Magnificent Nature

It was mid-morning just a few weeks ago and I was out in the garden planting some raspberry bushes.  Raspberries are one of Nature’s superfoods – loaded with antioxidants, important nutrients including vitamin C, and fiber.  One of my favorite fruits!

It was a perfect sunny morning and except for the occasional faint rustling of leaves, there wasn’t much noise.

I had dug several holes for the bushes and was taking a rest.  Just then I heard a strange sound  – it sounded like a dog panting slowly right above my head.  I looked all around, and then straight up.  Above me were two very large birds circling.  They flapped in circles – maybe one hundred feet above the ground.  I could tell they were predatory birds – dark brown, with strong necks, aquiline beaks and stout legs with talons.  These were Red Hawks who were courting each other.  What happened next I would never have believed if I didn’t witness it myself:  the two birds embraced back to back  - their claws locked together.  They formed a winged ‘helicopter’ and whirled down towards earth, spiraling down, down, down.  The conjoined birds broke off only about 15 or 20 feet above the ground, which seemed frightfully close to impact.  The birds flew off together – soon out of sight.

To find out more, I went to a ‘A Place Called Hope’. The people there were wild life rehabilitators who cared for injured, orphaned or sick birds of prey in southern Connecticut. I was happy to see they were doing great work to care for these birds.

I felt so lucky to see such an amazing display of Nature! -RW

The amazing blueberry

One of my favorite summer activities is hiking. Connecticut is blessed with an impressive array of wooded parks and semi-wild public lands. Some of my favorite hiking areas are among the ‘Hanging Hills’ of Meriden, where I’ve discovered an abundance of wild blueberries. Once I learned to recognize the leaf patterns, I realized blueberry bushes were everywhere! They often grow as ‘undergrowth’, shadowed by trees, yet they thrive at the tops of mountains where the sunlight is better. I have found blueberry bushes growing up through crags in the rock – amazing to see Life making the best of every environmental niche. There are different varieties of blueberry as well. These can be distinguished based on leaf appearance, ripening time and the taste of the berries. Nature loves diversity!

The wild blueberry is more flavorful than the cultivated variety. In fact, it’s hard to ‘go back’ after having tasted that real blueberry flavor. Although the wild berries are smaller, a handful will unleash a symphony of tart juicy sweetness! Blueberries are one of the best foods to eat. In fact, a respected doctor of nutrition – Dr. Stephen Sinatra – recommends daily consumption of blueberries. This is because of the high levels of antioxidants (anthocyanins) they contain. These compounds are thought to slow the aging process and reduce some forms of cancer. Blueberries are a foundation of good health.

Wild blueberries can still be found here in the Connecticut wilderness because of the cool summer this year. You can pick your own on a hike or seek out the cultivated variety at my favorite blueberry farm - Hrubiec Farms, 421 Southington Rd, in Kensington CT. Happy picking!

RW

Postcard from the Philippines: “The wonders of native chocolate”

I’m traveling here in the Philippines on the island of Cebu. I’m staying in a small village, away from the Big City. Everything here is green: emerald rice fields, verdant banana trees, and tall coconut trees. The humidity is intense, combined with a tropical sun making this place a natural greenhouse.

The jet lag and the heat create a heaviness – it’s hard to do anything. So I was thrilled to find a small thatched bamboo hut selling ‘native chocolate’. The shop girl showed me a sack of large coin shaped tablets of an almost black, ‘soap-like’ substance. Slightly waxy and smelling strongly of pure cocoa, I bit into one. It was velvety smooth. Moments later, rich chocolate flavors flooded forth, followed by a bitter finish. This was the real thing!

Boiling these chocolate discs in water produced a natural hot chocolate drink referred to as ‘native chocolate’. This beverage was strong, like black coffee. A thin sheen of small oil droplets appeared on the surface. Natural or ‘native’ chocolate contains high levels of flavonoids – antioxidants like those found in green tea. These compounds are thought to slow the aging process and maybe even exert anti-cancer effects.

Other health effects of chocolate have also been found. A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical nutrition showed a reduction in blood pressure in patients taking a dark chocolate supplement. That study compared dark chocolate to ‘white’ chocolate’ (which isn’t really chocolate at all). A five point reduction in the systolic blood pressure was noted in the dark chocolate group.

The important thing to note was that real chocolate was used. Most chocolate back home is adulterated with sugar, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, or other additives, reducing its health effects. I don’t consider that kind of chocolate a health food at all. One should be wary of exaggerated health claims.

I felt rejuvenated after drinking some of this native chocolate. I would definitely be making room in the suitcase for some of this!
‘to good health’
RW