Inner Nature: Immunity — Autosurveillance
By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times
The immune system is the mechanism that protects and defends the body. Although its main purpose is defense against attack, the immune system is also a barrier, border patrol, soldier, police, doctor, parent, and amazingly, a fortune-teller, all in one package. Not only that, it exists in every living organism from bacteria to plants to animals to protect against...
Brush up on your teeth cleaning skills
By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times
Did you know that May is designated National Dental Care Month?
I didn’t but it seems there is a national month for everything. I just learned that May is National Dental Care Month. A great time to share some toothbrushing tips.
Inner Nature: Circulation — nutrients in, waste out
By Vidja Rajan, Columnist, The Times
The purpose of circulation is to bring nutrients to cells and remove wastes. Circulation is important for all organisms, including plants, fungi and bacteria; it’s no good to a cell if materials cannot get in and out efficiently. In single-celled organisms, which live suspended in an aqueous environment, the medium performs this function.
Don’t Retire, ReFire: Connections
By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times
What comes to your mind when you think about connection? Whatever your answer is, no doubt, it brings “good feels”. It’s a massive word that can take your mind in so many directions.
Making human connection begins at birth. It starts where no words are spoken, just the gentle connection of a mother holding her baby and looking into his or her...
On Your Table: Mushrooms star in TV Chef Nick Stellino’s kitchen
By Cathy Branciaroli, Food Correspondent, The Times
Mushrooms and arugula join together in this easy side dish for a marriage of flavors (photo courtesy Nick Stellino)
“Food is a celebration of life and there’s joy to be found in the kitchen,” according to Emmy-nominated PBS cooking show chef Nick Stellino.
I recently had the opportunity to chat with him about Italian cooking, his passion...
On Your Table: A hearty taste of spring, Asparagus soup
By Cathy Branciaroli, Food Correspondent, The Times
: It’s spring and asparagus leek chowder is on the menu for weekday supper.
Steamed, sautéed, roasted or grilled — asparagus takes on differently delicious qualities depending on how you cook it. Roasting and grilling turns asparagus almost sweet. Steamed, it retains the heart of its natural flavor. Please, please don’t boil these...
Take the threat of oral cancer seriously
By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times
April is oral cancer awareness month. A cancer that few talk about. Most people rarely notice the red and white ribbon that is the official designator of oral cancer. As a dental professional I have to ask, If there were a quick and painless way to identify pre-cancerous cells in the mouth of someone you loved, would you want them to try...
Don’t Retire, ReFire: Your awakening
By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times
As the season of Spring unfolds, it brings to mind all that appeared dead, but was really only sleeping, to be awakened to a new dawn.
If you ponder on that visualization, you’ll find it to be quite exhilarating to picture all that was still, on the surface, yet all of the activity and growth that was going on below the surface. Nature is amazing!
Inner Nature: Digestion and food processing
By Vidja Rajan, Columnist, The Times
The previous group of Inner Nature articles were loosely organized around how organisms sense the external environment using vision, sound, touch, taste and smell. What is most remarkable about this cluster of what appears to be completely different mechanisms is the profound underlying similarity. This similarity is due to the outcome of notionally different...
Don’t Retire, ReFire: Coming through the winter of our lives
By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times
As we come out of the winter and enter the season of spring, with longer days and warming temperatures, it brings to mind my own movement through winter and how I handled this dormant period of time. I then pondered on how we, as humans, get through the winter.
Winter is that one season that has the most effect on our emotions. “The Winter Blues”...
