Joe’s Newsletter #166 SUMMER 2024
Sheila
(archives available at JoesDining.com)
.
A sure sign of summer! Our sour cherry tree is hanging low with its biggest crop ever.
.
♦ Dija know? Richard Eeds, your local SF know-it-all talk show host, broadcasts live from table #21 here at Joe’s. He does this every first Friday of the month for 1260AM Radio. Say hi to him.
♦ Dija know? It does appear that fewer and fewer people are smoking traditional cigarettes than ever. But guess what! Determined smokers have replaced it with vaping. 4.5% of adults now vape and among young adults (18-24) that rises to 11%. Using e-cigarettes, or vaping, is associated with significant health risks to your brain (smell, ADHD and memory), arteries (increased stiffness), heart (thickening of heart muscle and raising blood pressure), compromised lungs and more. The average vape pod contain as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes. (Holy Moly!!)
The U.K. government introduced a Bill to restrict the sale and use of tobacco and vaping products, aiming to create the first smoke-free generation.
Are lawmakers in the US even aware of this super-dangerous habit?
♦ Dija Know? For decades here at Joe’s we have used the term “grass-fed-and-finished” to describe the healthiest best quality meats you could eat. It’s a long and bulky phrase but it is important to know and understand the term. Many marketing companies use the term grass-fed to describe their meats. And that’s misleading. The fact is every cow, sheep, deer, etc. is grass fed. All cattle, for instance, are born on the range and once weaned, become grass eaters. Obvious right? The clever marketers are not lying when they say, “grass fed”. But the finishing is the critical distinction. At 8-12 months the cattle that are destined for industrial processing are shipped to stockyards where their feed is radically changed from what is absolutely natural and digestible – grass. They are fattened on various formulas that are primarily grain mixed with other fattening ingredients – not at all digestible or natural for bovines. The outcome? Diseases occur in feedlot cattle at a much greater frequency than in cattle who remain on grass (grass-fed-and-finished) all their lives. Drug residues are generally not found in grass finished beef because medication is infrequent or unnecessary. Grass-finished meats are usually leaner, yes and can be tougher, but are far far superior in nutrient value. That is the distinction between “grass-fed” and “grass-fed-and-finished.”
♦ Dija know? 8 of 10 fast food meals contain Veterinary Drugs. In September 2023, Moms Across America (MAA) submitted food samples from 10 fast food chains to the Health Research Institute, a nonprofit laboratory. Each food sample was tested for the presence of 104 of the most common veterinary drugs and hormones. Fast food restaurants sampled included McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, Chick Fila, Burger King, Taco Bell, Chipotle, Dunkin’, Wendy’s and Domino’s. Only Chipotle and Subway tested negative for veterinary drugs. This isn’t all that surprising, considering most chain restaurants rely on beef and chicken from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs or stockyards), where veterinary drugs are routinely used. As explained by MAA: “Due to conditions in feedlots, there is high incidence of disease . . . livestock is heavily treated with antibiotics and growth hormones.”
♦ Dija know? Baby fat is cute. Visceral fat is not, it’s lethal. Visceral fat is one of 3 kinds of body fat. The other two – subcutaneous fat and brown fat – have beneficial roles to play in our health. Visceral fat however, accumulates deep in the abdomen and is responsible for an extensive list of life- threatening conditions. Just a few are: High BP, Type 2 diabetes, Heart Failure, Stroke, Dementia, Cancers, Sleep Apnea and more. It is a key factor in Metabolic Dysregulation (discussed in last newsletter). The most accurate way to identify visceral fat is with an MRI. A secondary way is to measure waist to height ratio. 1:2 for men and slightly higher for women.
This is not intended to be a medical article, so very briefly, the four drivers of visceral fat are:
1. circadian rhythm disruption – not enough sun exposure, almost constant exposure to blue light devices – screens, cell phones, most LEDs.
2. Dietary imbalances – an over balance of Omega 6’s from processed foods, a high carbohydrates diet loaded with grains and sugar.
3. Alcohol and plastic residues in food and water.
4. Unremitting stress.
How can we solve this problem? Exposing our skin to sun daily, blocking artificial light as much as possible (blue light blocks melatonin production) – blue blocking glasses can help, good solid sleep, adopting a very low carb, keto or carnivore diet, fewer meals less often, periodic or intermittent fasting, avoiding steroids and prednisone, intense, brief exercise (NOT chronic cardio!) .
I know – seems like a tall order. It always depends on how committed we are to our own health and vitality. It’s in our hands. Robust health is a participant sport and it CAN be achieved.
If you want to dig deeper into this subject of visceral fat, I suggest the podcasts of Dr.Sean O’Mara and Dr.Max Gulhane.
♦ Dija know? the magic of 30 grams of protein. Humans have a need for protein in quantities that few of us manage to get. MTOR is the state in which our bodies initiate muscle growth (a VERY good thing). MTOR is triggered by protein.
And it takes about 30 grams of protein to trigger the amino acid receptor sites in the muscles to cause them to grow stronger. And – bonus! – this will “lean out” our muscles by initiating fat-burning. What does 30 grams of protein look like? 5 oz steak, 6 oz ground lamb or chicken, 4 large eggs, 6 oz rib eye, 10 oz macadamias (not all at once please),
6 oz salmon, 4.5 oz peanuts, 3.5 oz gruyere, 7 oz feta.
♦ We are suffocating in plastic.
Together let’s do all we can to reduce our use of plastics. Use our own permanent bags, yes even at Dillard’s, even at Ross, even at the jewelry store, buy fewer polyester clothes, buy water in glass bottles, store leftovers in glass containers and good old waxed paper. Other suggestions?
◆ Dija know? Joe’s now has spirits! You already knew that. But now we have the ones in the bottle! And they are all distilled right here in New Mexico.
♦ Our pastry chef, Alleene, bakes beautiful birthday and special event cakes. Also gluten free goodies. Just ask.
♦ Liver for your dog. Dija Know? Joe’s now sells liver trimmings packaged and frozen for your pooch. There is absolutely no more nutrient dense and carnivore- appropriate food for your dog or cat than grass-fed-and- finished liver trimmings. Our dogs, Aria and Chuckie get it twice a week. (8oz. pkg $5.00)
♦ A shocking merger by Whole Foods. In a stunning move that has left health food advocates shaking their heads, Whole Foods Market, long celebrated as a paragon of organic and non-GMO foods, has partnered with Impossible Foods, a company that brazenly embraces genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in its ‘plant-based’ meat products. This alliance not only contradicts Whole Foods’ carefully cultivated image but also raises serious concerns about the potential health risks posed by Impossible Foods’ offerings.
Impossible Foods relies heavily on GMO ingredients and its products test positive for glyphosate (Round Up) an herbicide linked to numerous health concerns.
Whole Foods has long been a trusted source for health- conscious consumers. The company’s rigorous quality standards and transparency have earned it a devoted following among those who believe in the power of natural healing and clean eating. Its recent collaboration with Impossible Foods has many questioning whether Whole Foods has compromised its values in pursuit of profit.
♦ Things we wish we didn’t know. In the U.S., 1 in 5 children and adolescents is obese. Among 2 to 19-year-olds, obesity was 19.7% in 2020.
Why Are so Many Toddlers Severely Obese?
A 10-year study (2010-2020) involved data from 16.6 million 2 to 4-year-old children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The research identified four factors that, when combined, contribute strongly to childhood obesity by age 4.5 years. This includes:
• Reduction in the practice of breast-feeding infants
• More than 1 hour per day of screen time at age 2
• Sleeping 11.5 hours or less per night at age 2
• Weekly to daily consumption of fast food and soda at age 2
♦ What’s she doing since she “retired”? Since selling DancingBones wellness center, Sheila is coaching clients who are passionate about taking control of their health with her 4- part program. Take her card and give her a call.
♦ Art at Joe’s. The latest group of local artists displaying their works at Joe’s begins in early July. This includes Nancy Kreger and a group of Pleinarians. As well we have the provocative works of Mark Frossard in the upper dining area. Come to our Art Opening Reception complete with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar Saturday July 20th 3 to 5pm. Giving a local gift? You couldn’t do better.
♦ A Tuesday night tradition at Joe’s – it’s Spaghetti and Chianti Night. $54 for two will get you Caesar Salad, Spaghetti with homemade Bolognese and a great 1⁄2 liter of Chianti. Wadda deal! The Bolognese sauce is made with our grass-fed-and- finished beef, slow-cooked in the traditional Italian fashion.
♦ 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 cost the retail merchant about 3-5%. Now in today’s world one cannot function without cc’s. But there are a few (legal) alternatives that reduce our dependency on the Big Banks and actually save us all money: (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 or silver or gold coin, get a $10 free bonus! Your $100 gift card will actually buy you $110 worth at Joe’s.
♦ Some of the farmers & ranchers who supply Joe’s: They get their fertilizer from animals and compost and their agronomic advice from tradition: Monte Vista Organics, C-4 Ranch Beef and Liver, Jacona Farms, Green Tractor, Camino de Paz, Synergia Ranch, Shepherd’s Lamb, La Montanita, Susan’s Sprouts and others.
GIGGLES LOL Labels:
• On Target hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping.
• On a bag of Fritos: You could be a winner! No purchase
necessary. Details inside.
• On a bar of Dial soap: Directions: Use like regular soap.
• On some frozen dinners: Serving suggestion: Defrost.
• On a Korean kitchen knife: Warning: keep out of children.
• On a string of Christmas lights: For indoor or outdoor use only. • On a can of peanuts: Warning – contains nuts.
Joe’s Dining
2801 Rodeo Rd (at Zia Rd) Santa Fe, NM 87507 n 505-471-3800
www.JoesDining.com
Mission: tostrengthenourhealth,toprotectourland, to grow our economy by serving local sustainable food.