My Black is NOT Cracking.

I'm not Aging. I'm appreciating in value!

Stella needs to get her groove back!

KAVON

6 comments

May 4, 2020

This isn’t really a post about getting a groove back. This is a post about body image.

I’m not a shopper.  I don’t go to the store to see if there is anything I want to buy. I have also always been more inclined to spend hours in a bookstore, over a mall. (When they existed!) I have always been the type to only go to the store when I needed something or some things.  Hell, I stopped Christmas shopping many years ago and started handing out Amex gift cards to avoid shopping!

Never a fan of malls or huge department stores, I did enjoy going to smaller boutiques and finding unique items that you would probably never find in a mall!  I viewed fashion more like art and as a means of expression, as opposed to just something to put on.  That type of shopping I used to enjoy. 

I would pick up a few things each season.  I would shop for special events and vacations.  That is about it.  It was never fun, but never traumatic.  So, when did shopping become such a daunting and exhausting chore?  When I stopped liking the way my body looks seems to correspond.

In a few weeks I would be traveling to the islands for an annual event.  In an attempt to make international travel a little less stressful I decided that I was not going to check a bag.  The challenge is how to pack for six days with just a carry on.  My jewelry and shoes used to take up my carry on along with a few “In case they lose my checked bag,” outfits.  My big bag was always overweight and filled with wayyyyy too many articles of clothing.  It was just great to have options!

I came up with the idea that I would wear only lightweight sundresses in fabric that I could just roll up and throw in the bag.  I could wear my work out clothes and gym shoes to travel and just wash them since I typically work out every other day. 

Great plan!  Except, I didn’t own 12 sundresses!  Well, I am sure I do, but since my closet is now split between three locations and mostly packed away (long story) I would have no way of knowing where to find them.  (It was a last minute trip as I was going to cancel the trip.  Another long story.) 

I needed to do a little shopping and luckily being in sunny California at the time, I thought I might still be able to find some sundresses on some sales racks!  You can pretty much find all seasons of clothing here, but more so at certain times of the year. (And they wear them all at the same time ya’ll. Boots, scarves with shorts and tank tops. It’s confusing for us east coast folks used to wearing one season of clothes at a time!)

So off I went to the stores searching for those sundresses.  I decided to focus on a few colors to keep the number of sandals I needed to pack to a minimum.   For most, this would be fun!  Not being a mall girl, I head to a few of my favorite boutiques where I typically could score some nice unique pieces at reasonable prices.  There’s also a designer resale shop I frequent where more often than not, the clothes I pick up still have tags on them.  It is LA for God’s sake!

Well, let me tell you.  Who knew what a traumatic experience this trip would turn out to be?  Why?  Because what I loved on the hanger, I hated on my body!

I used to love showing off toned arms.  They’re still toned! It is the armpits that now resemble wrinkled labia that bother me.  The armpits and the elbows have become the issues. 

It wasn’t an issue until I was having drinks with two male friends who on the prowl, as always, enlightened me by sharing with me that they could tell a woman’s age by her elbows.  And of course, both of them close to my age, were interested in younger women.  Sadly it’s a bit of an epidemic.

Until one of them made that statement, I hadn’t really given much thought to my elbows. I don’t even think I looked at my elbows for any reason other than to see if they were ashy! (For women who are not women of color…that refers to our dry skin that looks like we have been dipped in chalk and the remedy is lotion!) Thank you friends for that tidbit of knowledge that I have yet one more aging body part to be bothered by.  They do look a tad like accordion blinds!

I found at least twenty really adorable items and tried them on.  One issue was that they were “adorable.”  Am I too old to wear adorable?  Will I look like an older woman trying to look younger and adorable in this get up?  But wait, just because I’m older, does that mean I have to wear some “older lady” uniform? 

I used to like really flowy non-fitted clothes even when I was really tiny.  I liked the look and the freedom.  Now freeform looks like a Moo Moo and that I’m intentionally hiding things. 

Once I filled out at 37!!!!! (yeah, 37) I felt comfortable showing off my curves.   Now that I have this kangaroo-less meno-pouch, doesn’t look so hot!  Curves in the front kinda bother me.  Not to mention the bumps and bulges in the back.  Strapless used to be cute on me.  (Even though I hated it because I was always thinking it was going to come down!)  I could rock strapless.  Now with this bra fat spilling over the edges, not so cute on me! These things do not bother everyone and that is a wonderful thing. I need to get there!

I think my best feature is my legs, so I tend to prefer shorter dresses.  (Settle down. Not that short!) They’re the part that I feel most confident about.  Okay, well the bottom half!  And that was before I got a good look at my knees that are also adorned with accordion blinds these days in a lovely shade slightly darker than the rest of me! 

It was exhausting.  I took my bag-less, dress-less ass to a wine bar a few doors down to drown my sorrows.  Why was that experience so depressing and stressful? Why am I suddenly so uncomfortable in my body?  By all accounts, I’m in pretty good shape.  Do I need some therapy or just a second glass of wine? (Probably both!) Let’s try the Cabernet.

I’m supposed to be at my IDGAF age! (Figure it out!  It’s text language!) Why do I GAF? I see so many bold, beautiful, confident women in all shapes and sizes.  Why am I suddenly not one of them?

Why?  Here’s one reason.  Because we middle aged women are bombarded with messages telling us the way we look is unacceptable.  Magazines tell us how to fight wrinkles.  Freeze Fat! Cover this up!  Cut that off!  Don’t show this or that.  Society views us as less desirable and useful.  We become invisible.   Men our age (And not all before you men get your boxers in a bunch!) want women our daughter’s age.  If I had to guess, I would assume it is because of their own issues with aging.

We are hard pressed until lately (and we’re still largely absent) to find ourselves on TV or in movies.  (“We” being middle-aged women) We grace the cover of plastic surgery magazines.  Oprah is the only middle-aged woman you see monthly on a magazine and that’s because she owns the damn thing! 

The only commercials we are in are the ones for antidepressants where we look like we have one foot in the grave or in a bathtub next to a guy with a bottle of erectile dysfunction meds.  Or we are posing in front of the mirror in an adult diaper. (And we are not all astronauts! Oh. Only I remember that story?) It is no wonder we feel so bad about our aging bodies!  Tell me it’s not just me.  If it is, lie to me!

I cannot allow myself to sink down that rabbit hole.  I definitely have one foot in, but I refuse to go any further.  I must work on my body image issues.  I must accept and embrace this time in my life and the body that I am in.  That other one is gone.

Yes, I can improve the one that I’m in with some lifestyle changes, but I need to be happy in the skin I am in until those changes I wish to make are visible.  And if those changes never happen, I have to work on being confident and happy as I am.  Change is difficult. But beautiful beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. As we age our priorities shift, most often for the better! We start to worry a lot less about the stupid crap that used to consume us. That’s a fairly decent trade.

What is more important than how I look on the outside, is how I feel on the inside, both physically and emotionally. It is not about whether I feel like I’m too fat or too skinny, the question I need to concern myself with is, do I feel healthy? And If I don’t, I need to take action and that means mind, body and soul. But you really must learn to accept the things you cannot change and focus on the positive changes you can make. Besides, I totally believe this to be true. If you believe you look good, someone else will too, because confidence is sexy. Just saying.

I had two more weeks before my trip.  I went back ladies.  I’m no quitter.  I told myself, I will not be naked on my trip! Unless of course, Stella decided to get her groove back!  Then all bets were off!

Postscript:  I wrote this a while back when I thought I might launch my blog.  But here is the update. Stella didn’t buy one dress. Stella wore mostly cut offs and t-shirts the whole trip.  Stella had way too much Sauv Blanc. The weather was crappy.  And Stella didn’t get S#*t!  Not a groove.  No Winston. Nothing.  Totally Stella’s fault.

There’s always next year.  Maybe by then I will have adjusted my attitude with regard to body image.   

How do you feel? What’s on your mind?

Ageism – The “Corona” Covid 19 Special Edition

KAVON

3 comments

May 2, 2020

Photo by Macau Photo Agency on Unsplash

Well damn.  As if aging isn’t challenging enough!  We are already dealing with our own emotions and psychological issues related to our changing faces and bodies, so we really don’t need the extra crap.  I couldn’t wait until Monday! I needed to talk about Ageism.

Now, my gray is hidden under some “Just Five” do-it-yourself brown coloring, otherwise I would be sporting a head that looks like a Christmas tree with too much tinsel.  And for those of you too young to remember tinsel, Google it.   

But wearing my natural gray would make me look much older than I am ready to look! Sadly this would open me up to even more discrimination than we as women, are already subjected to.  We don’t even need to kick that up a notch by being a woman of color.  That’s extra!

I’m struggling with this gray thing.  Real talk! A man wearing his gray is distinguished and sexy.   A woman, not so much, but we will save that for another upcoming post about the trauma that the transition to gray can be for women.  Not all.  But I know I am not alone here.  Stay tuned.

This is about age discrimination.  The New York Times did a story related to the corona virus about older adults, “increasingly seeing behavior and rhetoric that implies their lives are not as valuable as reviving the economy.” 

For those of us not all dyed up and in that over 60 “higher risk for the Rona,” a/k/a Covid 19, age group, we don’t need youngsters eyeballing us, blaming us because they can’t go to the beach or hang on a bar stool.  I’m fairly lucky to not have any of what is considered “high-risk issues,” but sadly, that is just not the case for many women in my age bracket.  For men, I believe it’s statistically worse.

Age discrimination is quite real.  I spoke with my part-time employer about resuming a full time position after having agreed to reduced hours a few years back.  She suggested that I should maybe just get something else full time as the needs in the department I was in had changed.   Only, it’s not that easy at my age to, “just get something else.”    Late 50’s is not the time to be looking for employment. 

Last time I was looking, I intentionally left years of work experience off my resume because it would draw too much attention to my age.  I have been fortunate that most of my life, my work has been through referral.  I think I have done three or four interviews in twenty years and was hired each time.    But I’ve been with this one almost ten years and sadly, it’s quite different to be looking in your late 40’s, than it is in your late 50’s!  And I was lucky in my late 40’s to not look it!  It’s catching up and I’m tired of running.

Luckily I was offered a new position, but most are not that fortunate.  I know other women just looking for work to supplement their retirement and they can’t “BUY” a job.  Women with advanced degrees and impressive work experience can’t get a call. Ageism is a thing!

So the last thing we (and not all because I know there are many that don’t have these issues) needed on top of having to spend so much time and energy covering up our ages, is to be discriminated against behind the corona virus. 

The world may not realize this, but ya’ll need us around!  Most of us are pretty damn smart.  We have had experiences that can benefit younger folks.  Wisdom!  That’s what we have that these young’uns don’t have yet.  (The guilty people know who they are.)  You have to earn that!  You cannot order that shit on Amazon! 

We know how to play real instruments.  We know how to write real songs.  (Don’t ya’ll cough on Stevie Wonder!  And stay away from Quincy!) We can spell without spell check. (We still might have some typos.  I never said we were perfect!) We can sign our names.  We are educated.  We are strong by default because we have been through it! 

We are resilient.  And those before us, endured even more.  Unbelievable amounts of crap, so your life could be a little better.   And we dealt with the residuals of the pain and struggle of those that came before us.  So, uh we are pretty badass in terms of value! Don’t let these cracks and crevices fool you!

We might have polluted up a bit. Sorry.  And the food industry poisoned us up a bit so we might not all be in the best of shape.  (We are working on it!)  If nothing else, this virus is highlighting how unhealthy we were to start with.  (Most of us! Not just the older adults) It is exposing how weak our immune systems are.  All of that can be addressed and improved upon.  Information was not as easily available when we were coming up.  We didn’t know what we know now. 

We wouldn’t have invented plastic.  Or maybe they (I had nothing to do with it) did know better.  Greed has been around a long ass time too.  But, we are a valuable part of society and you’re going to miss us when we are gone. 

Again, I’m one of the healthier folks, so I ain’t scared of you.  But don’t look at us as if we are the reason you can’t go outside and play. Our generation, for the most part was taught manners.  I can speak for my girls at least.  Try not covering your mouth at home when you coughed or sneezed.  Just try it. 

We didn’t come up with no damn time out.  So we weren’t walking around coughing and sneezing on people spreading this mess. Men had handkerchiefs and women had packs of tissue in our purses.  That handkerchief thing is kinda nasty in retrospect.  At least we women threw the tissues out.  We didn’t shove it back in our pockets!  Ewh.

I have never been a fan of the handshake, but that was a result of seeing folks leave public restrooms straight out the stall! Then I have to be Bruce Lee and kick my foot up to open the door with my shoe! Those hand dryers seemed like a good idea for the environment, but not for leaving the restroom behind someone that skipped the soap and water thing! Maybe we will ALL become hand washers now! About time!

Any way, my point is you better recognize.  We are a valuable part of society if you take the time to talk to us.  Let some of this wisdom rub off on ya!

The lesson isn’t necessarily aimed at us, (my 50+ crew) and it might not pertain to many of you reading this, but feel free to share with those you feel need to hear it.  If by chance you are guilty of feeling a certain way about seniors, (which just feels plain weird to even say! But AARP was right in the mail reminding me! Damn) go sit down and think about what I just said. 

Check out https://www.weareageist.com/ for some interesting content!

Veggie Burger Challenge

KAVON

no comments

April 29, 2020

Calling all Burgeristas

Meatless Monday Burger Challenge!

I hate to admit it, but one of my favorite meals has always been a good burger and some fries.  If I had to admit to one addiction, it would be some slightly well done fries and a big ole greasy burger.  I know I’m not supposed to say that, but I’m just being honest. For the fries, a little parmesan and parsley, garlic, truffle or whatever!  I might choose fries over wine if forced to make such a decision!  Anyway, I got a little carried away there thinking about fries, when what I want to talk about are burgers. 

For an upcoming Meatless Monday, I want to feature a bomb ass (do they still say bomb?)  Veggie Burger recipe.   I am wondering if any one out there has a killing recipe for a Veggie Burger.   I’m sorry, I’m just not ready for “meat” that’s not meat. I don’t even want to pretend it’s meat. I want straight up veggies, beans and whole grains type of burger. (which I know, isn’t really a burger. A patty maybe?)

There is this spot called Truxtons in LA.  Best Veggie burger I have ever had!!!  They won’t tell me what’s in it because they said it’s going to be developed for the supermarket!  I’ll keep asking.

I have tried several and working on developing one of my own! So far, I am not impressed with myself!  My black bean and sweet potato burger was a bust last week, but I will keep at it. But in the meantime, maybe someone out there has a great recipe for a “don’t even miss the meat,” Veggie Burger!  If so, please share the love and some info about yourself so we can feature you and your recipe on the site!

By Any Greens Necessary

KAVON

2 comments

April 28, 2020

Gorgeous right?

I was trying to come up with a clever title for this post. I thought about the title, “By Any Greens Necessary.” I was curious about the original phrase. It was my belief that Malcolm X was the first to use the phrase, “by any means necessary,” during his speech in 1964 in NYC. But actually it was a translation, according to Wikipedia (who knows if it’s accurate) of a phrase used by Fratz Fanon, a West Indian psychiatrist and political philosopher in a 1960 address at a “Positive Action” Conference.  Which got me to thinking about positive action and what positive action we should all take to improve our health and well-being. 

Okay, for me this is a no-brainer!  Nutrition comes to mind first and foremost.  And one of the positive steps that you can easily take to improve your health is to increase your daily consumption of all things leafy and green!  We don’t need a conference, but eventually, I’m sure I will be hosting one.  In the meantime and in between time, we need some green time! I know.  Don’t quit my day job just yet.  The poetry world ain’t ready for all this!

Leafy greens are among the healthiest foods you can eat!  They are low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins and phytonutrients.  Leafy Greens support collagen and I’m sure by now since it’s the catchphrase of the past year, you know what collagen is and does to keep your face together.  (As well as your joints, etc.)

In addition, greens such as turnip, mustard, beet, collards and kale offer up a healthy dose of vitamin C and we all know the benefits of Vitamin C.  Vitamin E, (oil) an ingredient found in many anti-aging skin care products is also found in dark leafy greens including spinach and swiss chard.  We have nothing but good news here ladies.

 “Nutritionists agree that the health benefits are substantial. In a Center for Disease Control and Prevention study that calculated nutrient density for almost 50 fruits and vegetables, 17 of the top 20 were leafy greens. Research shows that a diet that contains plenty of leafy greens is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, certain cancers, macular degeneration, and type 2 diabetes.”   www.consumerreports.org          

Now, here is something new that I recently learned while researching this piece.   As we age, we lose the ability to make Nitric Oxide.  I know, you are like WTH is that?  And why do I even need it?  Or you’re much smarter than I am and you already knew this stuff.

“Nitric oxide is produced by nearly every type of cell in the human body and one of the most important molecules for blood vessel health. It’s a vasodilator, meaning it relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels, causing the vessels to widen. In this way, nitric oxide increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.” www.healthline.com

And since many of us have blood pressure issues (which may actually be related to menopause) nitric oxide is a good thing!  But lack of it can possibly lead to a weakened immune system, which as we age, can also happen. Consumption of leafy green vegetables can serve as a back up system. I can continue on making the case for dark, leafy greens, but I am sure you get the picture. 

Before culinary school, I was never really into salads.  I think I just never really had a good one.  A bowl of wet leaves?  Why?  You can barely get them on the fork without effort. 

And then I had salad the way salad should be had!  Not a bunch of slimy leaves swimming in some bottled dressing.  Texture!  Crunchy, fresh vegetables.  Super lightly dressed.  I like texture.  I wanted to crunch on something other than white bread croutons!  

And salad isn’t the only way you can enjoy greens, although let’s start first with salads and how to up your salad game so you too can enjoy salads more often. (Ideally, daily!)    I used to make omelets often and I would put greens in it and eat a salad with it.  Yes, for breakfast.  Salad is not just for lunch and dinner.

ALL THAT IS GREEN IS GOOD!

  • So lets start with a method for washing greens.  I know it says prewashed on those bags, but I’m sorry, prewashed by who?   I always buy organic, but whether they are bagged greens or not, they are getting washed!  Whenever I am going to consume something raw, it’s getting washed!  If you are concerned about contamination, then just cook them.  Cooking should kill any harmful bacteria.  To wash, I put mine in the spinner basket and fill with water.  Swish it around.  Rinse and repeat.  Spin!
  • Best way to store washed greens I found was in a storage bin.  It can be glass if you are anti-plastic, but line with paper towels, and place dried leaves in a single layer in the bin.  Add another layer of paper towels and leaves if necessary.  I’m guessing you will have a few layers. 
  • Bored with basic lettuce? Try the tough guys.  How about softening up some of the tougher greens such as Kale, Collards and cabbage?  How do you soften up a lot of things in life?  Come on.  You know the answer to this one.  Massage!  See, your mind went there didn’t it?  Or was it just me?  You know how you go to the spa, or maybe you don’t, but you can, for a salt scrub.  Rinse that off and your skin is usually super soft.  Well you don’t need to scrub on your greens, but gently massage tough greens with some salt.  They will soften right up for you.
  • And season your leaves.  Good old sea salt and some fresh ground pepper.  If you are avoiding salt, skip it.  I love garlic, so I like to rub the inside of my bowl with some fresh cut garlic.  Garlic is REALLY good for you.
  • For excitement, add in some raw or roasted vegetables.  Roast some veggies until caramelized.  Yum.  Then for contrast add some crunchy raw veggies.  They can be the same veggies, just some cooked and some raw.  Variety baby.  You want those tubers crunchy?  Submerge sliced radishes and carrots in an ice bath! Those babies get good and crispy for you.
  • There are more things to top a salad with than croutons.  I love a good toasted nut or seed topping or try some crispy fried shallots.  I keep dried cranberries in the fridge.  Throw those in there as well.
  • Now dress to impress.  If you are like me and you like your dressing on the lighter side, dress the bowl and then toss the salad.  Now don’t drown the salad.  You want a slight gloss on the leaves, not a soggy mess.  
  • One last tip! Add the nuts and toppings right after you toss unless you want them to all disappear to the bottom of the bowl, never to be seen again.  For tossing, you can use your hands or some tongues, but be gentle.  Treat your leaves the way you want to be treated!

Oh, I almost forgot!  I am guilty of wasting greens.  I admit. I could do better.  I do end up tossing greens.  Well I used to!  I also found out that Romaine lettuce could regenerate!  If you already knew this, you should have told me!  I mean, no dirt, no mess.  Lettuce scraps, water and a glass!

Last week, I saw this online and tried it.  Instead of tossing out the bag of romaine I was too lazy to wash and store properly that had turned a tad orange in the bag.  I cut the base off and placed it about an inch into a glass of water.  I did this a week ago.  Sat the glass in a sunny spot and this is what I got!   

Just change the water every other day or so and if you really want to see growth, I think you should probably put it in a pot in some rich soil.  But for me wanting a few leaves to throw in a salad, I think that is cool as hell. 

I will keep you posted on further research!

In case ya’ll thought I made that story up!

An Inconvenience Truth

KAVON

no comments

April 25, 2020

A story of how we are all spoiled rotten!

Let me tell you about a little experiment I did years back.  Okay, it didn’t start out as an experiment.  It started out as a doggie bag from a barbecue I attended.  Or should I call it a feast of processed meats.  Every now and again, I have to admit, I do like the taste of a slightly charred hotdog right off the grill on to a slightly grilled bun, slathered with mustard and relish.  I guess it brings back memories of childhood.  Or maybe it’s the chemicals and preservatives and sugar that they put in those things so that we become addicted to them. 

Anyway, I brought home a care package or maybe I should call it an I-don’t-care-about-my-health-package of sausages, hot dogs and a few burgers.  In a separate bag, the hostess was kind enough to pack up some buns for me. 

I picked off the left overs for a few days.  I was down to one hotdog and one burger when I think I just tossed them.  The one bun left in the Ziploc bag, sat lonely in the breadbasket that lived on the counter.  It rarely had bread in it.  I didn’t eat much bread, so I never brought it.  It would be moldy by the time I was ready to have a fourth slice. 

Eventually that bun was buried with fruit and snacks, as that basket became the catchall basket.  In preparation to put the house on the market, you start getting rid of things.  In preparation for showing the house, you clean up and declutter.  It was time to tackle the counter. 

It was fall now.  As part of the big kitchen clean out, that basket was first on the list.  As I started pitching half open bags of snacks, trail mixes that one lonely hot dog bun in the Ziploc resurfaced.  It was months after that barbecue.  And yes, I cleaned my kitchen weekly.  I’m a bit of a neat freak and was extremely particular about my dream kitchen! I just never really took the time to empty that basket! 

What did I discover?  That six months after that barbecue unlike my organic, multigrain bread I would toss regularly or feed to the animals, that hot dog bun, not only had ZERO mold on it, it was only slightly hard!  WTH is this made out of?  Real food rots!  As an experiment, I decided I had to hold on to that bun to see how long it would take to grow mold!

I wish I were kidding!  A year later when the house actually sold and it was time to go, that hot dog bun was still not moldy.  It was hard.  But ZERO mold.

What is the moral of the story other than I had no business eating the hot dogs?  That the food industry, as a rule, cares about profits and shelf life, not “our life!”  The nutrients in these so-called foods are directly related to how quickly they spoil, if at all.  These refined, highly processed THINGS (I DON’T EVEN WANT TO CALL THEM FOOD!)  have had most of the nutrients removed.  The fiber was removed.  The Iron and the B Vitamins were all removed.  And why?  To extend the shelf life!  This is not real food!

The food industry just like the health care system’s (or should I say “sick care”) concerns and goals are not related to our health.  Their goal is profit at our expense.  They feed off of fear and misinformation.  Kind of like the current administration.  And the government subsidizes these BS food like substances.

They told us fat was bad, so they removed the fat and replaced it with sugar that has lead to a worldwide obesity epidemic and has contributed to other serious health issues.   The dairy industry tells us our kids have to drink milk so that they get enough calcium when truth is there are so many other healthier calcium rich options like greens, beans and nuts which provide other benefits as well.

Try these instead
Photo by Vince Lee on Unsplash

Now, no one is suggesting you need to turn into Mrs. Stroehmann or become Betty the Baker.  What I am suggesting is that we make better choices when cruising the supermarket aisles. These so called convenience foods are chock full of preservatives and sugar so that hot dog buns can sit in a basket for a year! 

And they hide sugar in EVERYTHING.  Why?  I’m guessing because it’s a tad addictive.  Never mind that it is killing us.  You think you are doing a good thing eating a cup of yogurt and granola for breakfast until you find out that between the yogurt and the granola you have exceeded your entire day’s daily, recommended sugar consumption!  Don’t even think about adding sugar to that coffee!  You already had about 4-5 teaspoons and it’s only breakfast! 

All Bad!

We need to take control of what we eat and one way to do that is to make better choices and to take control of our own food preparation.  I understand that convenience foods are “convenient” and save time.  But are you really trying to spend time in the doctor’s office?  You know what is not convenient?  Diabetes.  Heart disease. 

Let’s spend more time in the market reading labels, and more time preparing our own foods which with planning, creativity and some basic skills can be easier than you think. And let us spend less time in the doctor’s office.  Which might possibly give us more time on the planet! 

We are spoiled by the ease of just picking something up, but we have been spoiled ROTTEN. Sorry. The best things in life, sometimes just do not come easy.

My Daily Routine

KAVON

no comments

April 25, 2020

Bottles, Containers & Pills, OH MY!

As the number of days you have left gets shorter, it seems to be, at least for me, that my daily regimen gets longer. I used to get up shower, brush my teeth, wash my face, apply minimal make up, comb my hair and be out the door. Oh, I put on clothes too.  Forgot about that.

My counter was not covered with supplements ointments and so-called anti-aging magic potions.  There are drawers and baskets dedicated to these jars, bottles, containers, etc.

Nope.  Until recently, I took a multi vitamin, when I remembered, and a shot of apple cider vinegar most mornings.  I had been doing this off and on since completing my culinary studies years before at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health where one of the things we learned about were the benefits of fermented foods.

After attempting to accept the fact that I was aging inside and out, and it seemed all the sudden to be happening so rapidly, I started researching the process. I began reading books on how to at least slow down the signs and reduce the symptoms of aging and age related issues.

What should I be eating? What should I be drinking? What should I be avoiding? I always worked out although sometimes not as consistently as other times. But for the most part, I moved my ass! How much more should I do? What supplements should I be taking? How can I balance my hormones without consuming horse urine?

I will explain, but read #Dr. Bob’s book, #Drugless Guide to Balancing Female Hormones, if you need to know now. Yes, I said HORSE PEE!

Based on all of these books, I started adding some of the  suggested treatments, supplements and nutrients to my diet and daily regimen.  Not only is it not cheap, it’s time-consuming as hell!

Concoctions 101
Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash

I will share with you my list of supplements and practices I now have in my daily regimen. Now, this is what I do. I am in no way suggesting it is what YOU should do. The point I’m making is as I get older, I find that my to-do list is getting longer instead of shorter in an effort to slow the signs and effects of aging, both inside and out. Some of these things I find, for me are just good habits that seem to be working. Some things are just a no brainer and things we should all be doing like eating a nutritious and balanced diet, exercising and getting enough sleep!

Vitamin C: I’ve taken 1000 mg of vitamin C daily for the past seven years and I swear by it.  I’m no doctor, nutritionist, herbalist or health professional of any kind, but I know that I have had one cold in as many years.  I am pretty conscientious about hand washing, hand shaking and careful to keep my hands away from my nose, mouth, eyes etc.  (AND glad I had those habits Pre-Rona!)

Again, I am not suggesting anyone do what I do.  I am suggesting that everyone, including me, should find out about their deficiencies and address them and should do so with the help of a professional. 

Vitamin D: I noticed when the time and weather changed I had less energy. My typical daily morning included a walk in the sun. I usually woke up early and energized. Suddenly it was dark when I woke up and I was tired, lethargic and borderline depressed.  I diagnosed myself (which I don’t suggest anyone do) with a slight case of seasonal depression and added a vitamin D supplement.  I must say I noticed improvement, but again, speak to your healthcare provider before adding supplements etc. to your diet as some may interact poorly with medications.

According to Dr. Axe, Vitamin D acts almost like a hormone in your body. The best way to optimize vitamin D is to expose your skin to direct sunlight. Don’t lay there and fry. Just get some sun daily and take the necessary precautions. I’m no fan of chemicals on my skin, but there are some natural sunscreen concoctions you can use to protect your skin. His website has a wealth of information and I highly recommend a visit. 

Ginseng panax is an adaptogen. Multiple books and research I have done contain conflicting information about its affect on blood pressure, so again, talk to a professional and find out what your body needs and what works for you. Make sure anything you take doesn’t interfere with any medications you take or conditions you have. Adaptogens, found in herbs and roots, work to counteract the effects of stress in the body. I started taking ginseng and my blood pressure remained consistent over the last few visits.  Not great. But not worse!

For the past few years after receiving a really cool infusion pitcher, I have been enjoying ginger water, which I make a big batch of once each week and keep in my fridge.  Studies have shown ginger can help reduce inflammation as well as help relieve bloating an gas! And as I age, that has become a real issue. Gas is just not sexy. There are other benefits, but those are the ones that sold me! If I run out and don’t have time to make it, I always have some of the #Trader Joe’s gingers shots in the fridge along with their Turmeric shots.

Total Omega (#Barleans is the manufacturer) was recommended to me by naturopathic doctor I met after he watched me limp around Traders Joes one day suffering from a gout flare up. Omega 3 Fatty acid, essential for health, is not made in the body and must be consumed by the way of what we eat. Barleans is a tasty option, but it’s also found in nuts and flax seeds.

As a result of reading #Bio Young” by #Roxy Dillon, I have since added aloe vera juice to my routine. I also added bee pollen and royal jelly, although I haven’t been too consistent with those two. Supposedly aloe vera juice is good for your hair, but that’s a whole other post because I am definitely missing some!

The Ultimate Guide to Cellular Rejuvenation: The Top 17 Best Anti-Aging Supplements and Foods to Help You Stay Young Naturally

Years back I replaced sugar with cinnamon in my coffee and added green tea to my arsenal.  I was all ready to phase out coffee and replace it completely with Green, Hawthorn and dandelion teas until I read it was an antioxidant.  I did switch to decaf when available.  And finally in terms of supplements, for years, I have taken a b-complex supplement.

With regard to skincare, I had also already eliminated all of those lotions and potions and typically use coconut oil everywhere. (Face, hair, body!) I have been using coconut oil exclusively for probably about eight years.  Another suggestion from Bio Young I have included was the addition of vitamin E oil and I sometimes change it up and use Avocado oil instead of the coconut oil.

Confused like most by conflicting and overwhelming information online, I also decided to revisit the nutrition studies from my culinary program.

I just started reading New York Times best selling book #Whole; Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by #T. Colin Campbell.  The book is a comprehensive study on nutrition. I do believe that if you eat a whole foods plant-based diet your body gets all of the nutrients that it needs without supplementation, but I haven’t gotten that far in so get the book or just tuned as I share my newfound knowledge from what seems to be an actual expert.   Or why wait on me?  Buy the book! I also enrolled in some Nutrition classes as a refresher to my earlier studies.

Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition

With regard to the book, I’m interested in the part about the deficiencies and since it has been almost 20 years since I completed my  program, it feels as though I’m starting from scratch. Once again “use it or lose it!” I swear this just applies to so many things. But there are plenty of tests your doc can offer to identify your deficiencies so that you can address your own through diet or supplementation if needed. I’m big on getting things the natural way whenever possible, but some times you need a little help.

Your body may very well be a brilliant machine, but it has to be possible that it can be defective or malfunction due to a number of circumstances in which case, you might need supplementation! Bottom line, consult with your healthcare provider. Whatever you do, don’t take medical advice from Trump! Or me. But definitely not Trump.

Suzanne Somers has a great new book out called “A New Way to Age.” In the book, she interviews experts that make some great recommendations about testing for deficiencies. 

People used to ask “What’s eating you?” (Not sure anyone still says that!) They would ask that when you appeared to have a problem, but maybe it’s time to ask ourselves, “What are we eating” instead! I think what we eat is at the root of most of our problems!

Some rules I have followed for a few years now pretty consistently:

If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin, which is basically an organ. (I’m excluding make up for the time being while I research products I feel good about suggesting because I have researched and/or tried them myself!) Your skin is your body’s largest organ.  What you put on your skin will eventually end up in your bloodstream.  Your pores are absorbing the so-called toxic magical potions.

Dr. Axe he explains that to balance our hormones, which is extremely important to your health and well being, we need to eliminate these toxins found in our body care products as many contain harmful chemicals.  Look for products with few ingredients such as essential oils, coconut oil, shea butter, castor oil, or making your own can be a fun and relaxing hobby!

https://draxe.com/

We should not only be reading the food labels, we should be reading the labels of everything we put in an on our bodies.   If it has ingredients you cannot pronounce, that are unfamiliar and unnatural, put it back and keep it moving! (or google that mess, right in the store!)

I know.  It’s a lot to think about.  You don’t need to try to change your routine overnight.  Just start with something small, like reading labels.  Opting for natural products with few ingredients and that applies to what you ingest through your food and what you apply to your skin.  It all ends up in the same place!  Choose wisely!

What’s your routine? What brands or skin care and make up are you using that you like? Suggestions for “Mature skin?” Feel free to share!

Bryant Terry -Featured Chef of the Month

KAVON

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April 25, 2020

I am super psyched to be featuring my former classmate Bryant Terry as my very first featured chef!  Once upon a time, we attended the Chef’s Training Program at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food & Health, as it was called at the time.

Having followed his career for years, he was and obvious first choice.  I reached out to Bryant recently and told him about the blog and podcast I was working on.  I’m about 20 years late to the party, but I finally showed up.  I put my culinary career on hold, but Bryant has accomplished enough for both of us! I am honored that he agreed to allow me to feature him.  Keep reading and you’ll understand why I am so honored!  I snatched up this info from the bio on his website https://www.bryant-terry.com/

Bryant Terry is a James Beard Award-Winning chef, educator, and author renowned for his activism to create a healthy, just, and sustainable food system. Since 2015 he has been the Chef-in-Residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco where he creates public programming at the intersection of food, farming, health, activism, art, culture, and the African Diaspora. In regard to his work, Bryant’s mentor Alice Waters says, “Bryant Terry knows that good food should be an everyday right and not a privilege.” San Francisco Magazine included Bryant among 11 Smartest People in the Bay Area Food Scene, and Fast Company named him one of 9 People Who Are Changing the Future of Food. 

Vegetable Kingdom is Bryant’s fifth book! His last book, Afro-Vegan, was published in 2014. Just 2 months after being released, it was named one of the best cookbooks of 2014 by Amazon.com. That December it was nominated for an NAACP Award in the Outstanding Literary Work category. Bryant is also the author of the critically acclaimed Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine, which was named one of the best vegetarian/vegan cookbooks of the last 25 years by Cooking Light Magazine. 

Bryant is a also a Ph.D. dropout who holds an M.A. in History with an emphasis on the African Diaspora from NYU, where he studied under Historian Robin D.G. Kelly. He lives in Oakland, California with his wife and two brilliant and beautiful children.

So, I just ordered Bryant’s new book.  I had all of the others, but I am really loving this one!  It merges the ingredients and flavors from some of my favorite cuisines; Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Caribbean and of course, the America South.

Stay tuned for my interview with Bryant coming soon!

Size Matters

KAVON

2 comments

April 25, 2020

Size Matters

Shame on you!   Here you thought I was going to talk about penises.  I probably will at some point, but not right now.  Trust me, it’s coming! (no pun intended)   This post should serve as an intro to what will be part of my “Wine over Whine” podcast.  COMING SOON!  STAY TUNED!  The “Rona” messing up my schedule!

As much as I would enjoy a conversation about sex, right now I’m talking about our other love ladies.  Wine!  Specifically wine glasses. 

I have always had an interest in wine.   Lately, I have become a bit more serious about learning about wine.  In the podcast, not only will be talking about women’s issues particularly as they relate to aging, but I will also be attempting to introduce wine to my daughter. (Currently a Cosmo girl!)  No baby.  No Moscato! 

I have never really been into the hard stuff.  (Okay, we are still not talking about penisis! Is Penisis the plural for penis?  Is it peni?)  I think being a foodie all of my life has something to do with my interest in wine.  As far as I’m concerned, nothing beats an amazing meal and some wine to compliment the meal.  Or just some wine!  (Okay, one thing beats it, but I said we are not going to talk about that right now!)

As part of my wine appreciation study, I attended a few wine tasting classes and really began to understand the role the glass plays in wine tasting and appreciation.  When stemless glasses hit the shelves, I was excited.  No more knocked over glasses at parties and red wine stains to concern myself with. 

What I didn’t understand at the time was that not having a stem can make a huge difference in the taste of the wine.  Why?  Because the heat from your hands can warm up the wine and the wine’s temperature also makes a difference.  Stems help to better retain the temperature that can impact the taste.  It also keeps your hands further from your nose that might also have an odor. (lotion, perfume, soap)

The choice of glass can actually affect the taste of the wine! Certain shapes are better for enjoying certain wines.   Large glasses (bowls) allow for more oxygen and make it easier to swirl.  The swirling aerates the wine.  You thought people just did that to look sophisticated, didn’t you?   Aerating wine is exposing the wine to air and allowing it to breathe.   

According to Ask Dr. Vinny from the Wine Spectator wine is made up of hundreds of compounds and with aeration, volatile undesirable compounds evaporate faster leaving the aromatic and flavorful ones behind.  Thank you Dr. Vinny.  There is a real science to it and I plan to dig deeper and share this experience with you all in posts to come.  Decanting a wine will also work and save on some spilling!   Decanting is an easy way to aerate your wine and show off your fancy decanters.  They also sell these cool aerating pourers online that work well.  It is amazing the difference in some red wines I have tasted after using one of those aerators. https://www.winespectator.com/wine-iq/ask-dr-vinny

Okay, back to the glasses and sizes.  How does the size and shape of the glass affect your wine experience, you ask?  Well, you didn’t ask, but I’m going to tell you.  The olfactory receptors in your nose account for 80% of what you taste.  (Learned that in culinary school) The smaller the bowl, the harder it is for aromas to escape. With reds, allow a lot of room in the glass.  Don’t fill it up.  You can have another glass.  One-third full is ideal.   The wide rim serves a purpose too.  Wide rims allow space for your nose! Mine is sizable and my lips are tiny, so the struggle is real ya’ll.

With white wines, the glass shape is taller because unlike red, you want less contact with air.  The shape of the glass allows enough room for aromas to be released while helping to maintain the chill temperature.  Most of what I have studied pertains mostly to reds since those are my preference, but nothing like a crisp white on a hot summer day!

At the end of the day, the wine matters more than the glass.  That being said, wine aficionados say the glass has an impact on your wine drinking experience, so choose wisely. Now feel free to go back to staring at the naked man.

Cheers!