Dija Know… Joe’s Restaurant Newsletter -141 Autumn 2017

“Dija Know…”
Joe’s Newsletter #141, Autumn 2017
Sheila   (archives available at JoesDining.com)

 

 

Unicorns – can the myth be real?

 

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 As much as I wish unicorns were real, I have my doubts.  But what I do know is that many of the “facts” they’ve told us about what’s good for our health and what isn’t, are indeed myths.  In the last newsletter, we examined myths concerning chocolate, soy, salt, hemp/cannabis, coconut oil and fat.  (See #140).  This time we’ll continue to bust more health myths – excerpted from my archived newsletters on the subjects of coffee, meat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sunshine.  Note that arguments can be made both for and against all of these foods and behaviors — there are religious ad cultural restrictions, as well as medical advice we choose to adhere to.  These observations come from my life experiences and certain research.

♦  From issue #81– on coffee — The vindication of the coffee drinkers continues.  An Australian study recently showed a 7% reduction in diabetes risk for every daily cup of coffee (incidentally, not decafe).  People who drink four or more cups of coffee per day have a 50% lower risk of developing type2 diabetes than people who don’t drink coffee.  As well, male coffee drinkers have a lower risk of prostate cancer.  Not bad for a much maligned beverage, eh?

 

From issue #80 on grass-fed-and-finished meat*. There are so many nutritional elements in pasture grass that can get to us only by ingesting the meat or animal proteins (like milk and cream) from those that feed on that grass – beef cattle, dairy cows, lamb, deer etc .  Omega 3 fatty acids, the good fats, are abundant in grasses.  CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) is a cancer inhibitor and  effective weight management substance and exists abundantly in grass-finished meats and raw milk. (* I make a firm distinction here between grass fed and finished animals and feedlot, grain-fed animals.)

♦  From issue #75B   on meat and saturated fat  —  Dr. William Castelli, a former director of the Framingham Heart study, stated: … the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person’s serum cholesterol.”  Cholesterol is simply not the main perpetrator causing heart disease.
Dr. Stephen Sinatra, board certified cardiologist, explained “Let’s face it, cholesterol is something your body needs. If you look at the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial . . . 180,000 men over a period of… 13 years men with cholesterol of 330 had less hemorrhagic stroke than men with cholesterol less than 180.  If you look at cholesterol numbers, the higher cholesterol number would give you protection from hemorrhagic stroke.  (We) need cholesterol in our skin to activate vitamin D3 from sunlight,  to make our sex hormones, to make our adrenal hormones, for neurotransmitter function in the brain. When LDL is driven too low, it’s no wonder that patients develop memory problems or pre-Alzheimer’s.”

 

♦  From issue #105 – on sunshine and Vit D.  The kiss of the sun on our skin has been pilloried since the 80’s when some semi-informed idiots convinced us of the dangers of sun exposure.  And further, built an entire industry around chemical sunscreens!  It may be hard to swallow, but there is plenty of research now to support the benefits, indeed necessity of, unscreened sun exposure. Keith Scott-Mumby MD says, The fundamental lie is that we need sunscreen at all… we need sun.  Contrary to everything you have heard, sunshine protects against melanoma . . . A (sun)tan is your best protection.  I repeat: sun’s rays protect against cancer.  It’s science that goes back decades and is totally ignored by the medical profession and the skin care industry.”  Since the 80’s we have become perilously deficient in Vit D.  Currently 32% of the US populace is deficient.  Please get your D levels taken.  If you are deficient in D, you are 50% more at risk for heart attack and 100% at risk for dying from that heart attack.  Well that’s sobering isn’t it?  Sufficient D levels reduce your cancer risk by 50%.  Osteoporosis, another horrible condition, is the result, not of a calcium deficiency, but rather of a D deficiency.  Most of us get enough calcium but it is sunshine that makes calcium usable.  Dr. Holick* treats his patients with 3,000 IU’s of D3 per day, and a much higher dose for the obese.
Dr. Mercola however, believes that the best way to get your D is with sunshine.
Here are some interesting facts about sun exposure – the best time to sun (appropriately) is between 10AM and 3 PM. Why?  The beneficial UVB rays are at their max then.  Car windows unfortunately expose us to only the dangerous rays.  This space limits a comprehensive discussion.  Vit D and its interrelationships with K2, Vit A, magnesium and calcium form a complex biochemical dance.  But the solution to many D deficiency health issues is simple and cheap – sunshine.  *You can read more in Dr. Holick’s book, The Vitamin D Solution.

♦  Thanksgiving is approaching faster than we can imagine.  And it’s not too early to start planning.  Roland and his crew try their hardest to make it easy for you.  No shopping, no chopping, no cooking, no cleaning.  Every dish comes in a heat & serve container with instructions.  Order the entire meal or just the a la carte dishes you want.  If you are considering it, we urge you not to delay.  We always sell out and it is heart breaking to have nothing left for “last minute” customers.  Pick up starting at 1:30 on Wednesday and until 9PM.  BTW, when you pay by cash or check, Joe’s will donate 2% of your Thanksgiving To/Go purchase to the Food Depot, rather than paying it to process a credit card.
The power of gratitude may be more needed this year than at any other time in recent memory.  Roland and Sheila wish to take this chance to express our deep gratitude for you our guests, especially our regulars who stand by us through good days (and the other days!) who give us the chance to do what we do, and to each of our dear staff members who work cheerfully day after day; and to God/Spirit/Divine Love guiding and protecting us all.

  Richard Eeds broadcasts the Richard Eeds Show live from Joe’s each 1st Friday of the month from 1-5pm on Hutton 1260AM KTRC.  Richard keeps us abreast of the New Mexico news.  Richard will be here Nov. 3rd.

All day Tues Nov 7 is the 4th annual fund-raiser for the Listening Horse Therapeutic Riding.  These fund-raisers do not cost you a penny.  Joe’s donates 20% of entire gross sales that day (not just of net profits!). So the more you eat and spend on almost anything we sell (meals, truffles, latte mugs, tee shirts, greeting cards) the more money will be donated to that wonderful program. You’ll get to meet Gus and Laurie and Kathy, 3 people truly devoted to a calling.  The program offers recreational therapy with horses for people facing challenges such as PTSD, Physical, Brain & Spinal Cord Injury, Visual & Auditory Impairment, Autism, Down Syndrome, Grief and more.  Horses are incredibly sensitive – feeling and reacting to everything. Plus they are capable of knowing when their human needs support and confidence building.  Wonderful changes can and do occur in the presence of horses.
Book now – Joe’s Red Room is perfect for your Holiday Party.  It seats 30-36 people.

 

 Wondering how to deal with bone loss and loss of muscle strength?  There is an answer!  Pick up the DancingBones yellow brochure at the door and make your appointment for a free introduction.  Right here in Rodeo Plaza!  www.DancingBones.us

 

  Some of the farmers & ranchers who supply Joe’s: They get their seeds from heirloom seed banks, family and friends, their fertilizer from animals and compost and their agronomic advice from tradition:  Monte Vista Organics, Jacona Farms, Green Tractor, Camino de Paz, Synergia Ranch, Romero Farms, Shepherd’s Lamb, LaMont’s Buffalo, Sweetgrass Co-op and others.

  Why are we at Joe’s so persistent about this “buy local” stuff?  Many factors are out of our hands when it comes to our food supply.  Most of what ends up on the American dinner table derives from a shockingly few giant agribusinesses. Their reach is long- from designing

the (GMO) seeds to planting, fertilizing,  processing and shipping.  We as consumers cannot with confidence hand over the entire stewardship of our food to these few multinationals.  Our passion here at Joe’s is for a local sustainable food supply – food produced by growers who are accountable for what they grow.  KYG – Know Your Grower.  We are able to look our local farmer in the eye and ask him about his growing practices or even visit his operation. This gives us the confidence that we are eating food that is healthy, wholesome, non-genetically engineered, often better than organic, humanely treated and minimally processed.  It is grown with a smaller energy-use footprint and transported short distances. We cannot divorce human health, the economy, ecology, personal (perhaps spiritual) satisfaction or honorable work from food.  Food is fundamental.  What we eat, where it comes from, the stewardship of food animals, the nurturing and building of soils – all these factors affect us at a cellular and visceral level.  Santa Fe is fortunate to have one of the very best Farmers Markets in the nation.  Here at Joe’s we offer this bounty to you, keeping dollars in the community.  In the interest of transparency, in 2008 Joe’s spent $30,000 on local foods.  In 2009, $60,000.  Each year since 2012 we have far exceeded $100,000 per annum (over 30% of our purchases).
Land, economy, health – inseparable.

  Joe’s will give you $10.  What’s the catch?  Well the way we figure it, if you cut out the middleman by NOT using a credit card, we can give that back to you and then some.  Credit cards costs the retail merchant about 3-5% and extra time & paperwork.  Now let’s be real – in today’s world you can’t function without them.  But there are alternatives that reduce our dependency on the Big Banks and actually save all of us money.  We have a couple of suggestions: (1.) Joe’s Check List – If you are a “regular” and wish to pay by check, please ask your waiter to get you on the list.  (2.) Joe’s gift card – purchase $100 gift card with cash or check and get an extra $10 value!


u  Giggles:  Unicorns – a myth?
♦  A man in a movie theater notices a unicorn sitting next to him. Surprised, the man asked, “Are you a unicorn?” “Yes.” “What are you doing at the movies?” The unicorn replied, “Well, I liked the book.”
♦  A devout cowboy lost his Bible while he was mending fences out on the range. Three weeks later, a unicorn walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth.  The cowboy astonished, took the book, raised his eyes to heaven and exclaimed, “It’s a miracle!” “Not really,” said the unicorn. “Your name is written on the inside cover.”
Joe’s Dining
2801 Rodeo Rd (at Zia Rd) Santa Fe, NM   87507
505-471-3800       www.JoesDining.com
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