Healthy Living - Gambit

Green Matters

Green ReBuilding of New Orleans Conference
The Green ReBuilding of New Orleans conference brings the principals behind the city's green movement under one roof
Darryl Malek-Wiley is a 20-year veteran of environmental justice in the Southeast.
By Alex Woodward | October 26, 2009

New Orleans Solar Schools Initiative
The New Orleans Solar School Initiative unveils its first foray into alt-energy education
Frank Coco, environmental science teacher at Warren Easton Senior High School, will receive a new curriculum — courtesy of Entergy Corporation.
By Alex Woodward | September 28, 2009

Lumberjacked: Art from recycled Wood
Trashed wood gets new life at the hands of a New Orleans artist
A pair of bottlecap eyes stares up from Lance Vargas' sawhorse in his backyard.
By Alex Woodward | August 17, 2009

A Tulane University program looks to the Mississippi River for renewable energy
AC/Dixie
What's a Dutch countryside without watermills?
By Alex Woodward | July 27, 2009

Salvation Army
At Worn Again, Recycle For the Arts' annual fundraiser, old clothes are reincarnated as haute couture.
Every component of this event has a journey," Elizabeth Underwood says about Worn Again Nola3, and she isn't joking. Roughly a month before the sustainable-minded fashion show and Recycle For the Arts' (R4A) third-annual fundraiser, the R4A program director is on the second floor of the Green Project's Marais Street headquarters, helping Worn Again co-founder Garyt Shiflett piece together six reclaimed lightboxes into what will become the show's modular stage.
By Noah Bonaparte Pais | June 29, 2009

Shifting Gears
Global-E revs up an alternative auto empire
This is the future.
By Alex Woodward | May 26, 2009

A Blue—Ribbon Green House
Two LSU architecture students win a local design competition with a sustainable home plan for Lakeview
The Lakeview House," David Lachin and Thomas Colosino's winning entry in the Billes Architecture Home Design Competition, starts not with a fancy rendering or an elaborate schematic, but a simple picture of a freight-shipping container.
By Noah Bonaparte Pais | April 20, 2009

New Orleans Biking 411
Plan B is a community bike shop where cyclists can learn to repair and build their own bikes and get access to bike repair tools and parts. 511 Marigny St., 944-0366; www.bikeproject.org
March 30, 2009

Biking in New Orleans: Sprocket Science
Biking around town has its ups, downs — and potholes.
Blues musician Kenny Holladay puts heavy music equipment on his one-speed cruiser and pedals from Bywater to gigs at Checkpoint Charlie and elsewhere.
By Ian McNulty | March 30, 2009

Taking Root: the Teaching Responsible Earth Education program
AN ECO-MINDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM INTRODUCES INNER-CITY NEW ORLEANS KIDS TO THE NATURAL WORLD.
Andrew H. Wilson Elementary fourh-graders fidget in their seats in a log cabin auditorium with floor-to-ceiling bay windows that face a stretch of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve — woods and more woods.
By Alex Woodward | March 18, 2009

See Also: Health News Archives

Body Equity

Capping the Knees
Strength is a must for this load-bearing joint
Strong supporter muscles, particularly around the knees, are key to maintaining longevity and good quality of life, says Nolan Ferraro, a personal trainer and owner of Salire Fitness and Wellness Studio (214 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy., 821-4896; www.salirefitness.com). Because the knee is responsible for stability and movement of the leg, problems associated with that joint can inhibit daily activities.
By Aariel Charbonnet | November 2, 2009

Back to Back
A simple exercise can do wonders for your lower back.
Eighty to 90 percent of people have back problems at some time in their lives," says physical therapist Rich Baudry, owner of Baudry Therapy Center (2721 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, 841-0150; www.baudrytherapy.com). "At any given time, about 25 percent of people have lower back pain.
By Kandace Power Graves | August 29, 2009

Less is More
Infrequent, intense, short workouts provide maximum results
Based on the body's physiology of stress and recovery, the SuperSlow protocol employed at One To One Personal Training and Clinical Exercise (735 Octavia St., 891-5121; www.clinical-exercise.biz) is focused on creating short-term, intense tension on the muscles to trigger the body's mechanism that grows muscle. "The 'use it or lose it' law applies," says Ryan Hall, an exercise physiologist who owns One To One with business partner Emile Tujague III.
By Kandace Power Graves | August 3, 2009

The 12-minute Lower-body Blast
If you're part of the .001 percent of the female population thrilled with their thighs and butts, stop reading now.
By Kimberly Dawn Newman | July 6, 2009

Green Light

DIY Halloween
Kerry Fitts of Bayou Salvage discusses a DIY Halloween
Artist and designer Kerry Fitts pledged to use only recycled materials once she learned how many gallons of water are used to put together a new cotton T-shirt: 500. "That's the impact of making something new," she says.
By Alex Woodward | October 26, 2009

Backyard Gardener's Network
Jenga Mwendo says she remembers a Lower 9th Ward where "you never had to worry about going hungry."
By Alex Woodward | September 28, 2009

Project 30-90: Greenapalooza
Project 30-90 aims to be the first carbon-neutral music festival
For most music festivals, "sustainability" means a few extra recycling bins and perhaps the booking of an evergreen nostalgia act. It's no exaggeration, then, to say Project 30-90 is shooting for the moon with its goal of a net-zero carbon footprint.
By Noah Bonaparte Pais | August 17, 2009

Green Apple Foam Insulation
Foam Sweet Home
A foam-filled home may not sound attractive, but according to Green Apple, it could save you up to 50 percent on your next energy bill. Headed by husband and wife duo Ed and Jo Ann Lozes, who turned their 30-plus years in the contracting world to an insulation alternative for homeowners, Green Apple plugs homes with spray foam insulation.
By Alex Woodward | July 27, 2009

Natural Pest Control
Summertime, and the living is ... buggy. High heat and vulnerable, unhappy plants magnetize waves of annoying and harmful insects to your garden.
By Alex Woodward | June 29, 2009

Green for Green
Imagine paying for your electric bill with pocket change. Solar installations may seem costly, but state and federal government offer sizeable tax breaks for your greener, smarter investments, whether you're thinking about an EnergyStar appliance or just insulating your attic.
By Alex Woodward | May 26, 2009

New Orleans Bamboo
The answer to sustainable building in New Orleans lies in one plant.
By Alex Woodward | April 20, 2009

Parks and Parkways
Since its foundation in 1909, the Department of Parks and Parkways has gone from a neighbors-only, volunteer-led campaign to a centennial overhaul of the city's green space. But the department wears many other hats, including playground groundskeeper, doctor to the city's live oaks and bookkeeper for Jackson Square weddings (booked solid through the year).
By Alex Woodward | March 30, 2009

Veggie Fuel
For two-and-a-half years, Kevin Herschman has struggled with his homemade vegetable oil storage unit strapped to the bed of his goliath truck — a beat-up red Ford F250 that runs on pure vegetable oil. He plans to go on the road with his truck and a hot air balloon he built in order to stir discussions about alternative energy.
By Alex Woodward | February 16, 2009

E-Waste Made Easy: Recycling old electronics
Your old PC may look lead-free, but it has the potential to be an environmental hazard.
By Alex Woodward | January 26, 2009

Green-iverse

Groundwork New Orleans : Rain Gardens
Rain gardens: planted systems to capture rainwater and direct it to a garden environment
October 26, 2009

Eco-cruising: A cleaner, ocean-healthier way to travel
They're On a Boat! Eco-friendly lesbians go green on the high seas.
September 28, 2009

Radiant Barrier Installation
(Don't) Let the Sunshine In
radiant barrier: Technology that blocks radiant energy from entering a building
August 17, 2009

iGuilt
iPhone apps: how Apple puts green in the palm of your hands and takes it out of your wallet
Estimating your carbon footprint with a cell phone is sort of like testing your cholesterol with a cupcake. After all, due to carrier contracts, even perfectly functional cell phones are practically preprogrammed to self-destruct after two years, needlessly restarting the energy chain (mining of raw materials, manufacturing, shipping, etc.).
July 27, 2009

How Green Does Your Garden Grow?
permaculture: an ecosystem's shared design for human, animal and plant habitats
June 29, 2009

Slow Food Nation
slow food: a global movement away from the shortcuts of fast food, processed ingredients and unsustainable practices.
May 26, 2009

Electric Currents
hydropower: energy derived from moving water; a potential source of sustainable power for New Orleans New Orleanians are more familiar than most with the awesome powers of wind and water.
By Noah Bonaparte Pais | April 20, 2009

Greenwashing: The Color of Money
greenwashing: advertising that spins misleading claims about a product's " greenness" Start looking for greenwashing and you end up finding it everywhere: in the airport ("Thank you for your patience as we conserve energy — only one shuttle train operating during nonpeak hours"), on the television (coal can be "clean"?), even in the dock of the Straight Talk Express, Washington D.C.
March 30, 2009

Mardi Green: The Krewe do Craft
salvaged material: recyclables with resale value; Mardi Gras throws for green-minded marchers in Krewe do Craft.
By Alex Woodward | February 16, 2009

Corn Stalking
bioplastic: corn-based biodegradable material, a substitute for polyethylene-based plastic; Buffalo Exchange's alternative to the shopping bag. Maize hasn't exactly been well served by recent duplicitous TV ads from the Corn Refiners Association, which proffers high-fructose corn syrup as a dandy alternative to sugar.
January 26, 2009

Greenspace

Pumpkin Season
Fall is the perfect time of year to put into practice the "everything but the oink" adage — the season's portly pumpkins go from seed to porch to pot to soil. Once you've picked the ideal gourd from market, use its meat for pies, its seeds for roasting and snacking (or planting), its emptied shell for Jack-o'-Lanterning, and if it can survive Halloween pranksters, deposit the pumpkin into your soil beds or compost heap for your garden's trick-or-treat.
October 26, 2009

The Satsuma
As the namesake of towns in Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana, the satsuma is arguably the South's ultimate citrus star, though Louisianians might claim their particular crop tops its contemporaries. With origins in China and Japan, the orange spinoff crop (also known as a mikan) proved highly successful in southern weather and adapted well to (and sweetened in) colder conditions.
September 28, 2009

Scuppernong
a southern grape
Since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 1500s, the muscadine grape — also known as the Southern Fox grape or Scuppernong — has carried the title as the quintessential Southern grape. From North Carolina, the muscadine quickly trickled down the hot and humid Southeast coast and pursued a western course through Texas.
August 17, 2009

Water, Water, Everywhere
Last week, Farmerville hosted its 46th annual Watermelon Festival, complete with a seed-spitting contest and crowning of the 2009 Miss Louisiana Watermelon. One lucky melon won in the Best Dressed category.
July 27, 2009

A Hard Day's Nightshade
The globetrotting eggplant — whether it's the familiar purple, lavender, striped or white variety — has provided dozens of cultures a bulbous, vegetarian-friendly meat alternative for centuries. With its roots in Indian and Chinese cuisine from as early as 500 B.C., its meat-replacing takeover extended into Europe via Moors in Spain and Arabs in Italy.
June 29, 2009

Squash It to Me
In the salad days of early summer, a solid crop of goofy yellow miniatures rolls out at the markets. Farmers start to unload tender, young, vine-ripened summer squashes, including yellow and crookneck squash, along with zucchini — perfect for firing up on the grill alongside kebabs and grilled fish.
May 26, 2009

Seeing Red
Though we haven't yet entered the peak of summer produce season, a certain vegetable (or fruit — but actually a seed) may start peeking its bright red bulb and pronounced corona around your friendly neighborhood farmers market. The Creole tomato — the vegetable of Louisiana (officially named in 2003) — is native only to the southeastern part of the state.
April 20, 2009

Fava, Can You Spare a Dime?
Fava beans are the stuff of legend — from the titular bean in Jack and the Beanstalk to Sicily's legume-in-shining armor. The bean is said to have saved Sicilians from starvation during an intense drought (to which bean offerings on St. Joseph's Day alters in March gave thanks).
March 30, 2009

Purple, Gold and Collard Greens at the local markets
With spring around the corner, Louisiana's farmers uproot late-winter harvests, which make perfect Southern sides for Mardi Gras feasts. Turnip, mustard and collard greens are best when braised with ham hocks or bacon in potlikker, the leftover broth from boiled greens.
February 16, 2009

Greenspace: Louisiana Strawberries
Louisiana Strawberries January's hard-freeze warnings worried many in Louisiana's multimillion-dollar strawberry industry, but despite the harsh weather, some farmers were able to save their juicy wares.
January 26, 2009

Health Talk

St. Charles Vision new all-automated eye exam
St. Charles Vision now offers a new all-automated eye exam that takes only minutes but provides results not possible with traditional exams. It starts with an OPD-Scan II, which measures the prescription for each eye and provides images of the topography of the cornea, which is especially beneficial for patients who wear contact lenses.
November 2, 2009

What is hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
Often the best advocates for increasing public awareness for a particular disease are those directly affected by it. Tracey Bryan became one of th0se people in her fourth month of pregnancy, when she was told her unborn son had a life-threatening heart defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).
By David Winkler-Schmit | November 2, 2009

Melinda Sothern on Childhood Obesity
A recent study conducted by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center gave Louisiana children a "D" on its overall health status report card. Melinda Sothern, an associate professor of research/clinical exercise at LSU Health Sciences Center, was part of the study's board, which included a wide swath of leaders in business, science, medicine and education.
By David Winkler-Schmit | October 5, 2009

Let the Sunshine In
The Vitamin D your body synthesizes from ultraviolet rays makes you stronger, healthier and may prevent disease
Fitness and nutrition expert Mackie Shilstone is on a crusade to make people realize the importance of the under-appreciated secosteroid hormone vitamin D. As executive director of the Fitness Principle at East Jefferson Hospital (4200 Houma Blvd., Metairie, 454-4000; www.ejgh.org/thefitnessprinciple/index.html), he works with people of varying ages as well as athletes like tennis star Serena Williams and the New Orleans Saints who want to improve their fitness and performance.
By Kandace Power Graves | August 3, 2009

Health Talk
Physical therapist Raj Sohi, clinical director at the GR Group HSO (3630 Coliseum St., 461-5858), helps musicians tune up their bodies. As part of the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic (for appointments, call 412-1366), he treats local musicians for injuries they've sufferered playing their instruments.
June 1, 2009

Health Talk
Sheila Arrington of Baton Rouge founded the country's first nonprofit dedicated to informing people about abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and offering free screenings to those at risk. Her group, Aneurysm Outreach Inc., has teamed up with LSU Health Sciences Center and LSU Healthcare Network for a screening from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
By Kandace Power Graves | May 4, 2009

Health Talk
Becky Majodoch discusses National Minority Cancer Awareness Week.
By Kandace Power Graves | April 13, 2009

Health Talk: Dr. Nicole Rogers
Old Metairie Dermatology
Skin cancer can be fatal, but with early detection and treatment patients often can be cured. Dr. Nicole E. Rogers, a dermatologist at Old Metairie Dermatology (Old Metairie Village Shopping Center, 701 Metairie Road, Metairie, 836-2050), discusses skin cancer prevention, detection and treatment.
By Josie A. Scanlan | March 2, 2009

Health Talk: Dr. Jullette Saussy of New Orleans EMS
EMS preparations around the Carnival Season
Seasoned Carnival revelers know the hazards accompanying a good Mardi Gras parade. For most, they are acceptable risks: the particular sting of plastic beads caught in the face, the throbbing temples following a morning of slightly more-than-festive drinking.
By Sammy Mack | February 9, 2009

Health Talk: Alpha-1 Deficiency
Melissa Biggs was driving her car when she was given a death sentence. A cardiopulmonary specialist was giving the actress, one of the beach beauties from the Baywatch television series, results from medical tests she had undergone.
By David Winkler-Schmit | January 5, 2009

See Also: Health Talk Archives

The Juice

Chris Lusk's Corndogs
This space normally is reserved for recipes using superfoods that pack unusual amounts and varieties of nutrients and minimal calories per serving.
By Kandace Power Graves | November 2, 2009

Watermelon
Super Summer Sweets
For many summers, I've considered watermelon a sugary self-indulgence.
By Kandace Power Graves | August 29, 2009

Superfood: Salmon
Superfoods" are all the buzz in health circles, and with good reason. They pack a powerful punch nutritionally, and are impressive multitaskers with a range of health benefits.
By Kandace Power Graves | August 3, 2009

Cooking with Barley
This versatile grain can be used as a substitute for rice, added to soups and stews or eaten alone as a breakfast cereal. It has a nutty flavor, is high in fiber and helps lower cholesterol, boosts intestinal health, provides fuel for liver and muscle cells, slows the buildup of plaque in blood vessels, helps prevent gallstones, decreases symptoms of arthritis, is believed to protect against childhood asthma and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and colon and breast cancer (in post-menopausal women).
July 6, 2009

Ask the Experts at East Jefferson General Hospital

People with concussions should be monitored for more serious conditions
What is a concussion? According to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), a concussion is defined as a "trauma to the head which induces alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness."
By Keith Darcy | November 2, 2009

Image Maker
East Jefferson General Hospital radiologist Dr. Rafael Figueroa discusses the benefits of a new open MRI technology
One of the most important diagnostic tools a physician has is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which uses a strong magnetic field with pulses of radio waves to create an image of a part of the body that needs to be examined. An MRI can scan the head, neck, muscles, spine, joints or blood vessels, then produce images radiologists use to look for tumors, organ abnormalities or defects, aneurysms, tendon or ligament damage or a wide array of other medical conditions.
By Keith Darcey | October 5, 2009

At what age has my child outgrown his pediatrician?
Pediatricians typically offer care to patients through 21 years of age. In some cases patients with special circumstances, usually a chronic illness or disability, may continue to receive care from the pediatrician beyond the age of 21 years.
August 24, 2009

My wedding is coming up soon. I want to look fabulous. What can I do?
"Ask the Experts" at East Jefferson General Hospital [Web Exclusive Content]
Looking good is as much about feeling good as fitting in your wedding dress. The bride, not the groom, should be the center of attention on her wedding day.
August 17, 2009

Can men get osteoporosis? I thought it just affected women.
"Ask the Experts" at East Jefferson General Hospital [Web Exclusive Content]
Throughout life, bone density is affected by heredity, diet, sex hormones, physical activity, lifestyle choices, and the use of certain medications. Men have larger, stronger bones than women, which explains, in part, why osteoporosis affects fewer men than women.
August 10, 2009

Antiviral Campaign
Doctors Are at Work on a Swine Flu Vaccine
Although much of the media attention has subsided concerning the novel H1N1 virus, or swine flu, the reality is that the virus continues to rapidly spread worldwide. In fact, the World Health Organization has declared it a Phase Six pandemic, the highest possible rating.
By Keith Darcey | August 3, 2009

What is E. coli?
Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a large group of bacteria, some of which are harmless, others that can make you sick. Obviously, it is the latter we often hear about in the news when there is an E. coli outbreak.
August 3, 2009

How do I know if I'm having a stroke?
In general, the more common symptoms of having a stroke and/or TIA (a transient ischemic attack or "mini-stroke") have to do with alterations of neurologic function. For example, if a person notices a sudden numbness, tingling, or weakness on one side of their body — either facially or in an extremity — these can be symptoms of the onset of a stroke.
July 27, 2009

I just found out I have diabetes. How do I need to change my diet?
"Ask the Experts" at East Jefferson General Hospital [Web Exclusive Content]
Those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes are usually confused by the advice given to them by well meaning friends and relatives. Changing your diet seems like an overwhelming, even impossible, task.
July 20, 2009

What's the difference between the stomach flu and the regular flu?
"Ask the Experts" at East Jefferson General Hospital [Web Exclusive Content]
Actually, people are often confused about the differences between the stomach flu and the regular flu. Whereas viruses can cause both, the similarities pretty much end there.
July 13, 2009

Microgreens

Beausolar
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's BeauSoleil solar project, one of 20 international teams that participated in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, wraps up its display at the Solar Village at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., this month. Universities that competed in the decathlon were challenged to design, build and operate an attractive, fully operational solar-powered home.
October 26, 2009

Wetlands Winners
The second annual Protect Our Wetlands, Protect Ourselves film competition will debut its winning entries at the 2009 Voodoo Music Experience. The No Coast, No Music Theater at Voodoo's Five Minute Films Festival, screens Edward Holub and Christian Roselund's grand prize-winning The Human Cost, which documents Hurricane Gustav's impact on the Native American community at Pointe-Au-Chien and the residents of Chauvin, La., as well as the oil industry's impact on the Gulf coast.
October 26, 2009

Garden at Warren Easton High School
A 286-square-foot garden, producing tomatoes, greens, peppers, squash, onions, beets and cauliflower, debuted this month at Warren Easton High School. The project, led by 4-H extension agent Pamela Marquis from the LSU AgCenter, who had help from 19 students, teachers and health specialists, will provide a year-round outdoor classroom environment where students will tackle environmental stewardship while fulfilling earth sciences requirements.
October 26, 2009

Make It Right Float House
Earlier this month, the Make It Right foundation unveiled its FLOAT House, a structure built to float as water rises under it. One of 13 architectural teams participating in the Make It Right project, Morphosis Architects, working with UCLA architecture and urban design graduate students, developed the 1,000-square-foot home from technology tested in the Netherlands and modeled after a traditional shotgun design.
October 26, 2009

Backyard Gardeners' Network
The Backyard Gardeners' Network (BGN) seeks donations for its Guerrilla Garden Project in the Lower 9th Ward. BGN wants to create a vibrant, social green space and urban farm at Chartres and Charbonnet streets.
October 26, 2009

Opening Acts: Unique Products, Branch Out, Solar N Stuff
This month, Unique Products celebrates its 10th anniversary of selling eco-friendly wares at its retail gallery (2038 Magazine St., 568-1020). "Recycling artists" Mark Kirk and Heather Macfarlane opened the store in 1999, selling green house- and kitchenware, decor such as Mardi Gras bead chandeliers, and other accessories including recycled-glass cufflinks.
September 28, 2009

Volunteers Needed: Rebuilding Together New Orleans
Rebuilding Together New Orleans (RTNO) wants to put businesses to work this October. RTNO seeks local corporations and organizations to put together volunteer teams for a community building project, which will help reconstruct homes in seven New Orleans neighborhoods over the course of two weekends (Oct. 2-3 and Oct. 9-10).
September 28, 2009

Canal Lighthouse Benefit
Green Goddess chef Chris DeBarr will host a benefit for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The "Cocktails for the Lighthouse" event features cocktails from Tru Organic Vodka and Gin, courtesy of the restaurant's Exchange Alley neighbors the Pelican Club.
September 28, 2009

Microgreens
Local green news
Road Rules Drivers, keep the road rage at bay.
August 17, 2009

Microgreens
Super Market The Hollygrove Market & Farm, an urban microfarm and nonprofit storefront-in-progress, hosts an event Tuesday, July 28, to benefit its Olive Street farm just steps from Carrollton Avenue.
By Alex Woodward | July 27, 2009