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Showing posts from April 3, 2017

Dear Mark: Raw Mushrooms, Tom Brady’s Diet, and Beta-Glucan Alternatives

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For today’s edition of Dear Mark , I’m answering three questions. First, are raw mushrooms safe to eat? Are there toxins? Are there any other issues to consider? Second, what’s the deal with Tom Brady’s diet and lifestyle? It seems healthy enough, but there are some unanswered questions, too. And finally, are there any other ways to get beta-glucans without eating mushrooms, yeast, or oats? Let’s go: I love raw mushrooms, but I have also read that they should only be consumed cooked or they’re too harsh on the insides. Any truth to that? Basic white mushrooms (agaricus bisporus) do contain a toxin called agaritine. In one study , researchers fed mice diets high in different types of mushrooms or synthetic agaritine to see how each option affected bladder cancer rates. Bladder cancer rates were as follows: mice eating fresh white mushroom, 30.8%; fresh shiitake, 23.5%; dried shiitake, 9.8%; pure agaritine, 50%; paraffin wax as control, 5.4%. Yet storage, including in the fridge o

Day Old

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We are on our way home from a weekend at Bald Head Island. We had such a great time! I’ll be uploading my photos and writing posts to share over the next few days. With Mazen off on spring break, my posting schedule might be a bit unpredictable. But until then, here’s a post about my hair!! There are certain things that are better the next day: // Overnight oats. // Chili. // Writing that you’ve allowed to sink in and then edited. ….My hair has never been one of them. For most of my life, I never went a day without washing my hair. When I was in high school my hair was finer and looked greasy after half a day. It’s thicker now (better diet?), and I am just now (at age 34!) starting to skip washing it a few days a week. I had always heard that this was good for hair, but in the past, I just couldn’t stand how it looked and felt the next day. But recently, even without the help of dry shampoo, I have started to like the day after. When it’s washed, it’s silky smooth, but the ne