Mighty Mitochondria

Nourishing our Cellular Powerhouses: Tips for Supporting and Repairing Mitochondria

Our mitochondria are cellular powerhouses that play a crucial role in energy production, metabolism, and overall health. When our mitochondria are functioning optimally, we feel energized, focused, and vibrant. But when they are damaged or depleted, we may experience fatigue, brain fog, and other health issues.

Fortunately, there are many ways to support and repair our mitochondria, including dietary changes, supplements, and healing modalities. Here are some tips for nourishing your cellular powerhouses and optimizing your health:

1. Eat a Mitochondria-Friendly Diet: Certain foods can help to support and repair our mitochondria, including those that are rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and key micronutrients. Some of the best foods for mitochondria include leafy greens, fatty fish, nuts and seeds, avocados, and berries. These foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that support mitochondrial health and function.

2. Take Mitochondria-Boosting Supplements: In addition to dietary changes, supplements can also be beneficial for supporting mitochondrial health. Some of the most effective supplements for mitochondria include CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium, and acetyl-L-carnitine. These supplements can help to boost energy production, reduce inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress.

3. Engage in Mitochondria-Supportive Healing Modalities: There are many healing modalities that can help to support mitochondrial health, including acupuncture, massage, and red light therapy. Our podcast listeners can enjoy 10% off ORION red light therapy devices. These modalities can help to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and balance the body's energy systems. Additionally, practices such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can help to reduce stress and support overall cellular health.

4. Minimize Exposure to Toxins: Toxins such as pesticides, heavy metals, and air pollution can damage our mitochondria and compromise their function. To support optimal mitochondrial health, it is important to minimize exposure to these toxins as much as possible. This can be achieved by eating organic foods, filtering your air and water, and using non-toxic personal care and cleaning products.

5. Prioritize Sleep and Exercise: Both sleep and exercise are important for mitochondrial health and function. Adequate sleep helps to promote cellular repair and regeneration, while regular exercise helps to improve circulation, increase energy production, and reduce inflammation. Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night and engage in moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes per day.

Our mitochondria are integral to our health and well-being, and there are many ways to support and repair them. By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can nourish your cellular powerhouses and optimize your health and vitality.

XO Be Well,
Jules

The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS, NOT THOSE KIND

I often fantasize about becoming a mountain woman who hunts and forages for her food. I imagine myself with a rugged outfit on (something from the sale rack of REI, of course), knife in hand, ready to slay whatever suits my fancy.

Then I realize that I have zero skills for that type of lifestyle. My son, Evan, however, is an experienced forager. He started mushroom hunting with his father in Southern Minnesota at a young age.

The Internet defines foraging as “wandering around looking for food”, which sounds like an aimless and ditzy quest. On the contrary, foraging requires knowledge of plant species and how to handle/prepare/preserve nature’s bounty. But, again, these are all skills that I don’t have.

Lucky for me, I get to reap the rewards of my son’s knowledge and foraging skills, then I lecture him on the health benefits of the food(s).

This blog post is NOT about the hallucinogenic effects of magic mushrooms; we’ll save that for another post and podcast episode. Instead, this blog article spotlights 3 types of mushrooms: Morel, Chicken of the Woods, and Chaga.

Morel Mushroom, Marcella spp.
Morels are the first mushroom to pop up after a long winter. If you’re a Midwesterner, you understand the thrill of life after what feels like death, aka 7 months of winter. There are 20+ species of morels in North America. They all look different but are equally tasty.

Transport
Opt for a bag with structure to protect the morels from being crushed.

Prep
Clean morels with a brush and/or use a saltwater bath to remove critters. These mushrooms are very versatile to cook with- pastas, soups, hot dishes all complement and bring out the flavor.

Precautions
Do NOT eat morels raw. By heating the morel, it removes the toxins.

Preservation
Fresh-freeze or sauté-and-freeze, dehydrate, freeze-dry, or pickle.

Health Benefits
Vitamin C - helps form and maintain bones, cartilage, skin, and blood vessels.

B3- boosts brain function, improves skin health, and may reduce blood pressure.

Zinc - supports immune system by fighting off invading bacteria and viruses.

Vitamin D and D2 - prohormones support the health of the immune system, brain and nervous system. Maintains healthy bones and teeth.

Chicken of the Woods Mushroom, Laetiporus sulphureus spp.
With yellow, orange, and red hues, this vibrantly colored shelf mushroom is found primarily on injured, dying, or dead oak trees. Look for younger mushrooms with thicker edges that are soft to the touch. Use a knife and cut the mushroom off the tree,
taking only the tips, not the entire ‘shroom (it will keep regenerating on the tree!).

Transport
Because of their size and quantity, use a mesh bag to carry from forest to home.

Prep
This mushroom absorbs water easily, so clean by wiping with a damp towel.
Because this mushroom's texture and flavor are similar to chicken, you can easily substitute it in chicken recipes.

Precautions
People have had adverse reactions to these mushrooms (swollen lips or tongue, nausea, vomiting). Cook well (boil twice). Avoid older mushrooms. Be careful with Western mushrooms. Eat a small bit to test for allergic reactions. This mushroom has 18 clades (strains), so inform yourself of what clade you are foraging!

Preservation
Fresh-keeps in the fridge for a week. Saute and freeze. Freeze-drying can reduce flavor.

Health Benefits
Laminarin- a water-soluble polysaccharide that promotes the biosynthesis of estrogen by aromatase.

Acetyl Eburicoic Acid -known to stop the activation of macrophages, which then suppresses of inflammatory diseases.

Quercetin- has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that might help reduce cancer risk, control blood sugar, and help prevent heart disease.

Chaga Mushroom, Inonotus obliquus
With a charcoal black conk (fungus), chaga exclusively infects healthy birch trees.
It’s interior is golden brown and it has a black exterior. Foraging for chaga is best in late fall or early winter. Use a sizable knife to cut it off the tree. Leaving at least 1/3 behind for regeneration.

Transport
A mesh bag is best to avoid mold and mildew.

Prep
Chaga should be brushed for unwanted debris, immediately broken into small pieces, and then dried to avoid mold. To dry chaga, set it in a warm, well-ventilated, dry place for several days or use a food dehydrator.
Chaga makes for a powerful tea, tincture, or superfood powder.

Precautions
Do not pull chaga off of dead trees. The mushroom is dead (sad) and has zero nutrients. Chaga may interfere with blood clotting. Therefore, those with bleeding disorders should not ingest it, and anyone taking blood thinning medication should use it cautiously.

Preservation
Once dry, they can be stored in a paper bag in a dark place at room temperature. Processed and stored properly, your chaga will last up to two years.

Health Benefits
Because of chaga contains beta-glucans, polysaccharides, betulinic acid, phytosterols, and polyphenols, this mushroom has antiallergenic, antibacterial, anticancer, antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antiparasitic, antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral abilities.
IMO, chaga is the GOAT of all mushrooms.

Fave Chaga Mushroom Powder
Drink Renude
Cleaned up and spiked with an effective dose of the planet’s greatest adaptogens to support immunity, promote anti-aging, and boost your energy without the jitters.

Evan’s Morel Mushroom Risotto Recipe

1 cup freshly chopped morel mushrooms or 2 oz dried
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp EVOO
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, minced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
5 cups vegetable or chicken broth
Salt to taste
1/2 cup grated pecorino or Romano cheese

FOR FRESH MORELS

Pour the stock into a pot and bring it to a simmer.

In another medium pot, heat the oil and butter over medium-high heat and sauté the minced onion. Add the minced garlic, the morels, and the rice. Mix well. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring often.

Add 1/2 cup of hot stock to the rice and stir well. STIR! As each 1/2 cup of stock is absorbed, add another, STIR, add another 1/2 cup, STIR. Just keep STIRRING!

When rice is cooked through but still firm, add the grated cheese and a little more stock. Stir to incorporate the cheese into the risotto. Salt to taste and serve.

FOR DRIED MORELS
Set the morels in a bowl. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the morels and cover the bowl. Let the mushrooms steep for 25-30 minutes. Remove the mushrooms, squeeze them dry with your hands. Chop the morels and set aside.
Follow the directions as above.

Evan’s Book Recommendation

Mushrooms of the Upper Midwest
Found on Amazon.

I hope this post inspires you to get outside and “wander around looking for food”.
For more tips on safe foraging, visit Joybilee Farm’s site.

XO Be Well,

Jules

The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Miami, A Sustainably Styled City

I always look forward to solo trips. I like that I can get up as early or as late as I want. I can walk or take an Uber. I can leave food on the bed as I fade into sleep.

I found an Airbnb in Wynwood, Miami’s art and fashion district just blocks from Kaspar Basse’s brainchild, Joe and the Juice and a 2-mile walk to the design school, Istituto Marangoni.

Istituto Marangoni

Following in the footsteps of Istituto Marangoni’s international network of schools to enhance talents since 1935, Istituto Marangoni Miami’s vision is to drive students’ dreams through innovation and responsible design.

RESPONSIBLE DESIGN
Four pillars of responsible design focus: lifecycle, repair, sourcing, and community.

Life cycle- What does that textile have to do? Where does the travel? What is that journey? And how do we ensure that it will not end up in the landfill?

Repair- How do we push and promote that repairing clothing is imperative to climate change?

Sourcing- Where is the textile coming from? What process was used for farming cotton? How ethical were the manufacturers?

Community- Build Your Own Design. This an ingenious concept; a designer and a commoner collab to create a one-of-a-kind garment together.

Istituto Marangoni has recently partnered up with Parley, the organization that produces textiles and products from ocean waste.

“An estimated 8 million metrics tons of plastic trash ends up in our oceans every year. After sunlight photodegrades the plastic into small pieces, aquatic life and seabirds mistake these fragments for food and ingest it.

 New studies show that ingested plastic damages the internal organs of fish. This raises the question about the safety of our seafood.

If we fail to clean up the plastic and stop the continued pollution of the oceans, we are facing the potential extinction of many sea life species and the interruption of the entire ecosystem.”

: A sobering message from Paul Watson :
IF THE OCEANS DIE, WE DIE.

UPCYCLED FASHION
After a bit of research, I was set on visiting RE/DONE’s freestanding store. RE/DONE is a brand on a mission to keep heritage brands relevant (namely Levi’s) and to create sustainable, mindful fashion. Their store was exactly how I imagined; understated and artful.

This concept is very similar to Minnesotan’s own Gay Hacker of 3rd Hand Clothier who specializes in upcycled garments including alteration, design and construction using recycled/sustainable fabrics.

SUSTAINABLE STAYS
1 Hotel rests on Collins Ave, the main artery of South Beach. It’s Earthly vibe just hits different when you walk inside. As if an ethereal portal opened and has warmly welcomed you in. Inside this LEED-Certified hotel you’ll find every detail was whipped by the eco-stick in the very best way. BONUS: 1 Hotels are in some of our most dynamic cities, Los Angeles, NYC, San Fransisco, and Nashville.

The Standard Hotel and Spa sits on Belle Isle in Biscayne Bay. It’s vibe is derivative of mod design. Think Andy Warhol meets FROY. I skipped the poolside drinks and spent time relaxing in the spa before my B-12 intramuscular shot.

B-12 regulates energy, mood, sleep, detoxification, red blood cell production, immune support, and is vital for nerve and heart health.

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CHEFS

I couldn’t leave Miami without experiencing The Bazaar, one of Chef Jose Andres famed restaurants. Chef Andres won me over a few years ago at Napa’s Bottle Rock Music and Food Festival on the culinary stage. His sense of humor and energetic personality is magnetic. I’ve been following his humanitarian endeavors since. Currently, Chef Andres is in Poland with his non-profit organization, World Central Kitchen, providing thousands of daily meals and food kits to recently liberated cities, isolated communities, displaced families, and neighborhoods caught in the crossfire of the Russian invasion. You can support his efforts here.

I ordered the Caesar salad, which IMO, is only as good its dressing. The dressing was a complete W- the perfect balance of salty, earthy, and tangy flavors sans the anchovy aftertaste that I don’t fancy. The croutons were weird little pillow crackers that I kept pushing around my plate hoping to find the real McCoy.

Photo by WCK

Miami continues to be one of the most progressive and provocative US cities to wander. They’ve got it all- flavorful food, vibrant culture, audacious art, sustainable fashion, gorgeous beaches, and Phil Collins.

Until next time.

XO Be Well,

Jules

Boulder, As Green as it Gets

Cannabis and all of its green wonders wasn't the only thing that will keep me coming back to Boulder again. The city and all of its residents are the poster people for low tox lifestyle and living. They truly talk the talk and walk the walk, and it's evident when you stroll down the beautiful Pearl Street and enjoy its shops and restaurants.

A breathtaking drive down the mountain brought my friend and I to a fun and fabulous (and very popular) restaurant in downtown named Snooze. Not only supremely delicious, but doing some great green things too! And I've always been a sucker for a great logo and atmosphere, which Snooze totally delivered on. Snooze prides themselves on real ingredients, responsibly sourced, and thoughtfully prepared.

The "Sweet Potato Veggie Smash Up" is two smashed and grilled sweet potatoes with pickled onion and asparagus, red onion & mushroom salad. Topped with avocado, poached cage-free egg and hemp seeds. Drizzled with house made Snooze Sriaxha maple syrup. Umm....YUM! Sweet and savory all at once, and packed with nutrition.

For my friend, The "Spuds Deluxe" delivered just what she needed with a heaping portion of hash browns, covered with melted cheddar and jack cheese, scallions, with her choice of fillings which were of course onions and tomato. Top that with two cage-free eggs served over easy, and bam! perfection.

Snooze boasts that 100% of their deliveries are carbon neutral. A HUGE deal. In 2021 with 768,058 orders at 1,177 metric tons over 3 million miles were not driven in serving their customers. WOW. Go Snooze!

Wandering on from breakfast, Pearl Street continued to inspire me with its shops and wares. When we came upon Savannah Bee, of course we had to stop. I was very familiar with the brand, as I used to sell it online.

Savannah Bee is known internationally for it's rare artisanal honeys and luxury body care. They collect pure, rare, delectable honeys and educate the world about the wonders of honey and the bee. The shop is not only charming, but incredibly beautiful. Spacious too! And the prices were extremely reasonable for the high quality offerings of these incredible products.

The store is filled with just about every product you can imagine that could, and should, be made with this wonder ingredient. Einstein himself once said, "If bees disappear off the globe then man would only have 4 years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man." Well. How can we argue with that?! Sweet as honey, and sure to perform, Savannah Bee products are a cut above the rest and a testament to harvesting from nature all the powers that "bee".

So, are you learning now that "Zero Waste" can really be a thing? It's nothing new; it's been done long before us and the industrilization of our food chain and processes. This led us to a visit at the first of it's kind, Zero-Waste grocer in Boulder, Nude Foods Market.

It's SO important to see a return to the old fashioned glass jars, and bulk of days gone by. I instantly felt like I was walking into something out of Little House on the Prairie. When you walk in you feel like you have stepped back in time. Rows and shelves lined with everything you could ever need in the kitchen, beautifully exposed and contained in glass jars so you can actually SEE what you are buying. They work on a deposit system, where everything is packaged in re-useable containers that you receive a refund for when you come back to refill, or give back.

We couldn't really figure out anything that was missing from our typical modern day grocery list. It was all just so much more beautiful and appealing. We grabbed a few free items from the "last call" table, and were happy to take home a couple of prize goodies to share with our Boulder friends for our last meal together before we left. Nude Foods second store is opening soon in Denver. And we can't wait to come back and visit that one too! No plastics, no waste, no garbage. No kidding.

Since we do so love to consciously indulge sometimes, I tracked down one of the coolest and most beautiful hotels that I have visited to date, St. Julien Hotel. Mind you this was because yet another flight was cancelled for me. But what an awesome reason to visit the only LEED certified hotel in Boulder!

It's boutique. It's stunning. It's St. Julien. Since the inception of their Go Green sustanability intiatives, the hotel has reduced electricity usage by 22% per occupied room, gas usage by 14% per occupied room, and water usage by 21% per occupied room. They have earned several awards including the Colorado Hotel & Lodgin Association's Good Earth Keeping Award and are a Gold Partner of Colorado Environmental Leaders Program.

The hotel is committed to minimizing the impact on the environment, while satisfying the needs of the guests. Needless to say, as if the luxury bathtub, robes, slippers, and eco friendly products in the room weren't enough; the views and food on the back patio were!

Oh Boulder. How I love you. Until next time!

XO Be Well,

Jules

Southern Cal. Zero Everything

So...Dana Point and Summerland weren’t in my original plan. I had planned to fly into LAX but after some travel restrictions and other comedy of errors, I had to reroute my arrival to Orange County.

What seemed like an incredible headache and lots of work at the time turned out to be a beautiful and organic experience.

THE WALDORF ASTORIA, DANA POINT, CA

Connecting with friends of friends from the O.C. brought me to the Waldorf Astoria at Monarch Beach. This 5-star luxury resort provides breathtaking views and a beautiful experience for anyone who visits. The community is represented in the professionally led eco-adventures and local artwork. Not only was our lunch of Ceasar Salad and Roasted Salmon Bowl at AVEO delicious, it is notable that the head chef Jean-Pierre Dubray, who has received the prestigious award of "Le Merite Agricole", uses locally sourced, natural, and organic seafood, meats, poultry and produce.

ORGANIC CAESAR BOWL -Parmesan Cheese, Herb Croutons Garlic Lemon Dressing, White Anchovies

ROASTED SALMON BOWL- Seasonal Wild Caught Salmon, Quinoa, Braised Kale, Fermented Cucumber , Sprouts, Passion Fruit Glazed

NOBU, MALIBU, CA

Continuing on my journey up the coast, I ended up in my favorite city, Malibu. While the Airbnb I planned to stay at was a bust, my dinner reservation at Nobu did not disappoint. Nobu in Malibu is the brand’s marquee restaurant location in California. It is a model for contemporary design that addresses the distinct challenges of coastal topography. Nobu is set on some of the most expensive real estate in the world, and they set out to conquer environmental concerns regarding stormwater and the coastline.

Seeing an opportunity to enhance stormwater treatment and protect the ocean, Nobu designed The Modular Wetlands Linear biofiltration system. This unique system is saving land while actively contributing to a mission by addressing pollutants like nitrates, oils, trash, plastics, trash, and phosphorus, and TSS before they are able to get to the ocean waters. 

Not only was the food top-notch as my friend and I indulged on shrimp tempura, edamame, and spicy snow crab, the hand-picked champagne by founder Nobuyuki Matsuhisa was a delight and one of the highlights of my dining experiences. So very highly recommended!

If you have the time (and the cash) Nobu’s hotel next door is a once-in-a-lifetime Ryokan experience.

The Airbnb debacle led me to make some unexpected changes to my “hotel” plans. Being I am dedicated to all things organic, I let the experience unfold and found myself booking a night at a quaint space in Summerland, a suburb of Santa Barbara. So into the little eco-friendly car I went, and off to another adventure.

On my way further up the coast, I hit one of my intended destinations in Malibu, the first of its kind in California: Marisol Malibu, the zero carbon design home by developer Crown Pointe Estates. A luxurious 14,400 square foot mansion, novel residence guarantees to have absolutely no carbon emissions during its lifetime. 

MARISOL MALIBU, CA

Marisol Malibu is the ground-breaking residence with that promise. At a price tag of $32 million, it would certainly be out of reach for most, but is definitely a model for green minded consumers worldwide that can learn a lot from the home’s unique use of renewable resources used in the construction and operation of the home like sustainably sourced wood in the building materials instead of steel, solar panels that are the sole source of electricity, the fruit orchard, vegetable and herb gardens, and a bee hive that provides year round access to fresh food and ingredients for the homeowners. Inspiration anyone?! 

If you aren’t the lucky bidder on this zero carbon home, the developer has three others planned that you can take a swing at. Or, you can take a tip from the incredible things the innovators of the Crown Pointe Estates construction team have done and buy, plan, or retrofit your home with these awesome design points in mind to minimize your footprint in the environment, and save some money along the way. Go green!

MALIBU COUNTRY MART, CA

Malibu Country Mart is a must-see, must-shop destination for me (always). I rolled into Vuori Clothing, a performance apparel line focused on reducing waste and carbon emissions. I fell in love with their performance joggers and you will too. I promise.
Out of sheer curiosity from IG ads, I swooped into Bleusalt. I was immediately taken by the feel of their Tencel™ Modal Fibers, derived from sustainably sourced renewable raw wood materials and produced by environmentally responsible processes.

Bleusalt

Seasonless fashion made sustainably from the Softest.Fibers.On. Earth.

SUMMERLAND, CA

Talk about a walkable town! The morning found me on a one-block stroll away at an adorable little coffee shop by the name of Red Kettle Coffee in the charming little downtown of Summerland. Beginning the morning with one of their signature coffees, “A Ray of Sunshine”, led to taste bud delight with notes of turmeric, honey, and cinnamon. A charming gift shop, conscious coffee menu, and delightful employees had me at hello.

It was a bright, warm, and cheerful California morning that was just begging for further exploration of this unexpected fairy-like town. So after our incredible breakfast and nutrient-laden caffeine fix at Red Kettle, my friend and I sauntered down the quiet Main Street. We passed the old-fashioned firehouse, the daily Farmers Market with all of it’s beautiful bounty of local fresh produce and hand-made jams, and wandered into the a bird sanctuary. How random...at least to me, as the Minnesota winter raged on while we bathed in the warmth and So Cal sunshine.

How unexpected it was to end up in a paradise for rescue birds from all of the most exotic places in the world. The bird sanctuary was established in 2004 by by  Director Jamie McLeod, who saw a need for the rescue of unwanted and displaced companion parrots.  This non-profit organization is supported by donations from the community, visitors, and helps educate potential adopters, as well as local groups of all ages. To become Friend of the flock and supporter of SBBS, visit their website at www.sbbird.org.

SANTA BARBARA, CA

My final stop was The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara. This is one of my all-time favorite spas in the world. So many great memories with friends were made at this spa nestled up against the Pacific ocean.
My friend and I enjoyed Chef Justin Purpura’s culinary talents. Purpura partners with local farmers and sustainable seafood sources to create traditional bistro favorites.

COASTAL CAESAR -Petite Romaine Hearts, Herb Ciabatta Croûtons, Radish, Anchovies, Black Garlic, Caesar Dressing 

CRISPY TOFU BUDDHA BOWL - Crispy Fried Tofu, Quinoa, Shredded Red Cabbage, Edamame, Julienne Carrots, Diced Cucumbers, Fried Wasabi Crisps 

Southern California has so much more to experience and discover! Bet, I will definitely return for more.

XO Be Well,

Jules

Las Vegas, A Solar Powered Oasis

My trip to Las Vegas started with the airline canceling my flight because the plane was on fire.

Or at least that is what the captain thought but later discovered was a false alarm. They gave me a choice to go home or they’d put me up in a local hotel for the night. Um, Embassy Suites, please, with full buffet in the morning, thank you.

I eventually got to Las Vegas with a full itinerary and no time to waste.

I had done preliminary research on four places of interest:
1. A solar photovoltaic energy farm in Death Valley.
2. A LEED-Certified spa at Aria.
3. Dr. Weil’s True Food Kitchen in Caesar’s Forum Shops.
4. David Chang’s Momufuku in the Cosmopolitan.

---

MY ROAD TRIP TO DEATH VALLEY

With my BLK. fulvic water in hand and the convertible top down, I drove west on highway 95. At 300 feet below sea level and boasting the highest temperatures in the continental United States at 138 degrees, it’s no surprise that Xanterra Parks & Resorts chose Death Valley to install a 2 megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system.

Covering five acres of Southern California’s Death Valley National Park – a 3.3 million-acre park that is the sunniest place in the country – the two megawatt (MW) system generates more than one-third of the total annual electricity needs of Xanterra’s operations in Death Valley, including the historic Furnace Creek Inn, Furnace Creek Ranch, Furnace Creek Golf Course, employee offices and housing .

-Xanterra

Hundreds of thousands of solar panels have been introduced in the country since 2008, as a growing number of Americans want to power their lives and homes with nature's powerful resource that is the sun. The cost of solar power is going down every year thanks in part to the Solar Energy Technologies Office's investments. There isn't just one solution to harnessing solar power for your home or business. Many resources are available to find the right fit for you. Check out www.energy.gov for some great sources and ideas to get started.

---

MY EXPERIENCE AT ARIA SPA

I chose ARIA (MGM Resorts) based on their LEED certification.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Aria Hotel and Casino has earned six distinct LEED Gold certifications, including their spa.

I started in the SHIO Salt Room and breathed in the respiratory benefits of a wall of Shio salt bricks and salt lamps. My cells soaked up the vibration therapy and music therapy while floating in anti-gravity chairs.

The GANBAN’YOKU stone room was a new experience for me. Ganban’yoku beds are heated black mineral slabs installed into the floor. The stones, made of black silica lava rock, are heated to just over 100˚ F and emit far-infrared rays as we lay atop, enjoying the heat. Not only do the Ganban’yoku beds soothe muscles, they also help eliminate toxins from the body.

After my massage, I took advantage of the hot and cold pools, aka contrast hydrotherapy, and later enjoyed the infinity pool on Aria’s private sundeck.

Contrast hydrotherapy is a series of brief, repeated immersions in water, alternating between warm and cold temperatures. Research supports the use of contrast hydrotherapy to lessen muscle fatigue and to decrease pain, swelling, and lactic acid build-up following intense exercise.

Bonus: MGM Resorts International has installed a 100-megawatt solar array, the hospitality industry's largest directly sourced renewable electricity project worldwide.

---

I LIKE EATING OUT

I was especially interested in trying 2 lox tox restaurants: True Food Kitchen inside Cesars Palace Forum Shops and David Chang’s Momufuku inside The Cosmpolitan.

Dr. Andrew Weil, an integrative health doctor that I’ve been following for years, is the founder. Their menu is based on the anti-inflammatory food pyramid. At the base of the anti-inflammatory pyramid is leafy greens such as, spinach, collard greens, kale, Swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, and romaine. They’re packed full of antioxidants and are an excellent source of Vitamin E, which helps to reduce inflammation in the brain as well as preventing the build-up of plaque on brain cells.

When placing our order, a profound question came up; can one over-kale? Could I have the raw kale salad and the raw kale aid without any unpleasant side effects? Read: gas, bloating, indigestion. The server didn’t know. Ergo as any prudent researcher would do, I looked into it and found that yes, because kale is a cruciferous vegetable, which contain raffinose, it can produce excess gas and bloating.

To avoid this discomfort, you can add Himalayan salt to your dish or drink. This enhances nutrient absorption and helps break down the dense fibers. Further, way too much kale may result in heavy metal poisoning (thallium) and can interfere with thyroid function. It’s best to switch up your greens by rotating family types of leafy greens. You’re not only preventing an alkaloid build-up, you are also absorbing many different kinds of nutrients that each one has to offer.

I skipped the kale salad and ordered the kale aid and turkey burger.
My friend selected a gluten-free lasagna; between blissful bites she managed to get out words like “delicious” and “gorgeous slice of lasagna”.

Kale Aid - kale, ginger, apple, celery, cucumber, lemon
Turkey Burger -avocado, organic tomato, butter lettuce, smoked gouda, jalapeño remoulade, flaxseed bun
Lasagna Bolognese, GF -fennel chicken sausage, mushroom, organic spinach, ricotta, basil

I was first introduced to David Chang in 2018 via his Netflix show, Ugly Delicious. However, he’s no flash in the pan restauranteur. David has been carving out his niche for more than two decades, earning himself six James Beard awards and two Michelin stars for his fine dining restaurant, Ko.

Chang has co-written two cookbooks, has launched a food magazine, Lucky Peach, and has a podcast called The Dave Chang Show. He is a leader in the food industry, addressing climate change, health, food scarcity, and more sustainable ways to feed people.

At his Momofuku restaurant inside the Cosmopolitan, my friend and I split an appetizer and entree.
Crispy Sweet Potato - crunchy ryu, honey mustard, scallion
Duck Paitan Ramen - duck confit, pickled vegetables, shoyu egg

I was hesitant to order the ramen; can you really innovate ramen? YES. Yes you can. And David Chang has proved once again he’s changing the way America eats.

My friend ended our sensory experience by asking our server to bring out a birthday cookie* for me (45th!).

*Birthday cookie not likely a culinary creation of David Chang

Thank you for letting me share my green adventures with you!

XO Be Well,

Jules