A recent study identified a compound in chrysanthemum that seems to help block angiogenesis and therefore can help prevent tumors from spreading. The flower is commonly steeped and combined with lycium berries for a tasty tea that is also very good for your eyes.
 
Phytother Res. 2007 Oct;21(10):954-9

New research may explain the mechanism by which a ketogenic diet (such as the Atkins diet) is able to control epilepsy in about half of epileptics. In this study, researchers found that leptin administered directly to the brain or nasal epithelium significantly inhibited seizures. The authors concluded that leptin-triggered signaling may be a key to how a ketogenic diet combats epilepsy.
  
J Clin Invest. Published online 2007 December 20.

If you’re of Asian heritage, you must have tried bitter melon. If we’ve told you that you have excessive heat in the body, you should try this. And if you have any problems with high blood sugar then you should know about this vegetable, if you don’t know already. This is one of my favorite vegetables to buy a few of when it’s in season at the farmers market. It’s definitely an acquired taste and it’s called bitter melon for a reason. My Mom likes to prepare it with black bean sauce and ground beef or pork but I have no desire to eat any MSG so I saute it with eggs.
 
2 bitter melons
4 free range eggs
Sesame oil
White pepper
Sea salt
 
Cut in half lengthwise, as the picture below shows. Not all bitter melons have this beautiful orange color in the middle. Carve out the seeds. I’m sure the seeds have some medicinal value but until I figure it out, discard them. Thinly slice. Saute on low-medium heat with the oil of your choice and a little bit of water, enough to steam the bitter melon. Add some sea salt to the melon and cover. Cook until you can easily stick a fork through it. Whisk a few eggs in a separate bowl and pour in the middle of the pan. Turn off the heat and toss the mixture around. The eggs won’t exactly look scrambled but it will look like of chunky. Add sesame oil and additional sea salt to taste.
 
I apologize in advance if you think this is a nasty recipe but I think it’s delicious!

Believe it or not, a component of chocolate may inhibit angiogenesis (blood vessel formation) in human ovarian cancer cells. Cancers use this blood vessel formation so they can spread (metastasize). So chocolate may help prevent metastasis … the problem is the sugar in sweetened chocolate may feed some tumors …
   
Oncol Rep. 2000 Nov-Dec;7(6):1285-91.

Yes, you may be able to juice away erectile dysfunction with pomegranate…Turns out the juice was shown to improve erections when consumed long term (at least in rabbits with erectile dysfunction). Keep in mind the versions with sugar added could have the opposite effects on you depending on how you handle sugar. So we recommend unsweetened pomegranate juice. If you are not diabetic then you can cut it with some fresh apple or grape juice to sweeten it. Otherwise, you can try lohan or xylitol or just dilute it in water until it is tolerable….
  
J Urol. 2005 Jul;174(1):386-93

A recent study demonstrated that plain old cinnamon can kill a variety of foodborne pathogens including: Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella anatum. So try a strong cup of cinnamon tea next time you eat at that sketchy restaurant.
  
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jul 11;55(14):5484-90. Epub 2007 Jun 13.

Controlling blood sugar levels is very important in preventing or reversing diabetic complications. Our clinic has been extremely successful in treating diabetes, even to the point where most of our diabetic patients can control their blood sugar levels without any medications. Part of this strategy is using acupuncture and herbs, but diet is indispensable.
   
This study found that taking 1 gram per day of a mixture of certain herbs/spices (bittergourd, jamun seeds, and fenugreek seeds) resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose levels, both fasting and postprandial. The powder was taken for 1.5 months and then the dose was doubled for another 1.5 months (i.e., 2 grams per day).
   
J Med Food. 2005 Winter;8(4):545-9.

Years ago I wanted to have an afternoon tea-themed bridal shower for my sister so I tried about 5 different scone recipes and all of them were just awful. Even my idol Martha Stewart had a crappy scone recipe. They all turned out like small hard blocks that you could throw at someone to knock them out. Finally Steve shared his own recipe with me and it was the best yet. I had stuck to this recipe for a really long time and it wasn’t until recently that I finally modified it because I was too lazy to run out to the store so I just used what I had in my fridge. These scones are great and my office staff usually devours them if Brandon doesn’t get to them first, with or without lemon or passion fruit curd.
 

 
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift all dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small chunks and incorporate into the dry mixture either with your fingers or a pastry cutter until you can only see small pebbles of butter. Add the half and half and very gently combine with the dry ingredients until incorporated and knead no more than 3-4 times. Now stop and let it sit and rest for five minutes. Divide the mixture into whatever size you’d like your scones to be and very gently shape them. Don’t mess with the dough too much or else it will come out like dense bricks. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 14 minutes or until golden brown.

This amazing recipe was shared by one of our dear patients who took a class with Hip Cooks and it’s the perfect recipe for those who want a little bit of sweet and are avoiding wheat (like me). As usual, I’ve modified it a little bit because I don’t like much sugar in my baked goods.
 

 
Wash and scrub the oranges. In a pot, cover in enough water so that they are fully immersed. Bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour until they are completely soft. Once tangerines, Meiwa kumquats and blood oranges come into season in the winter, imagine how tasty this recipe must be. Bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour until completely soft. Allow this to cool and remove the seeds. Put in food processor and blend to a puree.
 
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees; butter a 9 inch round baking tin, ideally a springform tin. Beat the eggs with the sugar until they are well mixed, then fold in the baking powder, ground almonds and oranges until evenly combined. Pour mixture into tin and bake for about an hour until firm to the touch. If the cake seems too moist, cook for a little longer.

Whole Paycheck/Foods has really gone over the top. The new Whole Paycheck/Foods Market just opened today on the Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, just a few minutes North of our office off the 110 freeway. Brandon and I went today after work and this place really takes the cake. I heard someone say that it is the largest Whole Foods in the country and I’m not surprised. It’s truly a dizzying 76,770 square foot spectacle with underground parking, 2 levels of shopping and a few features I’ve never seen at any other Whole Foods including a roasted nut bar, chutney counter, wine and tapas bar with a lounge, custom flavored butter counter, croissant bar, an incredibly organized cheese section with more goat and sheep cheeses than I’ve seen at other locations, a chocolate bar, etc.
 
I must admit that I’m becoming less and less upset with Whole Foods. They’re really making a concerted effort to meet the demands of their consumers. There’s a lot more 100% grass-fed beef and local produce than I’ve noticed before. Although we’re still going to go to the Hollywood farmers market every week, it’s nice to have this local option within walking distance from where we live. This location is also very convenient to the Gold Line.
 
So for all of you patients who ask where to eat lunch in the area, where you can buy spelt bread and other specialty items that you can’t find anywhere else, here’s your answer!