10 minute read
Power Food
{ POWER FOOD } The Sexy Seafood
Oysters offer tempting taste, great nutrition and—if you believe it—a legendary assist in the bedroom.
The oyster is a salt-water bivalve mollusca—a cluster of species, really—with an odd-looking, wiggly-shaped shell containing a gooey, briny mass whose flavor varies by type (tart or sweet, but always with a tang of the sea). People have been consuming oysters since the Stone Age, as we know from piles of discarded shell remnants that date back 10,000 years.
Oysters were long a delicacy for the rich. But in the 19th century they’d become so plentiful and cheap—in 1889 you could buy an oyster for a penny—that America saw a golden age of oysters. Ubiquitous in taverns, saloons and restaurants, this seafood provided what one writer called “a peculiar charm and an inexplicable pleasure,” and the average New Yorker consumed 600 oysters a year. Early in the Civil War, when Secretary of War Edwin Stanton wanted to rebuke the Union army in the East for lollygagging in luxury while its comrades out West were fighting, he wrote: “The champagne and oysters on the Potomac must be stopped.” Ultimately, however, overharvesting, pollution and the introduction of foreign species afflicted with disease brought the oyster boom to a close. The average American’s annual consumption today? Three.
POWER UP
An 18th-century Italian named Casanova reportedly ate large amounts of raw oysters each morning, and we know what he’s famous for. But are oysters really an erotic stimulant? Evidence is suggestive but not definitive. While a 2005 study by U.S. and Italian scientists found an aphrodisiac effect in rat studies using two amino acids usually found only in mollusks such as oysters—D-aspartic acid and N-methylD-aspartate—no clear causal relationship in humans has been proven between oyster consumption and interest in, or prowess in, bedroom activities.
Still, a 3-ounce serving of raw oysters contains more than 300 percent of the recommended daily value of zinc, which is vital for male sexual function. Zinc also helps maintain levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that may aid the libido’s operation in both sexes. Oysters are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids (healthy even for lonely hearts), which in one study increased semen volume in young men. And the nonsexual benefits of protein-rich oysters are legion: They abound in vitamins B12 and D, copper, manganese, selenium and iron. And according to the Cleveland Clinic, a serving of six medium-sized oysters contains just 50 calories.
BUY/STORE/SERVE:
Fresh oysters in a store or seafood market should be kept on crushed ice. When you buy them, their shells should be shut tightly; avoid those with open shells (unless they quickly close up when tapped) and those with a fishy odor. If you purchase frozen oysters, freeze them in their containers or in zip-lock bags and use them within three months. Smoked oysters come in a flat, rectangular tin that can be opened with a key or a pull tab like a tin of sardines.
You’ll need to open, or shuck, your fresh oyster. Do that ideally with a thick-bladed oyster knife, taking care to sever the tough little connector tissue—the adductor muscle, which the creature flexes to close its shell. If you can’t open your oyster in three seconds or less, abandon plans to quit your job and take up full-time shucking. (Aw, shucks!) But if you can, plan a trip to the annual World Oyster Opening Championship in Galway, Ireland, next Sept. 23.
Raw oysters on the half shell are a treat, sprinkled with lemon, cocktail sauce or a mignonette sauce made with vinegar, shallots and white pepper. Smoked oysters spiked on toothpicks can be a wonderful, tangy hors d’oeuvre if you have a taste for them. Oyster stew is a buttery, milky marvel in which oysters are the prizes but the liquid is scrumptious too. For Oysters Rockefeller, oysters are topped with butter, herbs and bread crumbs and then baked or broiled. Oysters can also be boiled, steamed, fried, roasted or pickled. Cooks prepare oyster stuffing for holiday turkeys, oyster casseroles, oyster omelettes and oyster pasta; oysters have even been known to stuff a taco or two. A quick Google will reward your culinary curiosity with recipes galore. —Timothy Kelley
DID YOU KNOW? Underwater noise pollution from shipping or oil exploration can prompt oysters to close their shells—and maybe miss out on biological clues such as when to eat or spawn, according to researchers.
Dayna Cassandra, DDS
As a young dental patient at the University of Maryland, something clicked for Dayna Cassandra. She was being treated by a female orthodontist who truly inspired and steered her interest in dentistry. She even gave Dr. Cassandra one of her first jobs as an assistant. Now as a teacher at NYU’s School of Continuing Dental Education, Dr. Cassandra values being amongst industry leaders, sharing information and then schooling others to advanced techniques and care in the profession.
Using a combination of classic principles in dentistry, knowledge of overall health and wellness, and modern techniques such as digital smile design, Dr. Cassandra strives to deliver beautiful smiles that can improve a person’s quality of life. Dentistry with a focus on cosmetics begins with good listening, understanding patient expectations, gathering the necessary information and finally careful communication with the laboratory to achieve the result the patient desires. Meeting expectations and delivering the best individualized treatment is the key to a long lasting patient relationship – something Dr. Cassandra values above all else in her almost 22 years of practice.
Monica Meyer, M.D.
Bergen Women’s Health and Wellness
50 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Suite #210, Montvale, NJ 07645 | 201.444.0050 | www.bergenwhw.com
Dr. Monica L. Meyer, MD, FACOG, is a familiar name to Bergen County women, having helped them through adolescence, motherhood, and the multi-faceted stages of menopause.
After graduating from Clark University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Biology, Dr. Meyer went on to receive her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. She completed her internship and residency at Lenox Hill Hospital and did a Galloway Fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. Dr. Meyer is proud to be named as a NJ Top Doctor, Top Women’s Physician in NJ, and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.
Now, in addition to caring for her patients’ all important annual gynecological needs and breast exams, Dr. Meyer focuses her energy on helping women of all ages maintain an active and vital sex life. Her expertise with innovative techniques such as THERMIva, The O Shot, and vFit Plus allows her the opportunity to inform and counsel patients on the best available options.
Diane Durocher, ASID, IIDA, CAPS, C.I.D.
Diane Durocher Interiors, Inc. Ramsey, NJ 07446 | 201.825.3832 www.Dianedurocherinteriors.com
An award-winning designer for more than 25 years, Diane Durocher believes that the foundation of successful design is built on trust and confidence.
Connecting on a deeply personal level enables Diane to design inspired spaces that reflect her client’s unique personalities and lifestyles. With a keen eye for color, outstanding space planning skills, and the ability to design customized pieces, Diane brings her client’s vision to life.
From an early age Diane enjoyed spending weekends browsing antique shops and pouring through design magazines. Memories of Thanksgiving dinners at her aunt’s house cemented her love for interior design. From the matching, tie-back, pinched pleat panels to the antique chandelier and from the crackling fire to the impeccably set table, the perfect ambiance seemed to make the meal taste even more delicious. That was when Diane realized that a well designed home is not just a lovely backdrop, it also influences how we live our lives. She rises to the challenge of transforming a blank slate into a stunning reality. Her ultimate goal is to exceed her client’s expectations.
Juliana Yun, DDS, PC
Ramsey Periodontics
116 North Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey, NJ 07446 | 201.825.7677 | www.drjulianayun.com
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” Maya Angelou. Dr. Juliana Yun attributes her dental calling to her loving family for believing in her and supporting her journey. As a periodontist, Dr. Yun focuses on the healing aspect of dentistry and the importance of a well-balanced life. Her additional expertise in cosmetic dentistry helps patients achieve beautiful smiles by correcting an uneven gum line, enhancing symmetry and resolving problems with missing teeth. Her proudest accomplishment is the personal connection she has fostered with her patients and the practice’s dedicated team. For Dr. Yun, there are several standards for which she makes no exceptions – presenting a welcoming atmosphere, spending ample time with each patient and ensuring an environment of trust, kinship and the highest level of care. She credits much of the practice’s personal touch to her compassionate, tightly connected staff who share a mutual respect that transfers to every one of her patients.
Immaculate Conception High School
258 South Main St., Lodi, NJ 07644 | 973.773.2400 | www.ichslodi.org Girls Compete, Women Empower One Another.
Immaculate Conception High School has been “Empowering Young Women Since 1915,” so it comes as no surprise it has spearheaded a new program in partnership with Felician University. Students enrolled at ICHS with academic talents are invited to participate in taking college courses toward an undergraduate degree, while still enrolled in high school.
Taking great pride in their Felician-Franciscan core values: Respect for Human Dignity, Compassion, Transformation, Solidarity with People in Need, and Justice and Peace, the school’s leadership team – Jessica Cutrona, Head of School, Nicole Mineo, Dean of Mission Integration and Kelly Koval, Dean of Academics – commenced the program to further expand this mission of empowerment.
Kicking off this Spring, as part of the Young Women’s Leadership Development Program, certifications will be granted to ICHS’s highly motivated students who will complete a program aimed to empower young girls and build leadership skills through collaborative projects, engaged classroom discussions, interactive internships and networking.
In preparing students to become confident young women, ICHS’s curriculum of academic excellence, extracurricular activities and special leadership programs present limitless possibilities for girls to lead by example and realize their dreams with HEART, CONFIDENCE, SPIRIT and MIND.
Young Women’s Leadership Development Program Overview: 12 credits BUS120 – Business Communications (3 credits) MKT225 – Personal Branding (3 credits) – Course to be developed Courses are only $150 total per 3 credit course! BUS300 – Ethics in the Corporate Environment (3 credits) MGT450 – Leadership & Strategy (3 credits)
Certified Financial Services was founded 36 years ago on the principles of integrity and accountability. As an independent wealth management firm, CFS has developed deep-rooted community ties and trusted relationships built on transparency with clients in a multitude of professions. The firm’s unique holistic approach addresses and integrates a client’s entire financial picture from a multi-dimensional perspective for the most effective way to achieve financial wellness. “There are many pieces to a financial puzzle,” says Jill VanNostrand, Financial Advisor & Managing Director. “Our team of passionate, empowered women collaborate to educate and guide our clients by delivering powerful knowledge and strategies to help them achieve their financial goals, live the life they deserve and leave a legacy for generations to come.”
Certified Financial Services (CFS) is an Agency of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. Securities products and advisory services offered through Park Avenue Securities LLS (PAS), member FINRA, SICP. OSJ: 52 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652. 201-843-7700. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. CFS is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Guardian or PAS. 2022-146173 exp 10/2024
Michele Ross, Esq.
M. Ross & Associates, LLC
440 Sylvan Ave., Suite 220, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 201.897.4942 | www.mrossllc.com
M. Ross & Associates, LLC is a female-led law firm providing innovative legal solutions and unprecedented results for your business. Business attorney and founder, Michele Ross, has cultivated a team that delves deeply into understanding their client’s business objectives, cares profoundly about their processes and celebrates their successes.
With tenacity and grit, this niche firm offers zealous advocacy and tackles head-on the challenges of the profession. The firm’s female colleagues have created an environment that supports and empowers, translating to sophisticated legal counsel, greater efficiency in handling cases and a staunch determination in the face of opposition. Like the unique businesses they represent, M. Ross & Associates, LLC delivers outstanding results through strategic, resourceful and distinctly personalized representation.
