of the greatest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. My background was actually in dance, but then I sort of became obsessed with the choreography that gets everyday people through life, and shifted my focus to learning more about how to understand the human body. Also, to be fully transparent, I wanted to be a dancing doctor when I was little, which as far as I knew wasn’t a real thing, so I’ve had a wonderful fulfillment in attempting to achieve that! I own a clinic in midtown where I have the pleasure and honor in seeing my patients and sharing it with brilliant practitioners. 

EIBBB:            What is the difference between a holistic physician, such as yourself, and a conventional physician?
 
Dr. AF:             I’m not confined to a compartment or set of conditions the way that other physicians are. It’s unfortunately not uncommon for people to see 5+ different doctors for different areas of their body and none of them are communicating with each other. I’m typically the 8th or 9th specialist a person will see for a condition, so the challenge is on to think outside of the box and get to work. My job is to put all of the puzzle pieces together, but then also to communicate with and refer to the rest of a patient’s healthcare team. I’m lucky enough to get to view the body from multiple lenses- western medicine, functional anatomy and biomechanics, lifestyle influences, and eastern medicine, and somewhere along the way it paints a really nice picture of the patient. My approach becomes more about using problem solving strategies within the art of healthCARE for the individual. 

EIBBB:            How do you recommend finding a good holistic practitioner?
 
Dr. AF:           It’s about a team effort! If you’ve got someone on your health team that you like, ask them who they work with and refer to. There are some really great types of practitioners out there. Of course you can look at their background, education, and inquire about their experience with a certain collection of symptoms and that’s a great start. I’ve worked with so many different types of healthcare practitioners that continuously impress me in terms of what they’ve done with their professional experience and continuing education. People expect to be great practitioners right out of the gate from school and that’s just not true. It’s called clinical PRACTICE for a reason, so I like working with folks that have embraced that! I’m much more interested in what they’ve done in their professional career to keep up, form networks and working relationships with other healthcare practitioners, and continue to learn about how the human body works. We’ve all heard the phrase “the more you know, the more you realize how much you have to learn” and I like to work with professionals who really get that because it limits dogma and ideology. No one knows all there is to know, but a good practitioner knows that and is willing to problem solve, advocate, and learn more for you. Being confident and wrong is a scary thing in medicine and unfortunately it happens sometimes. I love co-managing with professionals that stay very present, ask questions, and avoid just relying on protocols. Protocols have their time and place, but need be kept in check by the fact that all patients are individuals. Regardless of the type of physician, the word “doctor" means teacher, (to indoctrinate) and so proper, good quality, healthcare absolutely must include time for education, explanation, and communication. 

EIBBB:            What are the top 3 areas of concern patients come to you with and how do your treatment plans differ from what one might expect from a conventional Western physician's office?
 
Dr. AF:             I see a lot of pain management, digestive issues, and hormonal issues. But to be honest, people rarely come in with just one area of concern. Typically, people come in with a handful of symptoms that are all related, whether they realize it or not. My number one area is helping people put all of their puzzle pieces together, which sets me apart from some conventional medicine approaches. So many people are told their symptoms aren’t related, but of course they are! How could they not be? I love a good assessment and intake process. It breaks my heart how many people get less than 10 minutes with their doctors. That’s not enough time to feel heard or to problem solve. My initial appointment is 90 minutes, because I want that time that to assess and get acquainted with the patient’s symptomatic expression. 

EIBBB:            As you know, I blogged awhile back about nickel allergies that could cause systemic dermatitis. There is an emerging body of research suggesting nickel from foods - e.g., nickel ingested internally - can cause dermatitis, however, a nickel-restricted diet is pretty difficult and seems unhealthy since it eliminates huge swathes of "good-for-you" foods like veggies and legumes.  Have you treated patients with dermatitis caused by nickel (from ingestion) allergies?  Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on this topic?
 
Dr. AF:                      Yes, you are correct. Allergic contact dermatitis commonly occurs as a localized reaction to topical nickel and systemic reactions can occur from dietary nickel ingestion and there is fantastic peer-reviewed research on this. Ingestion of nickel triggers an immune response that often correlations with an exacerbation of contact dermatitis. Nickel, like so many other natural occurring minerals, is necessary in the body in small amounts. We have to assess this from a wide angle though and be mindful to not just place the blame on the wrong culprits here. Before we just blame the veggies and legumes, lets consider other factors. First of all, region, water supply, and soil conditions are going to play a role in a lot of mineral issues. Equipment used in food processing, faucets, and cookware can all contribute, as can the presence of other vitamins and minerals that effect the absorption of nickel like Vitamin C and Iron. Also, nickel is excreted through sweat and stool, so we have to ask what is the patients ability to sweat, digest, and have a normal bowel movement like? If it’s not coming out, of course it’s building up! Also, what is the person’s general immune response like? What is their inflammation like? Acidity also plays a role in nickel allergies. I don’t think step one should necessarily be cut all nickel containing foods, especially since so many of them are high in fiber and are going to cause you to excrete more nickel through your stool anyways. Let’s start by getting to know the role of nickel in each individual and the factors that go into their response of it’s presence. Those are bound to be unique to each case. 

EIBBB:            As a former professional dancer yourself, you probably are familiar with and see a lot of patients with back, hip and foot pain.  What are some of the typical modes of diagnosis and treatment you use for these types of patients?
 
Dr. AF:              I watch them move because I don’t know why they have that pain until I see the way they move through life with those structures. I’m not going to give them an ideologic label just because it’s one I “know a lot about”. There is not and should not be a “hip pain protocol”. Pain can be such a gift into our understanding of how we get through life. I have to do a gait assessment, I want to know what their choreography is like when they go up and down stairs, go from sit to stand, walk across the room, bend over, etc. Our bodies are BRILLIANT and extremely impressive at compensating. If I watch someone move, they’ll show me why and where they are likely to have pain. It’s suggestive of a strategy that has served us well, but may not have been anatomically correct, which will create some discomfort. So much pain comes from just using that area too much and pain is like an alert that says “hey you’re using me too much, and this wasn’t necessarily my job in the first place!” Once I get to know the way their body moves and compensates, I use acupuncture and other manual therapies to help calm the area of awareness, and prescribe corrective exercises to help recreate new strategies that don’t generate discomfort. Holistically, I have to also consider other factors in their life that might be encouraging inflammation through diet, etc. 

EIBBB:            What are some of your favorite general tips for maintaining good health?
 
Dr. AF:           Moderation. Emphasis on basic physiological processes. Sleep well, eat well, breathe well, move more, get sunlight, and stay present with your thoughts. This seems like such a simple thing, but I think we often overcomplicate things and try to hack our way around just keeping it simple. We should observe our own mental awareness and our relationships with all of these physiological processes as well. This is so important for people who are in pain or have a symptomatic expression of some sort. It consumes their thoughts and we get so caught up in just making it go away because it’s wired to our limbic system and considered a perceived threat. But if we change our relationship to symptoms, especially pain, we can start to ask why. Why does my knee hurt? No, it’s not because you’re broken, it’s because you’re so amazing you’re probably using your knee to pick up slack from your hip or ankle that’s moving slightly less than optimal, etc. Meditation and awareness does wonderful things to our ability to check in with ourselves. Symptoms and pain are expressions of the body, and we need a clear state of mind, (and a good assessment!) to start to understand those expressions. When you look at it like that, the goal shifts from “make it stop” to “let’s understand this, listen, and respond.” 

EIBBB:            In recent health news, 3 supplements have been touted for "everyone" - Vitamin D3, probiotics and Omega-3's.  What are your thoughts on that and, for those who enjoy a plant-based diet, what are the best ways to get Omega-3's without consuming animal parts?
 
Dr. AF:            They’re touted for everyone, because they’re necessary in our bodies, but we should remember not everyone is operating at a deficiency and we’re all individuals. What I need and what you need are going to be different, and may not require the same problem solving strategy. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, said “Let thy food be thy medicine”, so it makes sense to at least start there. Vitamin D is created in your skin when sunlight hits it, so it doesn’t make sense to me to cover myself in clothes and a skin barrier and sit inside under flourescent lights all day, and then take a manufactured high dose of a fat soluble vitamin that I’ve got to make sure I can even digest in the first place. There’s a wide range of normal for Vitamin D and recent research has also shown that theres no therapeutic difference in lower ends and higher ends of that wide range. I want to be clear that I’m not encouraging people to stop their supplements, nor am I suggesting these things are bad, I’m encouraging people to ask questions and keep it simple. Vitamin D is necessary for many physiological processes and Vit D deficiencies are a real thing that creates problems. But we do not all need to be on a supplement of it, when you can get it free outside and through food. Probiotics are great and also necessary, but you also may be supplementing the wrong one. If you’ve been on Lactobacillus acidophilus for years, but you actually have a deficiency of Bifidobacterium bifidum, then that Acidophilus supplement isn’t helping. There are great stool sample tests that can help you determine your individual needs. Omegas are also necessary for good functioning, Alpha linolenic acid is an Omega 3 found in many nuts, seeds, and plants. Our bodies will convert a small amount of that ALA into DHA and EPA, so it’s a great idea to boost ALA rich foods in general. Algae derivatives are a vegan source of EPA and DHA, that actually hold up in research in comparison to fish versions. 

EIBBB:            What does "Ethical is Beautiful.  Be Beautiful" mean to you?
 
Dr. AF:            I really love this! The word “ethical” means a lot to me as a person in healthcare and as a person who has followed a plant based diet for over 20 years. Like my other colleagues in medicine, I took a Hippocratic oath when I graduated, where I promised to first and foremost, “Do no harm”. That phrase to me is beautiful because it suggests transparency, authenticity, care, and good intention. God knows I am so far from perfect, but I get to learn a lot every day, and so I make every attempt to prioritize this statement in all professional and personal decision making, because that’s the promise that I made. As long as I hold that sacred, I can be proud of each day when I go to bed each night, and that feels like a beautiful thing to me. 
 
EIBBB:            For those interested in learning more about your holistic medical practice in NYC, how can they contact you?
 
Dr. AF:       You can contact me through my website at www.drannafolckomer.com. I would love the opportunity to help, learn, and grow with anyone who is interested! For more interest in the continuing education seminar series, please visit www.immaculatedissection.com. 
 


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Is Forward the Health Care of the Future?  Maybe...Maybe Not.

2/9/2019

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Futuristic Health Care?
I read about forward when I was Los Angeles based and it seemed amazing – the medical care of the future!  Body scans, blood work, genetic screening, all your data in one place, AND, best of all, 24/7 access to a care team who would have all your data at their fingertips to answer all your questions and help streamline your medical care.  The website promises a mere 1-2 minute wait to see your doctor and an average of a full HOUR spent with a fully focused, caring doctor at every visit.  All this costs about $149 a month.  I decided to give it a go.
 
Quick and Dirty Summary
If you want to skip the lengthy details, my overall grade is a B.  The doctors I met were really nice and seemed medically knowledgeable and quite competent.  The 24/7 online “Care Team” is flat out terrible.  It is also difficult to find anyone to talk to if you are having trouble with the “Care Team.”  The body scan was cool but nothing spectacular.  The genetic profile was fascinating and more helpful than, say, a 23andme health screening, since forward provided preventative steps and other resources to help address anything negative you might be genetically predisposed to.  Having data in one place on your phone is nice, but you could do the same thing with a good primary care doc with a little extra effort on your own part.  The 1-2 minute wait time to see your doctor promised on the website was more like 10-15 minutes in my experience.  The 60 minutes with your doctor promised by the website was an exaggeration in my experience.  I spent about 30 minutes at each visit and did feel like it could get harried and rushed there, the same as at a “normal” doctor’s office.  The unlimited visits sounds nice but I generally found when you text for an appointment, it takes quite a few texts back'n forth before you actually get one and, when scheduling via the app, you're looking at least a week or two out, which may be fine, but it's not as immediate as the website makes it seem.

"Emergency Test":  Since forward promises all manner of blood tests and blood work, I thought when and what from this would I need so urgently that I couldn't just get it from a "normal" primary care doctor?  Well, what if you were in an accident and you needed blood?  The first thing you would need to know is your blood type, if you didn't already know it.  So, after forward did all manner of blood work on me, I texted the "Care Team" and asked them my blood type.  They said they didn't know, don't test for it and that was that.  Epic fail.  
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There are, however, other services that might make it worth your while like unlimited visits to the doc, certain blood testing and a plethora of vaccines that might be especially useful for frequent travelers to exotic locations.  The website promises an on-site pharmacy and free generic prescriptions, however, the one prescription I received from forward, I had to go to a Duane Reade to fill and pay my regular co-pay for.
 
In More Detail
My main issue with forward, and why I wouldn’t give them an A grade, is the 24/7 “Care Team.” Forward promises 24/7 access to a highly qualified team of nurse practitioners, doctors and “care coordinators” who have access to all your data in one place, can answer your questions all the time and can coordinate your appointments, visits, referrals, prescriptions, etc.  That sounds awesome but my experience was a lot different.  
 
The way you contact the “Care Team” is by texting them through an app on your phone.  If you’re lucky enough to have a doctor reply to you, her name and photo will appear by her text.  The vast, vast majority of the time, I had a “care coordinator” respond. These are “anonymous,” bot-like responders who seem to make up the majority of the “Care Team.”  They are perfunctory, don’t often appear to have taken any time to familiarize themselves with your (the patient’s) profile or medical needs, and they had an astoundingly high error rate.  
 
What do I mean by that? One example: both myself and another forward member I know were told by our forward doctors to see outside specialists regarding some (fairly simple) questions.  For me, it was a foot X-Ray.  The “Care Team” is supposed to set up your referral with the outside specialist and they are then supposed to call you to make an appointment.  In both of our cases, the “Care Team” texted us that they’d sent our referrals but days passed and we never got calls to set up the appointments.  We both contacted the “Care Team” again and, after much confused back and forth, were given the numbers of the offices at which to schedule our appointments and told to call ourselves instead of them doing it for us.  We both did so and both of us – we were each calling a different specialist for totally different things – were told by the specialist offices that they had no idea who we were, that forward never made a referral and that they had no idea what we were talking about.  Ummm…oh.
 
My friend, much more determined than me, kept at it, messaging the forward team repeatedly and calling the specialist, until he finally managed to get his appointment, long after he probably should have.  I became frustrated with forward’s lack of response and inability to handle communications with a 3rd party provider and independently went on zocdoc.com and just made myself an appointment with an unrelated office to get the help I needed.
 
Example 2:  When my genetics report was ready, I tried to schedule an appointment and the app told me it would be over a month before a doctor could see me.  What happened to prompt and unlimited visits?!  I had to exchange several texts with the “Care Team” before I finally got a sooner appointment.  The “Care Team” got confused and made mistakes with regard to who the appointment was supposed to be with.  Not a big deal in the grand scheme of thing, however, for $149 a month, you expect a wee little bit more.
 
Example 3:  The one prescription I received from forward (that wasn’t dispensed by the promised on-site pharmacy and did charge me a co-pay) was ineffective.  When I messaged the “Care Team,” to let them know it didn’t work, I got a curt reply to go find myself a specialist then.  No offer, as the website promises, to make a referral or set up another visit or even consult with my doctor at forward.  Ummmm…oh.
 
Example 4:   My forward doctor promised me a list of vegan foods that were high in Omega-3’s (because, really, who doesn’t want to up their intake of plant-based Omega-3’s?) and when I followed up via the app to ask about the list, the “Care Team” literally responded that they do not endorse “a specific kind” – what the heck does that mean?  They don’t endorse specific kinds of food? – and that I should “read through all the choices on Amazon” or “find them at [your] local stores.”  WTF?  I mean, seriously, WTF?  First of all, the doc puts a note that she’ll send me some foods containing Omega-3’s. No endorsements requested. Second, I should read through all the choices on Amazon??? AMAZON?  Not even Google (haha)?  I am being told by the “Care Team” to address my health care needs by searching “Omega-3 foods” on Amazon?  Third, I can find them at my local stores?  Find what, exactly?  That’s what my question was – what exact foods did she recommend I look for?  An Omega-3 from fish oil doesn’t necessarily equate to an Omega-3 in flax oil.  What the physician and I had discussed was how to get a certain Omega-3 benefits typically obtained from fish oil through, instead, plant sources, knowing that flax wasn’t going to be a sufficient substitute and something else would be needed.  
 
I texted back to the “Care Team” and told them that it was pretty much ridiculous that the team who was supposed to centralize, streamline and consolidate all of my medical data and make everything easy never seemed to have a clue what was going on.  When I later got my list of vegan Omega-3 food recs, it contained flax oil (which we’d already discussed WASN’T a sufficient substitute) and scallops (which, sorry, are not vegan – scallops have eyes and they can see and move and feel and all that good stuff (more at https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-scallops-2291857)) and I felt like I couldn’t even respond with the follow up questions about the flax oil (or scallops) because I’d just get another harried and confused bot-like “care coordinator” with no information, off-topic information or wrong information.  Ay yi yi.  
**Side note:  if you need vegan Omega-3's, I went outside forward to an unrelated nutritionist and she told me algal oil and hemp seed oil.**
 
I could actually rant about the “Care Team” for a long time but I figure that’s enough for now.  Bottom line:  if you have a bunch of extra cash and you’ve already donated lots to charity to save the earth and still have spare cash, it’s worth a try.  If you have mild, chronic, easily-treatable maladies and/or travel to exotic locations a lot, might be cost effective for you because you could go the doctor’s office all the time and/or get most of your travel vaccines there.  For specialized maladies, they’re just going to refer you out anyway, so…not helpful. Having the blood work and genetic data at your fingertips is cool, but I could probably get it similarly situated with one good primary care physician, too.
 
Forward could fix this and they should.  A first step would be including the name of whoever you're chatting with on their app so there is at least some accountability.  So far, I haven’t gotten much response or satisfaction from the “Care Team.”  I like the doctors, though.
 
That’s my take. Looking forward to hearing thoughts from anyone else who has tried forward.  

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Super Easy, No Bake, Lick-The-Bowl-Good Energy Bars

1/5/2019

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I was buying crazy expensive "detox" and "energy" bars for long days when healthy eating was going to be tough (think generic craft services on set that were reaaally unhealthy (loads of animal products, fats, processed garbage, pesticides, etc.)).  I started thinking about the waste caused by all the plastic-y wrappers on each bar I ate and feeling bad about it.  So, I started experimenting with creating my very own and I finally have a perfect recipe to share.  You can make these in 10 minutes and you can store them for basically forever in the freezer, pop 'em in a glass jar or re-useable glass Tupperware to take to school, work, on the plane/train/car, wherever.  They're quick, yummy, easy, and give a nice clean boost of energy.  Basically, just throw all the ingredients listed below into a bowl, rub your hands with some coconut oil and knead all the ingredients together like they're a bread or a pizza crust.  Shape the well-combined mixture into a rectangle on a baking sheet lightly greased with coconut oil and pop it in the freezer.  When you're ready to eat them, just cut them into squares or rectangles like typical granola bars or go all creative and make circles or stars or go totally uncreative and just lop off however much you want to eat at that given time!

It's best to freeze them at least a half hour before eating them but I've eaten them right away and, as long as the nut or seed butter base I used was thick and gooey, instead of watery, they're still deliciously perfect.

You will need:

1.  1 cup quick organic oats

2.  4 T maple syrup OR stevia to taste (you can sample the batter as you make this; I recommend tasting as you go so you can adjust these measurements to suit your own tastes)

3.  1/8 cup organic cacao powder (I recommend Bright Earth's 100% organic cacao powder)

4.  1 T powdered organic vanilla

5.  1 T ceylon cinnamon 

6.  1/8 t cardamom

7.  1/4 t pink Himalayan sea salt

8.  1 cup creamy (or crunchy!) almond butter, peanut butter (withOUT palm oil - make sure the sole ingredient is peanuts), cashew butter, or other nut or seed butter of your choice.  

9. 1 T spirulina powder

10.  1 t L-ascorbic Vitamin C powder *optional (immunity and binds to heavy metals to help eliminate them)

11.  1 t carao syrup (to boost iron levels and athletic endurance) *optional

12.  A little coconut oil to grease the pan and to put on your hands to prevent the mixture from sticking to them while you knead it.

13.  3-4 dates

14.  A handful of raisins and/or shredded, unsweetened coconut

Other Optional Add-In's:
Apricots, figs or other dried fruits you like (each has its own health benefits - apricot for iron, cranberries for urinary and digestive health, dried tart cherries for their anti-inflammatory properties, etc.), crushed chlorella tablets for extra detox, walnuts for additional Omega-3's, MSM organic sulfur (to boost skin and joint health), the contents of a probiotic capsule for additional gut health benefits, etc.  For even more protein, add a scoop of Garden of Earth unflavored, unsweetened, vegan protein powder.  You can really create the perfect clean on-the-go meal to suit exactly what you need.  

For ease, I've put links to some of the harder-to-find ingredients below, however, you should be able to get most of these easily from any good health food store.

Enjoy!


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How One Person - YOU! - Saves the World

12/7/2018

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The headlines are screaming at us that the world is ending.  We have about 12 years to fix the planet or we’re all going to die!  By the time our grandkids are born the earth will be uninhabitable for humans!  Our fruits, veggies and grains aren’t safe because the earth is so polluted! Our meat isn’t safe because industrialized farming is packing it full of scary hormones and antibiotics!  Nothing from the ocean is safe because it’s all full of microplastics that cause cancer and infertility!  Even our air is so polluted, it’s going to kill us if we breathe it!  Don’t drink! Don’t eat!  Don’t breathe!  
 
At this point, most of us are tempted to just go to bed and pull the covers over our heads and eat some (probably-also-going-to-kill-us) chocolate.  Our planet’s problems seem so enormous and dire; they’re practically beyond our scope of comprehension and certainly out of our control, right? Well, hold up.  Not exactly.  It’s easy to do nothing because you can’t solve the whole thing, but if we each do a few small things, it can all add up to one big save.  With that in mind, I have some individualized one-person-saves-the-planet tips and tricks for you to incorporate into your daily life that are low-key, not dramatic and totally doable.
 
This isn’t about the politicized phrase “climate change” or about politics.  Because whatever you believe about rising sea levels (or not), I think (hope!) all of us can agree on two things:  (1) we would like to have clean water, clean air and clean soil so we can live happily and healthily – or, to put it another way, we don’t want anyone sticking us with filthy water, air or soil; and (2) if we wait for our politicians (of whatever party) to save us, well, we’re all gonna die.
 
Are we with each other on this one?  Clean planet for us and our progeny and screw the politicians?  

​I have 8 simple suggestions.  I originally wrote them all into one blog post, however, it was so long I thought it might be easier if I broke it down.  If you want to read the whole thing in one go, the long, detailed blog post is here.

If you prefer it broken into segments, just click on them in any order you choose for more details:

 
1.  Ditch the Plastic
This one is the hardest because we are surrounded by plastic!  It's in everything from our water bottles to our grocery bags.  Never fear, though, I have some easy tips to 
incorporate into your daily living that will not only help you reduce your plastic impact on the planet, but will improve your health and even add some green to your wallet!  Read on here!

2.  Recycle and Re-Use and (of course) Reduce
You hear this ALL the time, but, specifically, what does it really mean for each of us as an individual and, again, how we can we do these nice things to help clean up our earth, air and water while, at the same time, creating immediate benefits to ourselves.  What about furniture and fixtures and electronics and clothing and old sheets and towels?  I am so glad you asked.  Read on here!


3.  Eat Organic
Cutting back on your intake of chemical pesticides and herbicides can drastically improve your health and that of your earth, air and water.   Curious how and why?  Click here.

4.  Eat Plant-Based
A plant based diet will make you leaner, healthier and happier.  It also just happens to be awesome for the earth.  Want the 411 behind how and why?  Of course you do.  Check out how you can easily "health" up your eating without dieting and while still enjoying all your fav comfort foods here.  For those of you commercially producing animal meat and dairy, there are amazing organizations like my own beloved A2Px out there that will help you transition to often more lucrative plant-based farming to supply the burgeoning plant-based protein/meat/dairy industry instead.  Don't knock it til you try it.

5.  If You Drive, Drive Electric.  Regardless, Make Your Commute Eco Friendly
For some of us, driving is a necessity, however, we don't want to breath in all the nasty chemicals that the exhaust of the typical conventional car produces.  Car exhaust is super bad to breath in and diesel engine exhaust is a "Group 1" carcinogen (that means it most definitely causes cancer in humans - more on that here).  Let's try not to get cancer, shall we?  For more on making your commute clean, click here.

6.  Use Your Energy Thoughtfully
Most of us (me 
included) don't really think much about the planet when we pay our electric bill or run a load of laundry, however, a ton of tiny things we do in the way we use energy can improve our health, make the planet cleaner and even provide us with some financial benefits.  Read on here.

7.  Consume Thoughtfully
Even small choices in your shopping, like what brand of shoes you buy, can have significant impact on the planet.  I have some cheat sheets for you here (don't worry; they're not long or complicated).

8.  Garden (even in a city apartment)
My personal favorite:  easy ways to green your space to make your air cleaner, your mind more relaxed and possibly even give you some free fresh herbs, fruits, veggies, and/or flowers.  Even if, like me, you are the opposite of a green thumb and live in a small urban apartment, you can still enjoy some green!  Check it here.
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Some people will argue that some of these changes are worth more or less than others.  Cool.  Put the emphasis wherever is easiest or makes most sense to you.  Customize this to you and don’t get overwhelmed because if we each do some small things, it all adds up to one gigantic thing.  Get out of bed, put down the chocolate and go save the world … because you actually can!
 
Footnotes & References
[1]See, e.g., https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/microplastics#health-effects,https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/22/health/microplastics-land-and-air-pollution-intl/index.html,http://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/feature/microplastics/,https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/microplastics-have-been-found-in-peoples-poop-mdash-what-does-it-mean/,https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-health-pollution-waste-microplastics/.  
[2]See, e.g., https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/19/are-we-poisoning-our-children-with-plastic
[3]See, e.g., https://food.ndtv.com/facts/storing-your-vegetables-in-plastic-bags-heres-why-you-need-to-stop-1729511
[4]See, e.g., https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-organic-food-cancer-20181022-story.html
[5]https://www.consumerreports.org/pesticides-herbicides/easy-way-to-remove-pesticides/
[6]See, e.g., https://www.parents.com/baby/diapers/cloth/eco-friendly-diapering/?slideId=slide_b68e1d04-72ec-455b-9acc-19a4600a3d3a#slide_b68e1d04-72ec-455b-9acc-19a4600a3d3a
[7]See, e.g., https://www.ewg.org/release/massive-study-finds-eating-organic-slashes-cancer-risks
[8]See, e.g., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3569688/,  https://www.ewg.org/release/massive-study-finds-eating-organic-slashes-cancer-risks,https://www.newsweek.com/eating-organic-foods-linked-lower-cancer-risk-1182713,https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/29/usda-diet-nutrition-environment-sustainability-omega-3-beef,
[9]https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150311-cow-agriculture-cattle-dairy-beef-health-food-ngbooktalk/
[10]Id.
[11]See also https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-plantbased-diets-weight-20150122-story.html
[12]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6132564/
[13]https://www.healwithfood.org/articles/buckwheat-complete-protein.php
[14]See, e.g., https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/list-amino-acids-grain-quinoa-1405.html
[15]https://www.cleancult.com/blog/substitutes-for-dryer-sheets/
[16]https://www.thespruce.com/vinegar-in-the-washing-machine-1900128

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Green Your Space!

12/7/2018

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Garden (even in a city apartment)

This has so many benefits beyond just making our air cleaner and enriching our soil.  It’s also extremely calming and studies show we are happier when surrounded by greenery and plants.  “I hate being happy,” said nobody ever.  

For those, like me, who live in big cities and can’t run around planting trees or creating big gardens outside (we’d probably get arrested), there are awesome home kits.  

If you’re lucky enough to have a balcony, put out some tomato plants.  Not only are they neat-looking and fast-growing, you can eat the resulting tomatoes, which are rich in lycopene which improves your cardiovascular health and helps prevent cancer.  BOO YAH!  Here is a link to some tomato growing kits.  

You can also do window herb gardens or, and check THIS out (it’s on my Christmas list – please, Santa?  Please? Please?  Please?): a tabletop AEROGARDEN to grow your very own deliciously scented herbs, flowers, fruits, and/or veggies year-round:  https://www.aerogarden.com.  

For those in rural areas and/or lucky enough to have their own yards and access to land, plant away!  My favorite source for all things gardening is the Gardener’s Supply Company.  Regardless, always go organic however and wherever you plant.  Skip the pesticides, chemicals and say no to GMO seeds.  After all, you want to help yourself and the planet, not hurt both.  You don’t want to be exposed to toxic chemicals, even if you are growing non-edible flowers instead of veggies, fruits or herbs.    Gardeners.com has a lot of tips and tricks for how to avoid pests and problems without the use of nasty pesticides and, if you’re growing inside, it’s even easier.  You absolutely don’t need them.  
 
I decided to grow lavender inside (yes, it can be done!) and now everything smells serene and beautiful and I am happier for it.  And, I have the opposite of a green thumb.  I am wanted for plant murder in some states so, if I can do it, you can definitely do it.  And you will be happier, calmer and more zen if you do.  It’s like a gift for yourself that’s a gift to the world.
 
So go on! Green your space!  You’re going to be glad you did it.

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Thoughtful Consumption

12/7/2018

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One Way to Help Save the Planet?  Consume Thoughtfully
​

Do a little research before you buy.  Whether it’s shoes, clothes, jewelry, or cars, a little research to make sure what you’re buying is responsibly sourced goes a long way.  C’mon.  You can do it for the planet (and yourself).
 
For anything made of fabric, I recommend making sure it is Oeko-Tex certified. For more on that and to search all products, click here.
 
To save you time, here are some links to helpful outside sites:
 
Furniture - https://ecocult.com/ultimate-guide-eco-friendly-ethical-furniture/
 
Clothing and Shoes - https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/vegan-eco-clothing-belongs-in-your-closet/
 
Jewelry - https://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/sustainable-fashion/looking-ethical-eco-friendly-jewelry/
 
In general, it’s sort of the same rules as for foods – the items that are the best for your health and that of our planet’s tend to be free of animal products, chemicals and toxins.  Kind of a no-brainer.

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Energy for You.  Energy for the Planet.

12/7/2018

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Use Your Energy Thoughtfully

Home
Use an energy provider that uses clean energy, like Green Mountain. It’s super easy to enroll and you will be on the exact same energy grid you were on before.  I use it and my bills are actually quite a bit less now with no decrease in service.  They have no idea my blog exists and they definitely aren’t paying me to say that. Check it out here. 
 
If you’re lucky enough to have a house, you can install Tesla’s Powerwall and charge your home for free, courtesy of our friend the sun.

Laundry

Use a biodegradable, chemical-free, dye-free, fragrance-free detergent (I love Go by Greenshield Organic) and wash in cold water as much as you can. Try not to wash until you have a full load’s worth of clothes to save energy.  Simple stuff but it matters.  I use pureWash which uses oxygen to clean laundry so I can skip hot water and detergent.
 
Also, ditch the fabric softener and dryer sheets.[15]  You can substitute vinegar for fabric softener[16] and, for freshly scented clothes, just put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a bit of fabric and throw it in the dryer with your clothes.  Gorgeous!

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Eco Friendly Commuting

12/7/2018

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If You Drive, Drive Electric.  Regardless, Make Your Commute Eco Friendly

Electric cars are awesome.  I know. I drive a Tesla.  https://www.tesla.com  My costs in NYC come to roughly $8-10 per 300+ miles for charging my vehicle and they even have a converter with which, were I ever in a pinch, I could just plug MY CAR into a regular old outlet.  Heck, yeah!  If you’re lucky enough to have a house, you can install Tesla’s solar panel (see  “Solar and Powerwall” on their website link above) and charge both your home and car for free, courtesy of our friend the sun.
 
There are a gajillion electric and hybrid car choices.  Many states offer you tax incentives and other $$ help if you go green, so ask the car dealership for information on this when you go car shopping. There’s also an awesome free app called Plug Share that will locate chargers nearby for you.  Why be a dinosaur?  Join me in the future with fast, gas-free cars that are safe, environmentally friendly and, best of all, so freakin’ fun to drive.  If you live near a Tesla dealership, go and test drive a car even if you’re not in the market to buy.  If you like to drive and you like fast cars, you are going to have fun.
 
Regardless of awesome cars, consider walking or biking whenever you can because it’s good exercise as well as good for the planet.  Use ride shares and/or public transit to cut down on air pollution.  In other words, just be sensible.

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Plant Based Eating for a Healthy Planet

12/7/2018

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Save the Planet by Cutting Back On Or Eliminating Meat, Dairy & Seafood (don’t freak out; I’ll explain why and give you lots of good substitutes)

Industrialized slaughter of cows and pigs and other animals, as well as the dairy industry, causes all kinds of pollution; more, in fact, than every single car’s emissions in the country.[9]   If you're the owner of or worker in one of those slaughterhouses or dairy farms, don't get mad at me.  Join me in producing supply to meet the demand of the biggest up-and-comer around:  plant protein.  You can stay in the "meat" and "dairy" industry; but switch to plant-based farming which will allow you to actually enrich the soil through the organic farming of crops desperately needed to fill a gigantically growing demand from the plant-based milk and "meat" markets (sunflower seeds, peas, quinoa, buckwheat, the list goes on and on).  Indeed, the vegan (plant-based) snack market is set to be worth $73 billion by 2028 (read more here) and more and more consumers are becoming educated on the significant health benefits of plant-based eating.  Companies like my beloved A2Px exist specifically to help animal farmers transition to more lucrative plant-based farmers to create vibrant and much-needed new plant supply chains; breaking antiquated old chains that harm our farmers, planet and overall health.  Message them to learn more at https://www.facebook.com/A2Px1/.
 
Further, the meat product of industrialized slaughter is not good for us despite what too many of our politicians and lobbyists might say (as they line their pockets with cash from special interest groups – ahem).  As National Geographic put it:  "industrial feedlots where castle stand knee-deep in their own feces, pumped full of antibiotics and growth hormones for them; clogged arteries, obesity and heart attacks for us."  See National Geographic (emphasis added).  In other words, being carnivorous in our crazy world is polluting the planet and making us fat and sick.
 
Only 1 in 10 Americans eats the recommended amount of produce and, if we increase our fruit and veggie consumption and go to a primarily plant-based diet, we could prevent 20,000+ cases of cancer EVERY YEAR!  While we’re at it, we will also lower our risk of high blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular disease.  
 
On the fat thing, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine found that people on plant-based diets lost around 10 lbs/month when they first began going plant-based, regardless of calorie counting or exercise.[11]  Obviously, your weight will stabilize at some point.  This is a study of overweight people trying to lose weight.
 
Seafood doesn’t save you because remember the microplastics issue we discussed above?  Fish, lobster, shrimp, etc., are full of them! According to a terrifying NIH study that I read so you don’t have to, we are looking at some serious microplastic contamination with all the associated health risks.[12]
 
Around this point, a lot of people start screaming, BUT PROTEIN!!  First of all, ALL plant-based foods contain some protein.  Animal flesh is not the exclusive protein holder of the world.  The difference is some plants do not have “complete proteins” – in other words, all 9 amino acids.  Note: buckwheat[13] and quinoa[14] have all 9 amino acids and are thus complete proteins on their own.  Take that, hamburger!  But even for the rest of our plant protein friends, you just have to “stack” them (in other words, eat two different types together – like rice and beans, for example) to get your complete protein.  There. That wasn’t so hard.
 
Now, I know.  So-called comfort food is full o’ animal flesh and dairy. But what if you could have your cake and eat it too?  You can! There are amazing veggie burgers, vegan milks, plant-based seafood, ice-cream, basically anything your heart desires.  It just takes a little gumption and a commitment to your and your family’s health and well-being (oh, yeah, and the planet).  
 
I blogged extensively on this here:
 
General Overview of Excellent Brands Supplying Plant-Based Comfort Foods - http://jenniferbetityen.weebly.com/ethical-is-beautiful-be-beautiful-a-blog/the-best-nom-noms-for-health-home-heart
 
Plant-Based Dairy - http://jenniferbetityen.weebly.com/ethical-is-beautiful-be-beautiful-a-blog/for-the-love-of-cheese
 
Plant-Based Meats - http://jenniferbetityen.weebly.com/ethical-is-beautiful-be-beautiful-a-blog/ethical-meat-lovers-meat-guide
 
Plant-Based Seafood – some good options here are Sophie’s Kitchen (I love their seafood jambalaya) and Good Catch.  Just check in with your local health food store or order from the companies’ websites.
 
If this seems overwhelming, check out my recipes on this blog and, if you need someone else to jump start you, try a food delivery service temporarily just to get ideas and the hang of it, such as Sakara (https://www.sakara.com) or Purple Carrot (https://www.purplecarrot.com).  

A well-reviewed (but not free) app that helps you find healthy plant-based restaurant options near you, virtually anywhere in the world is "Happy Cow":  www.happycow.net/mobile
 
Basically, eating plant-based is good for you and it’s good for the planet.  According to the Guardian:
 
Appealing to the various drivers of people’s diet choices could help address not only the nation’s obesity problem, but also the environmental impacts of food production, even the stability of the food supply chain. For example, decreased consumption of meat could have a major impact on water usage. According to Arlin Wasserman, founder of food consultancy Changing Tastes, Americans currently get about 15% of their protein from plant-based sources. Shifting that to 25% could result in enough water savings to provide two-thirds of California’s water supply.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/29/usda-diet-nutrition-environment-sustainability-omega-3-beef 

So go eat your plants, vegetables and grains and be happy, healthy and free!

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Eating Organic

12/7/2018

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Filling your body with weird chemicals is just generally unhealthy. You don’t have to be a doctor or rocket scientist to figure that out.  Unfortunately, toxic pesticides linked to cancer, such as weed killer glyphosate and organophosphate pesticides malathion and diazinon, among others, are used on conventionally grown food crops.[7]  Not only do these chemicals badly contaminate the soil and water, they can get into the plant’s root structure and, once that happens, there’s no washing them away. They’re going in your body if you eat the food.  
 
If I gave you a bottle of weed killer or bottle of insecticide and told you to drink it, you’d tell me to go to someplace not very nice, wouldn’t you?  So, why are you eating food awash in that gunk?  Stop.  I want you to live a healthy life.  You want to live a healthy life.  Go organic.
 
Also, for those looking to whittle their waistlines: guess what?  Toxins like those mentioned above are stored in your fat tissues and, if you consume too much, guess what your body does?  Makes MORE FAT to store those toxins.  Yup.  Makes more fat just as a little gift to you along with that increased risk o’ cancer! That’s according to an NIH study, among other sources.  Not “Fake News”!  Unless you feel like getting sick and fat, the best thing to do is go organic.  According to the British Journal of Nutrition, organic produce has 70% more antioxidants (yay!  Anti-aging!) than conventionally grown produce and study after study after study shows eating organic can slash your risk of a whole host of health problems, such as cancer.[8]
 
The downside is organic can be more expensive. Many of us joke “Whole Foods Whole Paycheck.”  That being said, a great way to get less expensive organic produce is by using local farmer’s markets.  It’s also a great way to support local, organic fruit, vegetable and grain farmers who are improving our planet through responsible organic farming.  Just google “organic farmer’s markets in [insert name of your city]” and you should get a whole host of results.

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Recycle, Re-Use and (of course) Reduce

12/7/2018

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Old Clothes and Textiles (fancy term for fabrics like sheets and towels)

If your things are gently worn, donate them to Goodwill or another charity so someone else can benefit from them. If they’re ripped or stained, there are plenty of textile (fabric) donation spots.  The clothing retailer, H&M, accepts donations of used clothes and textiles at any of their stores AND they’ll even give you a discount coupon to say thanks!  
 
Click here for a terrific list of places that take old clothes and fabrics, even old undies.

Old Furniture, Appliances and Fixtures

Gently used?  Donate or sell!  I use Craig’s List to sell my old furniture all the time and it works like a charm.  
 
You can also donate!  Salvation Army, Goodwill and a host of others may be able to put your old furniture, electronics and fixtures to good use!  Here are two terrific resource guides (in some cases, you can get tax deductions for donations and free pick up’s of heavy items):

Houzz  
and
Moving.com
 
For mattresses, click here for info on how to recycle those.
 
For bigger ticket items, like bathtubs – say, if you’re doing a home renovation - just google places like Big Reuse (https://bigreuse.org, located in New York City), which can recycle and re-use this bigger items.
​

A lot of companies, such as Apple and Staples, will recycle your electronics, even giving you money for them if they’re recent enough and, even if they’re old, providing you with a free prepaid shipping label (for more on Apple's program, click here).  Most Staples and Bed, Bath & beyond stores have areas you can drop off old batteriesto be recycled, as well.
 
Many cities, such as New York, offer electronics recycling and you can just do a quick google search for electronics recycling in your city for the 411 there.    

If You Have Extra Disposable Income, You Can Literally Recycle EVERYTHING
This one I am putting last because, financially, it’s just not a real option for a lot of people.  If you makes heaps o’ money though and have some disposable income you’d be happy to allocate to saving our planet, you can pay to conveniently recycle pretty much anything at terracycle.com.  They send you shipping labels and boxes and you fill ‘em up with, again, just about anything and they swear they’ll recycle all of it. They do have some free recycling programs, but there are wait lists for most of them (I know; I’ve been on one of their waitlists for over a year).  The pay programs are fast and easy … however they do cost money.
 
Terracycle has free recycling programs for bigger entities like schools and companies, so, if you’re feeling ballsy, loudly advocate for your work and/or your kid’s (or your) school to get their recycling services.
 

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