STC Hosts First Aviation Camp For High School Students
VOL. I, NO. 53
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City Proclaims July 30 as “World Day Against Trafficking In Persons”
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IS IT VERTIGO OR LIGHTHEADEDNESS? See Pg 3 For Related Story
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The FEMA Center at 700 N. Main in McAllen is now open seven days a week. At the same time, FEMA survey teams are now going house-to-house in affected areas.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2018
GEORGE F. WILL “This human nature is shabby stuff, as you may know from introspection.” -- Peter De Vries SUMMIT, N.J. -- Or from reading the “public letter of admonition” sent by the U.S. Senate’s Select Committee on Ethics to Robert Menendez, the Democratic incumbent seeking a third full term representing New Jersey. Nationwide, Democrats are defending 26 Senate seats, Republicans only nine. Five Democratic incumbents are running in states that 21 months ago experienced Donald Trump swoons: He won Missouri by 18.6 points, Indiana by 19.2, Montana by 20.4, North Dakota by 35.7, West Virginia by 42.1. In New Jersey, which Hillary Clinton carried by 14.1 points, Menendez was supposed to be safe. The Republicans’ most recent presidential victory in New Jersey was in 1988. In the subsequent seven elections, the Democratic presidential candidates’ average margin of victory was almost 13 points. This state last elected a Republican senator (Clifford Case) in 1972. This 46-year drought might end in November. Robert Hugin, 63, grew up in blue-collar Union City, as did Menendez, with whom Hugin served as student representatives to the local board of education. Hugin became the first in his family to graduate from college (Princeton), served 14 years in the Marine Corps (his two sons are now officers), then went into business, rising to run a pharmaceutical company. This sin, although scarlet in the overheated public mind, might be less so than Menendez’s transgressions detailed in the letter. With hilarious understatement, James Madison, who was not known for hilarity, said, “Enlightened statesmen will not
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Will New Jersey Send A Republican To The Senate?
always be at the helm.” A unanimous Senate ethics committee (three Republicans, three Democrats) in its April 26 letter to Menendez said: “By this letter, you are hereby severely admonished.” Menendez, the letter said, brought “discredit upon the Senate” by the following: “Over a six-year period,” Menendez “knowingly and repeatedly accepted gifts of significant value” from a friend (an ophthalmologist who, the letter did not say, is currently appealing a 17-year sentence for $73 million of fraudulent Medicare billings). The gifts included air travel on private and commercial flights, a luxury hotel stay in Paris (the committee’s letter is demurely silent about Menendez’s accompanying girlfriend) and 19 visits to a Dominican Republic villa. He neither publicly reported, nor received written permission for, these gifts. In addition, the committee said, Menendez improperly intervened with federal agencies with “persistent advocacy” for his friend’s business interests. New Jersey Democrats -- they outnumber Republicans by nearly 900,000 -- powered Menendez to a 19-point victory six years ago. In last month’s primary, however, his opponent won 37.8 percent of the vote while spending next to nothing -- not enough to require filing any financial statement. In October he was underwater, 19-59, in a poll about whether he deserves re-election. Today, polls show Menendez with small single-digit leads, but Hugin’s brass-knuckle ads are saying things like this: “[President] Obama’s Justice Department said [Menendez] belongs in jail.” The department brought a 14-count felony corruption indictment, which resulted in a nearly three-month trial that did not convict Menendez. The government then decided against a new prosecution. Hugin might be hindered by the Republican tax cut, which limited the deductibility on federal income taxes of state and local tax payments. This particularly hurts residents of high-tax blue states such as this one. The 10 percent of New Jersey voters affected are affected substantially because property taxes are very high. Hugin says that New Jersey ranks
50th among the states in the high ratio of money sent to Washington compared to the money Washington sends back. He notes that the state has suffered from the out-migration of high earners. (One, who a few years ago decamped to income-taxfree Florida, had been sending hundreds of millions a year to Trenton.) The fastest rate of out-migration is among those ages 18 to 34. The state leads the nation in the percentage of young adults living with their parents -- a nightmare for both sides of the transaction. Most New Jersey voters get their news from New York and Philadelphia television stations that pay minimal attention to the state, and many New Jersey newspapers, experiencing resource constraints common to the industry everywhere, have reduced power to broadly inform. So, Hugin must pay for the dis-
semination of information about Menendez’s many departures from Senate standards. This election will test whether voters think that being a luridly indiscreet (this is a discreet way of describing Menendez’s behavior) senator is less objectionable than Hugin’s guilt of association with the pharmaceutical industry whose products help to give millions of people sufficient longevity and vitality to nurse grievances against the products’ prices.
George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group. George F. Will writes a twice-weekly column on politics and domestic and foreign affairs. He began his column with The Post in 1974, and he received the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1977.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
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FEMA Starts Door-To-Door Visits In Region
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams started conducting door-todoor visits last week to register people throughout the region affected by the June 19 - 21 rainstorms. Many residents in the area have already taken advantage of the online and phone registration. The door-to-door visits are being conducted to ensure that everyone has a chance to solicit federal assistance that is available to the residents of the Rio Grande Valley. The FEMA representative making the home visits will focus on those areas identified by the homeowners themselves who reported that they were affected. People who have already registered do not have to register again if FEMA representatives stop by their house. The goal of the door to door visists are being conducted to ensure that everyone has a chance to solicit federal assistance if needed. As a reminder, all FEMA representatives making the home visits will provide a federal identification, and will be wearing a FEMA vest. They will be carrying Ipads to register people electronically. After registering, people will get a call
from a FEMA inspector who will make an appointment to meet with the homeowner to access the damage. As a reminder, FEMA inspectors/employees do not charge for their service. Additionally, FEMA officials want renters to know that they also may qualify for federal assistance for personal property damaged by the recent flood event. Volunteer groups and FEMA representatives, who have been assessing properties and assisting in communities have heard reports that many renters are not aware of the available assistance to help make sure their living spaces are safe, secure and sanitary. Renters, like homeowners, will be required to show proof of ownership for their personal property. As a reminder to anyone seeking disaster assistance, the deadline to register with FEMA is September 4. Please have the following information available when registering: • Address with zip code of damaged property • Directions to your property • Condition of your damaged home • Insurance information, if available • Social Security number
Immigrant Surge In McAllen Higher Than In 2018
By Davis Rankin, Jr.
In 2014, the city of McAllen attracted worldwide attention because of a surge of people from Central America arriving here in hopes of being allowed to stay in the U.S. In many cases, children without parents – so called unaccompanied minors – and women with small children, sought out and surrendered to Border Patrol agents. The surge of people ended up in the care of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which used Sacred Heart Church in downtown McAllen to aid them. It wasn’t long before the City of McAllen got involved because the people hoping to stay in the country were boarding buses at the city’s bus station. “We’ve had an uptick in families reaching the Respite Center downtown,” McAllen Mayor Jim Darling informed city commissioners Monday night, “higher numbers than we received in 2014.” Darling explained that no longer are there overnight facilities in the city, so they go to Catholic Church facilities in San Juan. “We had looked at a location in McAllen for overnight, and we’ll continue to do that.
We have offered the spillover at the old library (on North Main Street),” said Darling, but the building, now the Chamber of Commerce’s incubation center, so far hasn’t been needed. Baptist Children and Family Services “has given us a shower location, that was really important, and public works helped us hook it up behind the respite center, and so that’s alleviated a lot of need at least initially for people who are leaving same day.” Darling also alerted commissioners to a planned special meeting Monday of the Bridge Board, which operates both the bridge at Hidalgo and the Anzalduas bridge. The City of Mission has a U.S. Presidential permit for a bridge at Madero, and the permit has about three years left on it, continued Darling. The Madero permit is for a vehicle and rail bridge. “Right now we have a tentative agreement on the Madero bridge, and we have a proposed amendment from the City of Mission on that,” Darling said, although he did not elaborate. Whatever the Bridge Board decides to do, any agreement has to be approved by the McAllen city commission.
A Small Business Administration representative will work with local businesses that suffered damages during recent flooding events.
• Phone number where you can be contacted • Address where you can receive mail When you register, you will receive a FEMA registration number. Write down your number and save it. You will need the number whenever you contact FEMA for any follow up questions. A FEMA representative will call you to schedule a visit or will also schedule at the Disaster Recovery Center.
To register, or for more information contact FEMA via 800-621-3362; www. DisasterAssistance.gov; or visit one of Disaster Recovery Centers. In addition to FEMA representatives, the DRCs also have representatives from the Small Business Administration, Legal Aid, State Health and Human Services, and other agencies. FEMA does not charge for any service and, representatives working in the community, will present appropriate identification. Disaster assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. Additional websites for health, environmental and mosquito concerns can be found at CDC. gov, EPA.gov, TEXASZIKA.org. FEMA encourages everyone affected by the recent weather events to register because even if you’re denied you may still be eligible to get a Small Business Administration Loan. The last day to apply for FEMA assistance is Sept. 4. You can also register by phone by calling 1-800-621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov for English and DisasterAssitance.gov/es for Spanish.
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VSO Choral Auditions Set For August 20, 21 The Valley Symphony Choral will hold auditions on Monday, August 20 and Tuesday, August 21 at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex Choir room located at 1201 W. University Drive in Edinburg from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Auditions are by appointment only. To audition for the all-volunteer VSO Choral, the requirements include the following; • sing “Gloria to God” from Messiah by Handel; • sing the first phrase of “America the
Partnership with McAllen Flight Academy exposes students to fundamentals of flight
C.O.W. It’s such a valuable resource that the community can tap into.” Another aspect of the mobile classroom’s renovation is hiring an educator. “We’re continuing to pursue grant funds so that we can bring on a dedicated C.O.W. educator who will teach and inspire the community,” said Irene Wazgowska. CodeRGV is also welcoming monetary and in-kind donations to purchase hardware, software, and equipment for the new classroom. Rene Ramirez, CodeRGV’s Treasurer and Co-Founder, said, “We’re incredibly appreciative of The Meadows Foundation grant, and what it will help CodeRGV to accomplish within the community.” CodeRGV is a community organization with a mission to create tech entrepreneurs and skilled professionals for local jobs by educating, promoting, and certifying professionals. The organization strives to promote community participation and collaboration to invigorate creativity, innovation, and the local economy. Follow CodeRGV at http://codergv.org or on Twitter @CodeRGV. Contact info@codergv.org or 956 410-CODE.
A unique partnership between South Texas College and McAllen Flight Academy has enabled Ethan Rogers to consider life as a pilot for the first time in his young life. Flying is the ultimate freedom according to Rogers, 16, who says his summer aviation camp with MFA has cemented his plan to pursue a career as a pilot for a major airline. “Imagine going anywhere you want, as far you want, and only being limited by what you can see on the horizon,” Rogers said. “Anything I have wanted to learn about airplanes I learned in this class. I know there is still so much more to learn and I am very excited.” South Texas College’s Continuing Professional Workforce Education (CPWE) Department hosted its first Summer Aviation Camp to high school students from July 16-19. The four-day camp took place at the STC Technology Campus and McAllen Flight Academy’s facility near Miller International Airport. The camp focused on flying fundamentals including aerodynamics, forces of flight, engine theory and instruments. Students also received time in flight simulators on the third day of camp. Utilizing the simulators, chief flight instructor Chad Stewart then guided the students through an airplane checklist as well as pre-flight operations.
CodeRGV Receives Meadows Foundation Grant For C.O.W. Program
July is an exciting month for CodeRGV. As the recipient of a $37,800 grant from The Meadows Foundation, the organization will begin renovations on the Classroom on Wheels (COW). This converted RV is a mobile classroom unit that will be able to accommodate 20 students. As a technology classroom, the C.O.W. will be designed to incorporate use of technology materials in this unique educational environment. CodeRGV looks forward to continuing its work to educate the RGV youth and community through computer programming, digital literacy, and various technology-related curriculum programs. “This grant will enable us to reach a wider audience, and to have a greater impact throughout the Valley,” said Irene Wazgowska, CodeRGV’s Program Director. One of the organization’s goals is to establish a program for colonias, that will equip the individuals of these communities with digital literacy skills, helping to provide better employment opportunities and supporting academic pursuits. Drew Lentz, President and Co-Founder of CodeRGV said that “we’re really looking forward to what we can accomplish with the
Edinburg North High School student Ethan Rogers was one of six students who participated in the first ever Summer Aviation Camp July 16-19. The camp was created through a unique collaboration between South Texas College and McAllen Flight Academy, which conducted the class.
Beautiful”...(O beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain) unaccompanied in many different keys • and, a simple sight-reading with an example will also be required. To sign up for an audition appointment, email Dr. David Means, Choral Conductor at david.means@utrgv.edu. To download the audition music and to learn more about the upcoming concerts, which will include the Valley Symphony Choral, visit the website at www.valleyorchestra.org/chorale-auditions.
STC Hosts First Aviation Camp For High School Students
“This wasn’t your regular camp. These students received the full-blown experience,” said McAllen Flight Academy owner Hector Zuniga. “I gave them real aviation classes with the actual theory and FAA approved curriculum that we teach to our student pilots. The students seemed to enjoy it, and overall I think it was a great success.” McAllen Flight Academy was approached by STC’s CPWE Department to conduct the camp, making it the first college-level sponsored aviation camp in the history of the Valley. Upon completion of the course, participants received a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a pilot wing lapel. Zuniga said it puts students in a position to continue with the rest of their journey to become full-fledged pilots including obtaining their private pilot certification, instrument-ready certification, commercial ready and multi-engine commercial ready certification, flight instructor, and instrument instructor certification. Program Developer and Coordinator at South Texas College, Jose Raul Ruiz said the summer camps allow young people to become more independent and self-confident as they begin to consider possible careers. “We are very excited with our partnership with McAllen flight Academy and we are definitely planning to host aviation camps throughout the year,” Ruiz said. “We believe camps are very important for children as it offers learning opportunities to grow in different areas.”
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
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US 83 Lane Closures In Peñitas Area Through August Corner
Amazon Looking For Veterans To Hire Speaking about his commitment to hire more than 25,000 American military veterans and spouses by 2021, Jeff Bezos, the founder, chairman and CEO of Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, said, “We actively seek leaders who can invent, think big, have a bias for action and deliver results on behalf of our customers. These principles look very familiar to men and women who have served our country in the armed forces, and we find that their experience leading people is invaluable in our fast-paced work environment.” The company has made a particular effort to increase hiring of veterans at its Austin facilities. The hiring initiative includes several programs. Adapt is a recruiting initiative for wounded, injured and ill military service members to provide career opportunities for the special group of Americans. Adapt focuses on overcoming skill gaps due to medical-focused retirements through advocacy, training, fellowships, and reasonable accommodation. Strategic partnerships for the Adapt program are Special Operations Command’s Care Coalition, Air Force/Army/Marine Corps/Navy Wounded Warrior program offices and the USO. The Amazon Military Leaders program is for innovative, talented and experienced leaders seeking to become highly influential senior leaders and executives in critical business areas in locations all over the world. If you pushed yourself by volunteering for the most challenging and elite assignments and training during your time in uniform, Amazon is your fit. The Amazon website also offers other options, including: • Amazon Flex Deliver for Am-
azon, be your own boss, set your own schedule, and have more time to pursue your goals and dreams at https://flex.amazon.com. • Virtual Customer Service Make someone’s day, every day, from the comfort of your home. Apply at https://search.amazondelivers.jobs. • Fulfillment There might be a Fulfillment Center near you. Find all of our hourly associate positions and see some of the fulfillment management roles. • Apprenticeships in Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS is committed to helping address high rates of veteran unemployment through our partnership with government and veterans organizations. We, along with other divisions of Amazon, have created a number of programs focused on providing employment resources, educational access and wellness programs aimed at helping veterans transition to successful lives after their years of service. These full- and part-time roles are spread across the company and come with comprehensive benefits including life and disability insurance, dental and vision insurance, with premiums paid in full by Amazon. In January 2017, the Department of Labor certified Amazon as an official cloud computing Apprenticeship – meaning service members and veterans can work directly with Amazon to go through a technical training program over 16 weeks, and participate in a paid apprenticeship with Amazon for 12 months. These apprenticeships regularly lead to full-time technical roles at Amazon or elsewhere. Amazon now offers apprenticeships in four locations—Seattle, Dallas, Northern Virginia and Oregon.
The Texas Department of Transportation announced this week that multiple lane closures will be taking place on U.S. 83 in the Peñitas area starting this week up until August 15, 2018. Construction has commenced on the eastbound lanes from Tom Gill Rd. to Business 83. Traffic delays are expected and motorists are advised to search for alternate routes if possible especially at peak traffic hours. More-Wil, LLC, a TxDOT contractor, will install large structures (38’x’6’) box culverts across U.S. 83 as part of the Peñitas Drain Phase II Project. The contractor started construction of the south side of the road and will proceed to the north side. One lane of traffic will be closed sporadically during the duration of the project.
Furthermore, this work will be performed in four different phases. The construction work is within the existing roadway and requires lanes to be closed for constructability and safety purposes. The contractor will excavate and install the box culvert structures during this time.
ALL IMMIGRATION CASES
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Wednesday, July 25, 2018
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City Proclaims July 30 as “World Day Against Trafficking In Persons”
Pharr City Officials joined the Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and the Rio Grande Valley Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce in proclaiming July 30 as “World Day Against Human Trafficking In Persons.” According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children, and men for numerous purposes including forced labor and sex. Children make up almost a third of all human trafficking victims worldwide. Additionally, women and girls comprise 71 percent of human trafficking victims, the report states. The International Labour Organization estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labor globally. In attendance to receive the proclamation were Juan Villescas, First Assistant
District Attorney, Juan Cano, Chair of the Rio Grande Valley Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce, Rosie Martinez, Director of Victims Unit, and Juan Sifuentes, Commander of HIDTA. “We are proud to partner with the Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and the Rio Grande Valley Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce in passing this proclamation,” stated Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “This is a very serious issue and given our proximity to the border, we are mindful that this is something that occurs every single day in our own backyard,” the Mayor added. “Our hope is that by creating this awareness, we can help educate the public about this issue and hopefully help save lives, with the ultimate goal of ending human trafficking worldwide.
Free medical services including dental and vision will be available to all during the annual Operation Lone Star held at PSJA Early College High School (805 W. Ridge Rd in San Juan) from July 23 to July 27. Operation Lone Star is a full-scale emergency exercise uniting federal, state and local health and human service agencies. It is one of the largest public health exercises in the country. Medical services provided during Operation Lone Star include: • Immunizations for all ages • Blood Pressure Checks • Diabetes Screenings • Hearing and Vision Exams • Sports Physicals
• Dental Services • Vision Exams and Mobile lab to make prescription glasses Operation Lone Star is open to individuals of all ages and no identification is required. Please note there is a wait time and some services are offered for a limited number of people each day. Hours of Operation: • July 23-26 (Monday-Thursday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm) • July 27 (Friday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm) Individuals can also call 211 for more information and list of other sites. If you would like to setup an interview at the PSJA site, please call or text (956) 2799420.
Operation Lone Star 2018 Offers Free medical services
2018-19 VSO Season Subscriptions On Sale Now Through Sept. 29 The Valley Symphony Orchestra and Peter Debrowski, Music Director/Conductor, present the 2018-2019 “SYMPHONY… That’s Entertainment,” five-concert series package which opens with a memorable “Night In Paris” performance in September. The first concert, A Night In Paris, is set for September 28. It will be followed on October 26 with “A Harry Potter Halloween.” The theme for the December 7th concert will be “A Touch of Frost.” The performances will continue into 2019 with the March 1 concert, “Hooray For Hollywood.” The season will wrap up with “The 3B’s: Beatles, Brahms And Beethoven” on April 5. All five concerts will be held at the McAllen Performing Arts Center located at 801 Convention Center Blvd in McAllen on Friday evenings from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. For the best ticket savings, consider purchasing a season subscription. Season tickets range in price with Backhouse at
$190, Fronthouse at $240 and Orchestra at $290 per subscription. There are many benefits to becoming a season subscriber which include: • a guaranteed annual seat reservation period ahead of the general public, • first notice on all upgrades, • guest artist info, • no hassle ticket replacements for lost or misplaced tickets, • monthly e-newsletter announcements and so much more. For a complete list of concerts, season savings, music repertoire and guest artist information visit the website at www. valleyorchestra.org, call the Box Office at (956) 661-1615 or visit the McAllen Convention Center Box Office (Mondays thru Fridays) from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM for a savings of upwards of 37% compared to single ticket purchases from ticketmaster. com. Purchase early for the best seating.
VOL. I, NO. 29
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018
Is it Vertigo or Lightheadedness? Vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning. Lightheadedness is when you feel unsteady or about to faint. Both are often described as dizziness, but they are not the same. If you’ve been on your share of amusement park rides, you probably know what vertigo is like -- the feeling that the world is spinning around you. But if you feel dizzy and didn’t just step off a roller coaster, check with your doctor to see if you’ve got one of the two most common forms of vertigo: peripheral and central. Keep in mind that vertigo is a symptom of a medical condition, not a disease by itself. Your doctor will try to figure out what’s behind it. What Causes Vertigo? If your doctor tells you that you have peripheral vertigo, you’ve got plenty of company. It’s the most common type of vertigo. Most cases are caused by a problem in the inner ear, which controls your balance. The most common causes of the inner ear trouble that leads to peripheral vertigo are: • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) • Vestibular neuronitis • Meniere’s disease BPPV is a condition that causes small crystals to get loose and start to float in the fluid of your inner ear. The movement of the crystals and the fluid leads you to feel dizzy. Sometimes an ear injury can lead to BPPV. Vestibular neuronitis causes severe dizziness that comes on suddenly and lasts for 2 to 3 weeks. Doctors think an infection with a virus may be the cause. Meniere’s disease is condition that combines symptoms of dizziness with occasional hearing loss. Doctors aren’t sure what causes it, though stress can be a trigger, along with eating salt or drinking caffeine and alcohol. Sometimes it’s caused by stroke, migraines, or medication side effects. Stress and anxiety alone don’t cause it, but they can make it worse. And if you have an anxiety disorder, a panic attack could make you feel dizzy, faint, nauseous, or even “out of body.” What are other symptoms? Nausea and vomiting, sweating, and ear problems are all common symptoms that you may have along with vertigo.
If your peripheral vertigo is caused by an inner ear infectionor a disease, you may have some pain or a feeling of fullness in your ear. In labyrinthitis and Meniere’s disease, you may have hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the ears) in one or both ears along with the vertigo. There are some common features of peripheral vertigo that can help your doctor make a diagnosis. Vertigo that starts without warning, and stops just as quickly, is more likely to be peripheral vertigo. Your eyes may also move without your control. This movement may go away when you try to focus your vision on a fixed point. It also tends to only happen during the first few days of vertigo symptoms and then disappears. How Is Vertigo Treated? You can treat peripheral vertigo by managing the condition that’s causing it. BPPV, the most common cause of peripheral vertigo, can be treated with a 15-minute exercise known as the Epley maneuver. This series of movements, done in your doctor’s office, helps return the crystals that control balance to the correct place in your inner ear. Anti-inflammatory drugs can sometimes help ease symptoms if your peripheral vertigo is caused by vestibular neuronitis, Meniere’s disease, or labyrinthitis. Meniere’s disease can also be controlled by cutting down on salt, caffeine, and alcohol and lowering your stress. For some conditions, such as perilymph fistula or SSCDS, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct problems in your inner ear. Some conditions causing peripheral vertigo may be chronic, meaning they are ongoing. In these situations, you’ll need a combination of balance exercises, lifestyle changes, and medication to manage the vertigo. Motion sickness medicine may also help ease nausea. Your doctor may also prescribe medicines that help reduce balance problems.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Keto’s Controversial Diet While everyone and their neighbor seem to report they’ve tried the ketogenic diet, they probably haven’t, says Kristen Mancinelli, a registered dietitian and author of The Ketogenic Diet. “People think that if they cut out some carbs and add a little fat to their plate, they are doing it,” she says. “They’re not. This diet is extremely strict.” You can put your body into a ketogenic state without following the diet to the letter. Generally, it means eating very few carbs, lots of fat, and protein. Many people on the diet shoot for about 80% of their calories from fat, 5% to 10% from carbohydrates (the typical U.S. diet is about 55% carbs), and the rest from protein. That means keeping carbohydrate intake around 20 grams per day. An apple has more than that. There are two purported benefits of dipping so low in carbohydrates: Within a week, blood sugar stabilizes and insulin levels dip, a bonus for anyone struggling with diabetes. Without carbohydrates (the body’s typical go-to fuel), the body slips into “nutritional ketosis,” in which the liver breaks down fat for energy. In the process, it produces compounds called ketone bodies that enter the spinal cord and brain, where they have several impacts, including dampening hunger. “The irony of most diets is that you start with people who are overeating because of excessive hunger and then you cut back calories -- so their hunger goes up even more,” said David Ludwig, MD, a professor at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He notes that while people on calorie-restrictive diets lose weight at first, they often gain it back as their hunger climbs, their metabolism slows, and their body begins to store more fat. Early research suggests a ketogenic diet may be different. One large analysis of 13 trials, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, suggested that people on the diet lose more weight and keep more off than people on lower-fat diets that allow for more carbs. In another 8-week trial including 34 obese men and women, those on a ketogenic diet lost nearly 10% of their body fat, while those on a low-fat diet lost 2.3%. “In terms of the science, we have to stay tuned,” said Ludwig, who recently launched a $12 million, 3-year study of the diet. “But it may be that the brain perceives less deprivation and the metabolic rate speeds up, so you can lose weight with your body’s cooperation.” Beyond Weight Loss Weight loss aside, some clinics and people have begun to explore the ketogenic diet as a way of managing diabetes. One recent study of 34 overweight adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes found that
those on the diet had greater improvements in blood sugar and were more likely to come off their diabetes medication than those on a lowfat, low-calorie diet that maintained a typical amount of carbs. “I would say it is by far the diet of choice for diabetes,” said Keith Runyan, MD, a retired kidney specialist who has managed his own type 1 diabetes for 6 years via the diet and wrote a book, The Ketogenic Diet for Type 1 Diabetes. Eric Kossoff, MD, who is a world expert on the use of the ketogenic diet for seizure disorders, says the evidence is solid when it comes to children: About half who try it see half of their seizures go away, and some see them halt altogether. Now, adults are also using it to treat seizure disorders. And neurologists are beginning to explore other ways to use the diet. “They have begun to say if it works for epilepsy, maybe it will work for other conditions affecting the brain,” said Kossoff, who is medical director of the Pediatric Ketogenic Diet Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland. Ketones, he says, impact mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses of neurons. Also, fats benefit the brain, and altered glucose metabolism can have anti-cancer effects. It’s too early to recommend the diet for such uses, he says, but studies are underway exploring versions of it for Alzheimer’s disease, autism, traumatic brain injury, and brain cancer. “It’s an intriguing and very exciting area of research,” he says. Cons and Criticisms Abound A recent U.S. News and World Report ranking of 40 diets placed the ketogenic diet dead last, because of concerns about the high level of fat, which could potentially worsen cardiovascular health, and the stress it can place on the liver. (People with liver disorders are advised not to do it.) Meanwhile, the American Heart Association recently warned that coconut oil -- considered a mainstay of the ketogenic diet -- is loaded with saturated fat and can raise bad cholesterol. The AHA recommends eating no more than 6% of saturated fat as part of a healthy diet. It’s important to note, too, that eating coconut oil is not required to reach a ketogenic state. Then there are the side effects. As the body adapts to nutritional ketosis, many adherents get the “keto flu” -- complete with fuzzy-headedness, nausea, fatigue, and headaches. It can last 4 to 5 days. Because the diet can lack fiber, constipation can be a problem, and so can a lack of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes, along with kidney stones. And because the diet is so restrictive, it can be hard to stick with long-term.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
CELERY & PARMESAN MINESTRONE PREP TIME: 20M | COOK TIME: 25M | TOTAL TIME: 45M INGREDIENTES 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 cups diced celery plus 1/2 cup chopped celery leaves, divided 1/2 cup diced onion 1/2 cup diced carrot 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon celery seed 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth 1/3 cup whole-wheat orzo or other small pasta 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes 1 3/4 cups cooked chickpeas or cannellini beans (one 15-ounce can), rinsed 1/4 cup packed grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
This simple healthy minestrone soup recipe cooks in less than 30 minutes and uses celery stalks, leaves and dried celery seed to flavor the delicious Parmesan-laced tomato broth. PREPARACIĂ“N
Heat oil in a large saucepan or wide shallow soup pot over medium heat. Add diced celery, onion, carrot, garlic, celery seed and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook, uncovered, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, chickpeas (or beans), half the celery leaves and 1/4 cup cheese. Cook over medium heat until steaming-hot, 3 to 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and garnish with the remaining celery leaves and a light dusting of cheese, if desired. TIPS
To Make Ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
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