Eating Well: Different Bites

| Eating Well

By Natalia Mendez

By the time I was four years old I knew I wanted to be a chef. While the other kids watched the Cartoon Network I watched the food channels. Other girls played with dolls; I played with the stove.

Growing up, food was the only thing on my mind and as my passion increased, so did my weight. Throughout my adolescence I became very overweight and unhealthy. Subsequently, as a young adult I had to learn to balance my love for food with what was right for my body. This is what sparked my interest in nutrition.

I attended the culinary school at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island and graduated with a Bachelors in Culinary Nutrition. I worked and trained as a professional chef for five years before my accident in July of 2006. Driving down the street on a sunny day, a tree fell on my car and rendered me a quadriplegic instantly.

My life changed drastically but my passion for food and nutrition didn’t. These days I offer my knowledge through writing instead of through cooking. My aim with these health tips is to spread awareness about natural alternatives to harsh pharmaceuticals for common health problems affecting spinal cord injuries.

I hope they’re helpful. I welcome suggestions, questions, recipes, etc. Write me at Chefnatalia@yahoo.com.

If Your Colon is the Question, Papaya Could Be the Answer!

Papaya, a fruit easily found at your local grocer’s, is either green (unripened) or orange (ripe) in color. It can be helpful for many digestive disorders and is excellent for improving poor digestion.

Papain, a major enzyme found in papaya, is a proteolytic, which means that it digests proteins. It also has the ability to digest dead tissue without affecting the surrounding live tissue. This is how it easily flushes the gut of meat and other proteins that have the tendency to linger in body for a long time. The nutrients in papaya have also been shown to be helpful in the prevention of colon cancer. The fiber found in papaya is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and keep them away from the healthy colon cells. This function also aids in the lowering of high cholesterol levels.

After treatment with antibiotics, which we with SCI deal with often, the use of papaya juice can quickly restore the normal bacteria in the gut that will have been destroyed by treatment.

Papain is especially concentrated in the unripened fruit. Try it raw in salads and slaws or cooked in relishes or chutneys. Ripe papaya could be enjoyed like any fruit. I find them especially tasty in smoothies!

Green Papaya Salad

Ingredients

1/3 cup green papaya (usually found in Asian markets)
1/3 cup carrots
1/3 cup red peppers

Dressing

1 Asian chili or jalapeno (if easier to find)
1/2 t. sugar
1 Tbs. lime juice

Garnish

Chopped peanuts
Cilantro

Prepare dressing by combining lime juice, sugar and diced chili to taste. I’d suggest dicing the chili very small and starting by adding small amounts to the liquid, tasting and adding more as you see fit.

Shred or cut the green papaya, carrots, and red peppers thin about the size of matchsticks and toss with the dressing. Garnish with chopped peanuts and cilantro.

Sweet Papaya Salsa

Dice up equal parts pineapple, sweet papaya, cucumber and red onion into small pieces. Toss with lime juice to taste and garnish with cilantro.

Don’t be afraid of substitutions, try mango instead of pineapple or white instead red onion, and adjust it to your taste.

Seeking a Blood thinner? Look to the Sea!

Certain types of seaweed such as wakame have been proven to possess blood thinning properties. In fact some blood thinners even contain seaweed. Some studies have shown it to be at times more effective than the drug heparin at destroying blood clots.

Seaweed is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids which can provide lubrication to veins and arteries as well as improve muscle recovery after trauma. It can also aid with arthritis.

Seaweed can be found at your local health store and prepared in a variety of ways from raw to boiled, dried, crumbled on salads, or served in broth. The possibilities are endless so have some fun with it. Your body will thank you for it!

Seaweed Salad

Ingredients

1/3 cup fresh wakame seaweed
1/3 cup carrots
1/4 cup red onion

Dressing

1 teaspoon Sesame oil
2 teaspoons Rice wine vinegar

Garnish

Sesame seeds

Mix together sesame oil and vinegar for dressing. Shred or cut wakame, carrots, and red onion matchstick thin and toss with dressing. Garnish with sesame seeds. You could omit the onions if you like or add green papaya for color if you like play with it. You can also find seaweed salad pre-prepared at specialty/Asian markets.

I always encourage creativity with my recipes. Everything isn’t for everyone. Don’t be afraid to substitute or try new things. Just have fun and enjoy!

Natalia Mendez is a chef by training. She lives in the Bronx.