April 2010 Archives

At D.R.E.a.M.S. in the City, which benefits the Diabetes Research Institute, hundreds of New York's trendsetters, socialites and industry leaders, like the acclaimed Chef Michel Nischan and Bob DeRoose, president and CEO of wine and spirits giant Kobrand Corporation, will enjoy an evening of grandeur on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Capitale, located at 130 Bowery.  Nischan and DeRoose will also serve as the evening's honorees.

Joining the revelry will be New York Giants Gerris Wilkinson, Chris Canty, Mario Manningham, Adam Koets and Rocky Bernard, plus rising singing star Shontelle, celebrity stylist Philip Bloch, TV's Dr. Max Gomez and the evening's emcee Alan Kalter of the Late Show with David Letterman.

According to Chairs Samantha Shanken Baker and Bonnie Inserra, new and returning guests alike will be "wow-ed" with this year's innovative offerings, courtesy of Wine Spectator and Kobrand.  Guaranteed to impress the most discerning palates, there will be a station for connoisseurs of all sorts: a Wine Bar, a Champagne and Sparkling Wine Bar, and a Cocktail and Beer Bar with specialty drinks, such as the Appelton-Ting, which will introduce imbibers to a very hard-to-find Jamaican favorite.  

Not to be missed and possibly the most anticipated will be the Dessert Bar, which pairs the perfect wine or spirit with a selection of decadent after-dinner fare in miniature sizes. (Note to guests - take more than one!)    

Also on tap that evening will be a seated dinner, fabulous live and silent auctions, live music and more.

Tickets to D.R.E.a.M.S. in the City are $400 per person and $200 per person for junior guests (under 35).  Tickets can be purchased by calling the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation at 212-888-2217.  Visit DiabetesResearch.org for more information or email dreams@drif.org.

The Diabetes Research Institute, a center of excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is a recognized world leader in cure-focused research.  Since its inception in the early 1970s, the DRI has made significant contributions to the field of diabetes research, pioneering many of the techniques used in islet transplantation. The DRI is now building upon these achievements by bridging cell-based therapies with emerging technologies to restore insulin production. For the millions of families already affected by diabetes, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure.

SOURCE Diabetes Research Institute Foundation

Natural Food and Lifestyle Leader Addresses Issues within the Natural Community through Three-Day Summit

Kashi Company, the premier natural food and lifestyle company, today announced the findings of its Darzana summit, an invitation-only event that serves as a natural foods think tank.  The event brought together thought leaders from the broader natural foods community to assess timely issues that affect natural living.  This year's topic of discussion was the nation's large-scale food system and how society can best support natural food within this system.  Darzana, a Sanskrit word meaning "meet, observe, understand and intellect," was initiated by Kashi and first hosted in 2008. 

As part of its continued mission to make it easier for consumers to take action in support of natural food, Kashi, along with a select group of 18 esteemed natural experts, deemed education and transparency to be the key factors impacting the modern food system.  A series of specific actions aimed at creating a mindset in support of natural food resulted from the three-day summit held last fall in Sundance, Utah.  

"At Kashi, we believe that there is a fundamental gap in the quality and accessibility of natural food in our modern food system," said Keegan Sheridan, natural food and lifestyle expert at Kashi.  "We attribute much of this to the lack of education and transparency at a very basic level, as these issues lead to decreased demand and expectations.  Because of the diverse range of knowledge from our expert attendees, we were able to identify attainable actions individuals can participate in to create lasting change at multiple levels of our food system from the farm to the classroom to the kitchen."

Over this three day summit, Kashi developed specific actions to provide individuals a better understanding of their role and ability to impact natural food today and in the future. Each of the actions are supported by a selection of challenges and resources on Kashi.com to help get people involved and provide support in their process to supporting natural food.  The actions include:

1. Educate yourself on the issues affecting natural food in our modern system
2. Understand the food life cycle
3. Learn to cook natural foods
4. Become politically aware and get involved
5. Be a steward of the environment
6. Volunteer your time to the natural foods movement
7. Take time to appreciate Mother Nature

Among the participants this year was Jeffrey B. Blumberg, professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and senior scientist and director, Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University. "Our focus is on creating new and effective ways in which everyone - government, industry and individual consumers - can work together to support sustainable ways to produce our food, promote our health and protect our planet."

Fellow Darzana attendee, Russell H. Greenfield, M.D., director of Greenfield Integrative Healthcare, PLLC and president of Greenfield Consulting, LLC, echoed Blumberg's sentiments, "In the end, what was so inspiring was that people of such disparate backgrounds and interests indeed did find commonality and were able to design a cogent set of plans to help address the major issues facing the provision of natural, healthy food to people. If a successful business can make doing so a priority, it seems each and every one of us can, too."

Kashi Darzana represented a wide range of industries and disciplines, from agriculture and farming, to manufacturing and policy, and included the following participants:

• Daniel Fabricant, PhD, interim executive director & CEO, Natural Products Association
• Marty Matlock, PhD, PE, CSE, area director, Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability, professor of ecological engineering, University of Arkansas
• Edward Bauman, M.Ed., Ph.D., best-selling author and executive director at Bauman College
• Jeffrey B. Blumberg PhD, FACN, CNS, professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and senior scientist and director, Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University
• Nicki Briggs, MS, RD, director of communications, Chobani Greek Yogurt, past program director of the Mediterranean Foods Alliance at Oldways Preservation and Exchange
• Jennifer Curtis, founder and CEO, Curtis Consulting - environment and agricultural consulting
• Jen Dalton, Slow Food Nation Organizer
• Steve Demos, CEO and founder, Next Foods, founder and former president White Wave Inc.
• Anthony Flaccavento, executive director, Appalachian Sustainable Development
• Zonya Foco, RD, CHFI, CSP, Zonya Health International
• Russell H. Greenfield, M.D., director, Greenfield Integrative Healthcare, PLLC and president, Greenfield Consulting, LLC
• Alissa Hamilton, PhD, JD, food & society policy fellow, Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy
• Sally Lamont, N.D., L.AC., licensed naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist, Marin Natural Medicine Clinic
• Paul Maschka, naturalist and organic farmer, urban farming instructor
• Mark Overbay, marketing and communications manager, Counter Culture Coffee
• Amy Paxton, nutrition graduate student in farm to school programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Kathie Swift MS RD LDN, nutritionist, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
• Jeff Johnson, MS nutrition science, natural lifestyle associate director at Kashi
• Keegan Sheridan, licensed naturopathic doctor, natural food and lifestyle expert at Kashi  
• Dae Lee, MBA, associate director marketing at Kashi
• Sarah Ceccarelli, MS human nutrition, senior brand manager at Kashi

To learn more about Darzana or additional resources individuals can use in order to promote natural foods and healthy living, visit www.Kashi.com/darzana.

SOURCE Kashi Company

Gaiam, Inc., the leading distributor of lifestyle media and fitness accessories, today announced the release of Trudie Styler's Sculpt & Tone Ballet featuring the actress, producer, and environmental activist. This is the fourth DVD release in the Trudie Styler mind body and fitness series that combine elements of yoga, Pilates and ballet with traditional exercises. It also features Trudie's personal celebrity fitness trainer James D'Silva, who trained as a ballet dancer in his native Goa.

Filmed at Il Palagio, the eco-friendly villa Styler shares with her husband Sting in Tuscany, Trudie Styler's Sculpt & Tone Ballet offers two 25-minute ballet workouts. The first workout is a barre routine designed to improve strength, balance, and posture, followed by a chair routine that uses conventional and modified ballet moves to increase flexibility while toning muscles.

"Ballet dancers are known for their extraordinary strength and grace," said William S. Sondheim, Gaiam President of Entertainment and World Wide Distribution. "With this new DVD, Trudie and James bring elegance and artistry to the everyday fitness routine in a way that will produce results."

Bonus features for the DVD include interviews with Styler, Sting, and D'Silva, with music from Sting's classical album Songs from the Labyrinth; a special Chakra Meditation with Styler and D'Silva; a behind-the-scenes look at the self-sustaining Il Palagio estate and the couple's organic wine production; and a step-by-step footwork tutorial designed to help beginners become accustomed to ballet moves.    

Gaiam's Trudie Styler mind body and fitness series has been widely popular. The series has been featured on NBC's "Today," "The Rachael Ray Show," "Martha Stewart Show," "Access Hollywood," and in numerous print outlets including Elle, Haute Living, Yoga Journal, Harper's Bazaar, and more. The three DVDs in the collection are Trudie Styler's Warrior Yoga, a dynamic yoga routine that incorporates gentle, elongated positions for total-body strengthening; Trudie Styler's Cardio Dance Flow, a fun and fast-paced workout with high intensity cardio intervals for improved endurance and maximum toning; and Trudie Styler's Core Strength Pilates, an energizing full body workout perfect for maintaining strength and vitality.

The DVDs are available online and in retail stores wherever DVDs are sold.

Trudie Styler is an actress, film producer, director, human rights activist, environmentalist, organic farmer, and UNICEF Ambassador.  In 1988, Trudie and her husband Sting started the Rainforest Foundation, an organization devoted to protecting rainforests and their indigenous peoples. Trudie's charitable works for human rights and the environment have been recognized by many award-giving bodies. As an Ambassador for UNICEF, Trudie is committed to working to improve the lives of impoverished and exploited children all over the world.  In 1990 Trudie and Sting moved to Lake House in the English countryside and, determined to raise their children on a fresh and healthy diet, set about converting the 200 acres of farmland to organic status. Trudie's passionate concerns for the environment and human rights motivate many of her career choices, and are reflected most clearly in her documentary films and fundraising activities

Gaiam, Inc. (Nasdaq: GAIA) is a leading producer and marketer of lifestyle media and fitness accessories, with a 70,000 door retail distribution network, over 11,000 store within stores, a digital distribution platform and more than 8 million direct customers. With dominant share of the fitness and wellness market, Gaiam is dedicated to providing solutions for the many facets of healthy, eco-conscious living. The company's commitment to quality, coupled with a forward-thinking approach to merchandising and distribution, has allowed it to dominate the health and wellness category with celebrity talent Marisa Tomei, Valerie Bertinelli and Trudie Styler and fitness sensations Bob Greene, Rodney Yee, Mari Winsor and The Firm.  In addition, the company releases non-theatrical programming focused on family entertainment under its exclusive licensing agreement with Discovery Communications and other licensing partners.  For more information about Gaiam, please visit www.gaiam.com or call 1.800.869.3603. 

April marks National Stress Awareness Month - this year, "Go Green with Pistachios" and deal with stress in a healthy manner. Stress is a difficult factor of everyone's life, but coping with stress in a positive way can make a huge difference in your health. A study conducted by Penn State suggests that eating 1.5 - 3 ounces of pistachios a day may reduce your biological response to stresses of everyday life, such as high blood pressure.(1) So go ahead, let stress make you GO NUTS!

"We can't avoid all the stressors in our lives, but my research has shown that eating nuts (such as pistachios, walnuts) and fruits and vegetables high in potassium can reduce your body's biological response to stress," says Dr. Sheila West, researcher at Penn State.

According to the American Psychological Association, stress can be a reaction to a short-lived situation, such as being stuck in traffic, or can last a long time if you're dealing with serious situations. Stress becomes dangerous when it interferes with your ability to live a normal life over an extended period.

Who's Stressing?

An APA poll on the causes of stress reports that two-thirds (66 percent) of Americans identify the economy as a significant source of stress in their lives and three-quarters (75 percent) are stressed by money. In addition, almost one half of Americans (48 percent) report that job stability is a significant cause of stress. Being aware of stress is important, but these triggers may be unchangeable.

"Stress affects the body physically just as much as it does mentally," says Green Nut Ambassador and Livestrong.com Nutrition Advisor Alyse Levine, MS, RD. "When you can't change your circumstances to reduce stress, the best thing to do is take care of your body through diet, exercise and adequate sleep."

The Green Way to Cope

Alyse offers these tips to help combat stress in healthy ways:

• Incorporate pistachios - the only green nut. A study conducted by Penn State suggests that eating pistachios may reduce your body's response to stresses of everyday life, such as high blood pressure.
• Swap out processed snacks and meals with unprocessed foods. Consuming fresh produce, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and lean protein is the best way to gain the nutrients that your body needs when under pressure.
• Exercise at least three times a week. Not only does exercise keep you healthy and boost your energy levels, it's a great alternative to snacking on unhealthy foods as a way to relieve stress.
• Find a "happy place." Finding a positive outlet for your stress can be very beneficial to your overall health. Instead of going out for a drink after work, go for a walk in the park, take a yoga class or meditate.

Spend time with others. Often times when people are stressed, they cut out quality time with friends and family to make time for work. Making time for loved ones can be calming and restorative to your health, actually making you more productive when you get back to work.

For more advice from Alyse on how to get healthy and staying stress-free this April, visit www.thegreennut.org.

The Green Nut

The Green Nut ™ and TheGreenNut.org is a nutrition awareness campaign sponsored by the Western Pistachio Association (WPA). Based in Fresno, California, the WPA is a voluntary association representing pistachio growers throughout the country. Founded in 1980, it is the only voluntary organization representing U.S. pistachio growers' interests.  It is governed by an 18 member board elected from a variety of states with the shared goal of increasing national awareness about the nutritional benefits of U.S. grown pistachios.  For more healthy tips, visit www.thegreennut.org, or follow The Green Nut on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thegreennut.

(1) S. G. West1, C. D. Kay1,2, S. K. Gebauer3, D.M. Savastano1,2, C. M. Diefenbach1, P.M. Kris-Etherton2,3. Pistachios reduce blood pressure and vascular responses to acute stress in healthy adults 2007. American Society of Nutrition Annual Meeting in Washington, DC S1Departments of Biobehavioral Health, 2Nutritional Sciences, 3Integrative Biosciences, Pennsylvania State University

Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, and her mother, Iora Haglund; former White House Drug Czar, Four-Star General Barry McCaffrey; the Chief of the California Women's Health Office, Terri Thorfinnson, appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger; and the CEO of the country's largest behavioral treatment provider, CRC Health Group, Dr. Barry Karlin, will address a news conference at 11AM Friday, April 9 highlighting a daylong conference in Newport Beach to bring "awareness and action" to confront "Eating Disorders--America's Silent Danger."



Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund

The conference is gathering experts from throughout the Western U.S. and is hosted by The Victorian Newport Beach Residential Programs for Eating Disorder Treatment and cosponsored by Montecatini Eating Disorder Treatment Center of San Diego and Sierra Tucson Treatment Center of Tucson, AZ.

The conference and 11AM news event are at The Turnip Rose, 1901 Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.

Miss America '08/Kirsten Haglund will speak openly about her own battle with eating disorders. Her mother, Iora Haglund, RN, BSN, MSA, will share her firsthand experience of family intervention and will discuss the importance of close involvement and seeking expert treatment. General McCaffrey will address the dimensions of the national crisis and the importance of action.  California Women's Health Office Chief Terri Thorfinnson will discuss the work the state is doing in prevention and empowering women to learn about their own health.  Dr. Karlin will address the crisis uncovered, the future of the eating disorder industry, and how treatment providers can make an impact.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, ten million females and one million males are right now fighting a major health battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. The title of the conference is "Awareness and Action on Eating Disorders--Confronting America's Silent Danger." 

Contact: Bob Weiner/Rebecca Vander Linde 301-283-0821/202-306-1200 weinerpublic@comcast.net