d'Orsays at dinner
with Christina Major
My Past Work
Click through below excerpts for full blogposts.
01
P.S.&Co. - The Brazil Nut
Native to South America, these magnificent trees can grow over 160 feet. Adding these nuts in their whole, raw, shelled form or through nut milk to your diet can add various nutritional boots.
Containing high levels of phytonutrients, it’s said that these powerful nuts can assist in lowering cholesterol and triggering antioxidant and anti-proliferative (inhibiting cell growth) activity within the body.
02
P.S.&Co. - A Sustainable Sun Salutaiton
When the pandemic hit last year, we witnessed Mother Nature go through a healing process as we’ve never seen before. Waterways cleared and wildlife showed up in places they hadn’t been able to travel to in years due to pollution and other man-made barriers. The air quality changed drastically, and we got to see what it was like when the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives slowed down. With changes like this, companies from all different sectors came out of the woodwork with “green” plans for their businesses.
03
P.S.&Co. - The Magical Cacao Bean
“Xocolatl,” or “bitter water” is where the word chocolate is said to come from. Cacao beans, which chocolate is made from, are grown in football-shaped pods. About 40 cacao beans can be found in each pod wrapped in a white pulp. Pods containing chocolate residue date back to as far as 600 B.C.
04
P.S.&Co. - The Squash
Squashes carry a multitude of health benefits. An interesting perk about many squash varieties out there is that the flesh, seeds, and flowers or blossoms can all be eaten. Studies have illustrated that the fatty acids from squash seed oil and skin promote anti-inflammatory properties. These nutrients contain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids which are essential in proper brain and nerve functioning.
05
P.S.&Co. - Nooch
What the Heck is Nutritional Yeast?
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Nutritional yeast, or as vegans call it, nooch, is a light, flaky, yellow seasoning that brings a cheesy flavor to an endless amount of recipes. According to various sources, nutritional yeast was coined “Nooch” by Isa Chandra Moskowitz of Post Punk Kitchen. Thankfully, we have a better nickname for the seasoning than the unfortunate nutritious nomenclature it possesses.
06
P.S.&Co. - Food Trends
It’s wild to see fruits, vegetables, and grains gain celebrity status among grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and menus at restaurants. To see a shift in the food world based on what is popular at the moment can be a really great thing if that food is health forward. American’s ideas and beliefs on what is considered healthy have changed and continue to change over time. Health food trends go way back. So, we are obviously going to touch on the big ones here, avocado, kale, etc., but let’s take a look back to the turn of the century to see how these trends come about.
07
P.S.&Co. - The Peanut
Peanuts contain high-quality proteins, polyphenols, fibers, antioxidants, and various vitamins and minerals. Studies have shown peanuts to contain cholesterol blockers such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phytosterol. Peanut butter really only needs 1 or 2 ingredients; peanuts or peanuts and salt. There’s no need to add oils; including a lot of the ones you see on the mass market, e.g. palm oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn syrup, and sugars.
08
P.S.&Co. - The Chickpea
Chickpeas, commonly referred to as garbanzo beans, are an old-world pulse within the legume family. A pulse is an edible seed from a legume plant. Pulses include lentils, beans, and peas as well. For instance, a pea pod is considered a legume, but the peas inside are the pulse. The same goes for soybeans, peanuts, and fresh beans. Chickpeas are incorporated into many dishes because of their versatility and nut-like flavor profile.
09
P.S.&Co. - Women's Health Month
There’s not a certain appointed time in a woman’s life when they should start to care about breast health. Screening for breast cancer is strongly encouraged starting at around age 40+ (or when your doctor recommends). Women can also schedule a genetic test to check for BRCA genes (breast cancer genes). But, having a mammography or genetic testing isn’t complete prevention. Did you know that only 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancer comes from an inherited gene mutation? If the BRCA genes are mutated or broken, they can be passed down from one generation to the next. That being said, 90-95% of breast cancer cases are engendered by diet and lifestyle choices, not by a genetic predisposition.
10
P.S.&Co. - Gluten
The G.I. microbiota can help to determine the health of an individual, especially someone who may be on restrictive diets via disease. But could this actually all be stemming from an agricultural factor? A recent study showed that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup®, is the main cause of gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Our wheat crops are being sprayed at an astronomical rate which is on the rise, along with the celiac disease. Patented as an antimicrobial (Monsanto Technology LLC, 2010), Glyphosate has shown to disrupt the gut bacteria among animals. Now, we are seeing the effects of Roundup® on the human gut as well. Glyphosate has been known to not only be the triggering factor of celiac disease, but is also connected to obesity, Autism, infertility, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and depression.
11
P.S.&Co. - Mushrooms
Did you know that 1 in 10 individuals over the age of 65 is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease? This number doubles every 10 years until age 85. Mushrooms are incredible brain-nourishing plants. Common varieties such as white buttons and baby bellas are just as nourishing as the more exotic, medicinal options. Use fresh mushrooms or re-hydrate the dried versions. Known to help ward off mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, mushrooms contain anti-inflammatories that can reduce inflammation in blood vessels within the brain. They also provide neuroprotection due to their potent antioxidant properties and they help to moderate levels of lipids and glucose. In addition, mushrooms are a rich source of polysaccharides which have been shown to stimulate immune responses.
11
P.S.&Co. - Mushrooms
12
P.S.&Co. - Soy
In the past few years, soy has gotten a terrible reputation. It has been positioned in society as some sort of evil, unhealthy plant. Americans hold onto this belief that soy has estrogens that could trigger breast cancer in women and…breasts in men?! Certain industries, cough cough, big meat and dairy have not helped with these rumors. Given that these industries have an enormous amount of influence over what we read about in the news, you can’t blame someone for thinking this is true. The advice that soy is bad for you and should be eaten only in moderation or not at all is a widely held idea and can even be reinforced by our very own doctors.
12
P.S.&Co. - Soy
In the past few years, soy has gotten a terrible reputation. It has been positioned in society as some sort of evil, unhealthy plant. Americans hold onto this belief that soy has estrogens that could trigger breast cancer in women and…breasts in men?! Certain industries, cough cough, big meat and dairy have not helped with these rumors. Given that these industries have an enormous amount of influence over what we read about in the news, you can’t blame someone for thinking this is true. The advice that soy is bad for you and should be eaten only in moderation or not at all is a widely held idea and can even be reinforced by our very own doctors.
13
P.S.&Co. - Gut Health
The term gut health seems to be popping up everywhere in the nutrition and wellness world these days. But what does this actually mean and how does one go about ensuring proper gut health? Well, let's start with the terms gut microbiota and gut microbiome. The gut microbiota refers to an expansive community of microorganisms that live inside us. Each serving a purpose. The gut microbiome is the collection of genomes (genetic information) of the microorganisms within a specific community. Having a healthy, well-balanced gut microbiome is essential for health and longevity.
11
P.S.&Co. - Mushrooms
12
P.S.&Co. - Soy
14
P.S.&Co. - Gut Health Part 2
Our mind and gut are tightly joined. Our vagus nerve (pronounced vey-guhs, as in Las Vegas) starts in the brain and runs through our body carrying important sensory and motor information. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas does not apply here though. You see, the word vagus comes from the Latin term for wandering. It carries information from the brain to internal organs and controls our ability to speak, swallow, and taste; as well as regulate gut motility, mood, and heart rate. Our gut instincts are even connected to the brain through the vagus nerve.
15
P.S.&Co. - Omega-3s in a Whole Foods/Plant-Based Diet
Leave the Fish, Take the Algae. You may have heard about how important omega-3s are in a diet. You may have also heard that one would need to consume fish or take fish oil supplements in order to reap the benefits. However, omega-3s, which are unsaturated fatty acids essential for proper brain and nerve functioning, are found in our everyday plant foods. You see, fish are primarily getting their share of omega-3s from algae. So if we cut out the middle man (or fish), we can receive our DHA Docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid), omega-3 fatty acids directly from the source. This avoids pollutant contamination from the ocean and is a sustainable choice on an ecological level.
11
P.S.&Co. - Mushrooms
12
P.S.&Co. - Soy
16
P.S.&Co. - Women's Health Month Part 2 - Hormone Health and More
Our mind and gut are tightly joined. Our vagus nerve (pronounced vey-guhs, as in Las Vegas) starts in the brain and runs through our body carrying important sensory and motor information. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas does not apply here though. You see, the word vagus comes from the Latin term for wandering. It carries information from the brain to internal organs and controls our ability to speak, swallow, and taste; as well as regulate gut motility, mood, and heart rate. Our gut instincts are even connected to the brain through the vagus nerve.
16
P.S.&Co. - Women's Health Month Part 2 - Hormone Health and More
Our mind and gut are tightly joined. Our vagus nerve (pronounced vey-guhs, as in Las Vegas) starts in the brain and runs through our body carrying important sensory and motor information. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas does not apply here though. You see, the word vagus comes from the Latin term for wandering. It carries information from the brain to internal organs and controls our ability to speak, swallow, and taste; as well as regulate gut motility, mood, and heart rate. Our gut instincts are even connected to the brain through the vagus nerve.
17
P.S.&Co. - Hormone Health Part 2: Stress and Beyond
...It’s nearly impossible to ignore life’s everyday stressors. But how we manage them is up to us! Stress can activate our sympathetic nervous system which triggers the release of stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline. These chemicals can then initiate the “fight or flight” response. Fight or flight isn’t supposed to be long term. It lasts only for short, functional purposes. However, with constant stress, the body forms a routine which results in a biochemical imbalance.(3) This disrupts our gut health, our mood, our sleep, and our well-being.
11
P.S.&Co. - Mushrooms
12
P.S.&Co. - Soy
16
P.S.&Co. - Women's Health Month Part 2 - Hormone Health and More
Our mind and gut are tightly joined. Our vagus nerve (pronounced vey-guhs, as in Las Vegas) starts in the brain and runs through our body carrying important sensory and motor information. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas does not apply here though. You see, the word vagus comes from the Latin term for wandering. It carries information from the brain to internal organs and controls our ability to speak, swallow, and taste; as well as regulate gut motility, mood, and heart rate. Our gut instincts are even connected to the brain through the vagus nerve.
18
P.S.&Co. - Dark Leafy Greens
If there is one food group that should be consumed every single day without fail, that would be the dark leafy green category. This covers a wide range of greens. Most importantly, cruciferous options. Cruciferous greens include: kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, arugula, mustard greens, cabbage, bok choy, and watercress. Other greens such spinach, beet greens, romaine, and dandelion greens are also incredible sources of vitamins and antioxidants. Greens offer the most nutrition per calorie for a whole food. All of these leafy greens can be referred to as a functional food source, meaning they are crucial for one’s health and can act as a barrier against diseases.
