Local Doctor to Hold Free Event to Discuss Nutrition

Troy, Michigan – Dr. Tanya Dejkunchorn, owner of The Chiropractic Studio, 1065 E. Long Lake Road, is set to host a discussion on the basics of nutrition at 10 a.m. Sept. 21 at Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois.

Dejkunchorn, whose family practice focuses on all aspects of health and wellness, will be discussing basic nutrition, including information on proper eating habits, how to distinguish between good and bad fats and sugars, and even what types of bottled water are better than others. She will offer guidance on how to have a vegetarian diet, losing weight effectively and which foods offer specific vitamins and minerals to the body and more.

The event is free and open to the public – bring a friend!

 Dr. Dejkunchorn is a member of the International Chiropractic Association, the Michigan Chiropractic Association and the Michigan Chiropractic Legal Action Counsel. She serves as a diplomat to the National Board of Chiropractic, as well as the Michigan Board of Chiropractic and also is an active community speaker for the 2003 Michigan Worksafe Program. She has cared for players on the Atlanta Falcons football team and had the honor of serving as the Official Chiropractor of the 1998 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

 For more information on Dr. Tanya Dejkunchorn and The Chiropractic Studio, visit www.thechirostudio.com. For any questions on the event or to schedule an interview, please contact Marketing Director Kirsten Buys at Kirsten@thechirostudio.com or (248) 302-0503.

Recipes: July 2008

Grilled Veggie Kebabs

Soak your favorite vegetables for 30 minutes before threading and grilling.

For each kebab:

• 6 large cut vegetables
• Pesto vinaigrette for basting vegetables

Vinaigrette:

by Chef Annabel Cohen

• 2 Tbsp. prepared pesto
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Heat grill to medium-high. Soak mushrooms in water for 30 minutes. Combine vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.

For each kebab, thread 4-6 vegetables on an 8-inch or longer skewer (if using bamboo skewers, soak them in warm water for an hour before using).

Place the kebabs on the hot grill and cook for 10 to 15 minutes until tender, brushing with the vinaigrette every few minutes. The vinaigrette is sufficient for basting up to 12 kebabs. Serve hot.

Paella a la Valenciana

by Connie Jason and Regina Jarandilla

Paella was meant to be grilled on high heat.

• 1 pound firm tofu, cut into cubes
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 green onions, chopped
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 10 ounce package frozen peas
• 1 9 ounce package frozen artichoke hearts
• 2 tsp. paprika
• 11/2 cup basmati rice
• 2 tsp. salt
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• pinch of saffron

In a paella pan, brown tofu, garlic and onions in oil on medium to high heat. Add tomatoes, peas, artichoke hearts, paprika and rice and cook until rice is well coated with oil. Add salt, broth, saffron and cook uncovered until the rice tender. Garnish with pimientos and olives. Serves 6.

Nutrition: Shedding Heavy Foods for the Summer

Summer is a great time to think about eating lighter meals. A growing amount of individuals are interested in experimenting with a vegetarian diet or eating more vegetarian meals during their week. Just like any food plan, the key to a healthy vegetarian diet is simple—eat a variety of foods, which are nutrient dense, and limit junk foods. If you base your diet around junk food, whether you are a carnivore or a vegetarian, you will be missing out on many key nutrients.

What should individuals be concerned about regarding proper nutrition if contemplating a vegetarian diet? Iron deficiency anemia is still a widespread problem. However, studies show that anemia is no more prevalent in vegetarians than in carnivores. Although the iron in meat products is more readily absorbed, good non-meat sources of iron include beans, green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals and dried fruit.

On the other hand, a vegetarian diet may be useful in treating heart disease and diabetes. Over 50% of individuals with diabetes develop heart disease at some point in their lives, which can be prevented or abated by prudent food choices. Dr. Dean Ornish has done groundbreaking research in the area of lifestyle and heart disease prevention. He has demonstrated that the blockage of arteries can actually be reversed without surgery or drugs using a low-fat, vegetarian diet in conjunction with exercise and stress management. Since even small improvements in arterial blockages can significantly improve blood flow to the heart, this is a wonderful option for anyone who has considered surgery to be the only choice.

In addition to heart disease, meat is a contributing factor in the development of kidney failure due to it’s high protein content, along with stroke, and increased vulnerability to infectious diseases. Too much fat is also a problem in the diet of women. Dietary fat, mainly of animal origin, influences levels of various hormones in the body, thereby increasing one’s risk of cancer.

Calcium is another concern in terms of osteoporosis prevention. In the first few years of menopause, women can lose up to 30% of their bone mass. However, osteoporosis is not a disease of calcium deficiency—but a disease of calcium loss. Many women are routinely on diets or are on the go, guzzling down caffeine and/or diet pop, both which cause calcium loss from bone. Caffeinated soft drinks enhance this bone loss. The issue may not be that women are not taking in enough dairy products, but consuming products that are leaching their calcium stores.

Americans, vegetarians included, eat four times as much protein than they actually need. High protein diets promote calcium loss from the bones. Although dairy products contain large amounts of calcium, they also contain a large amount of protein, which causes calcium to be excreted from the body. Non-animal sources of calcium, which would be lower in protein and therefore better retained by the body include green leafy vegetables, beans, tofu and other soy products.

For anyone contemplating a vegetarian diet, you don’t have to embark on the “all or nothing” approach. Finding what works for YOU is the key to any successful diet and lifestyle change. Any change is a step in the direction to feeling healthy.

Here are some steps you can take:

• Eat less red meat and switch to chicken or fish.

• Reduce poultry and fish consumption to three times per week or less, while having at least two to three meatless meals per week emphasizing legumes, soy products, whole grains, and vegetables.

• Don’t worry about “complementing” your proteins. Many people feel that eating vegetarian is “hard work.” This misconception may exist because it was once thought that in order to derive high quality protein from grains and vegetables, proteins needed to be “complemented” (i.e., legumes with seeds, seeds with grains, grains with legumes, etc.) at the same meal. It is now known that you do not have to combine foods in a special way at the same meal to obtain all of the amino acids together. This is usually done naturally during the course of the day with the meals normally eaten.

• Decrease or eliminate consumption of dairy foods. Substitute soy or rice products for milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream.

• Limit refined grains such as white rice, white bread, and white pasta. Choose instead brown rice, whole grain breads and other whole grains.

• Increase your intake of fruit and vegetables to load up on antioxidant vitamin and minerals. Have at least three pieces of fruit a day and try a variety of colorful salad greens such as romaine, green and red leaf, spinach, and bibb, not just iceberg or head lettuce.

• Eat more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart, bones and help fight depression. Vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flax seeds, wheat germ, tofu, walnuts, and green, leafy vegetables.