A Tale of Two Cities

How much does your address affect your health? This is a question that has been on my mind quite a bit. Considering that I have lived in NYC for most of my adult life I will consider the contrast between the Big Apple and Los Angeles, the sprawling suburb. I know I may get a bit of flack from those seriously loyal to their beloved cities but I will try and take an objective stance.

There are obvious differences in lifestyles when comparing the east and west coasts. But the most obvious and the one that we have absolutely no control over is the sun. NYC winters are typically dark and grey and LA gets rain only about 10 days a year (so I was told). So, how would that affect our health for better or worse?

80% of the Vitamin D that we need is produced in our bodies like a hormone. In contrast, just 20% comes from our diet from foods like butter, eggs and fish. That 80% is made when the sun’s UV rays hit our skin directly. This vitamin/hormone is essential for many reasons but mainly for its role in calcium absorption. However, we all know that UV rays have detrimental effects on our skin and over exposure can lead to skin cancers. So, I am going to call this one a draw. In LA, you get more sun and need to be more careful of skin cancer and in NYC you get less sun but produce less Vitamin D. A word of advice for NY’ers – take a supplement that contains Vitamin D during the winter months.

The less obvious difference in lifestyle on both coasts is stress levels. Stress is the most mysterious disease producing emotion that we can have because it creeps up on you overt time and without warning. It can come in the form of upset, anger, depression, and anxiety, to name just a few. Our adrenal glands are the guys responsible for regulating most of our stress hormone levels, namely cortisol which is released by stressful triggers like an emotional outburst or intense and internalized stress. After long periods of time these adrenal glands get worn out and tired and start to rebel against you by going on strike until you start to take better care of yourself. This is called adrenal fatigue and hopefully you can catch it before it has more severe consequences. Good warning signs are constant fatigue, circles under your eyes, eye twitches, and weight gain.

So, back to our two cities, which group of inhabitants seem to lead more stressful lives? This I won’t answer just yet but I am sure you all have some great opinions. I am going to do my own research on the matter while I stay in LA for a bit. But I would love to think that ideally we all have our own ways of dealing with stress whether it be eating well, exercising, internal martial arts like those practiced in HapKiDo, T’ai Chi or Yoga, massage, acupuncture, meditation, etc. On the other side of the coin, there are also people that have ways to hang onto their issues and stress wherever they go, even on vacations. If that sounds like you try and get serious with one of the above mentioned vehicles for stress relief. It will do you and your adrenal glands loads of good!

Spinach Soup with Garlic Croutons

Croutons
2 cups 1/2-inch cubes country-style sourdough bread
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried

Soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2 cups diced peeled red potatoes
4 cups vegetable broth or water
6 cups fresh spinach or chard leaves, tough stems removed
Optional: pine nuts


1. To prepare croutons: Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Toss bread cubes, oil, garlic and rosemary in a large bowl until well combined. Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, 12 to 15 minutes.
3. To prepare soup: In a large saucepan over medium heat add olive oil, onion, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper, reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Pour in broth (or water). Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the potatoes are soft, about 15 minutes. Stir in spinach (or chard) and continue to simmer until the greens are tender, about 10 minutes more. Puree the soup with an immersion blender or regular blender (in batches), leaving it a little chunky if desired.
4. Serve the soup garnished with nutmeg, if desired, and topped with the croutons.
5. Sprinkle with pine nuts if desired.