This episode of The Chew has to be one of those seminal moments on television when you know the value a program has to change people’s lives for the better.

The Chew crew were gathered to celebrate Earth Day which officially is observed on April 22nd. But for many of us – every day is Earth Day.

The Chew: Happy Earth Day Recipes and Creative Ideas for a Sustainable Lifestyle

Here is a group of diverse individuals from across the country who have come together for their love of food and family which now extends to the health of the planet.

Clinton was the kind of person with a background being the least likely to care so much…but care he does – deeply! I was smiling as he described a plethora of planetary tips to his audience today! He is sincere and that’s such a sign of growth and maturity to see built into an hour of content and entertainment that I am amazed at future prospects.

Daphne had a good deal to share and her contributions were appreciated to the fullest extent. Carla showed her spunky support and love for the good this does for family and friends.

Perhaps I was most surprised by Michael who knows his way around healthy sourcing of lamb and goat for his restaurants and his family table. His cultural heritage and close ties to family and food have kept him on track, even when most city chefs have compromised the quality of food in their establishments for the sake of making money. He has known and is dedicated to proving that healthy food and wealth go hand-in-hand.

Trisha Yearwood shared her love of cooking and her Food Network show by preparing a rice dish with the crew. Real people – both famous and unknown – can make a difference in the world by being true to their values.

The only person missing was Mario who was probably out planting his Arugula. Last year he gave away seeds to honor Earth Day with Martha Stewart. When we can see the entire cycle of life from soil to seed to plant to food on the table with chefs planting seeds to keep it all going; we’ve come light years ahead to begin to live a ‘Sustainable Lifestyle” as if it ALL matters!

Bravo!

We’ve seen our fair share of Smoothie recipes and here’s another one toadd to your collection.

You can never have too many variations on a theme like this…

Martha Shares a Smoothie Recipe for Spring Health

Take note of the healthy selection of ingredients!

Drink and Be Well!

Dr. Oz shared his 24 hour group of ideas to end fatigue and get a person back in the energy saddle again.

Dr. Oz and His 24 Hour Fix For Fatigue

He may think that you are ready to spring into action in the morning by squatting, leaping, and encouraging circulation as you get out of bed, but be careful not to pull a muscle without warming up first.

Then he suggests the cold water mitten approach to stimulate the blood vessels. He forgot to go over breakfast foods.

Dr. Oz did get spelt in for lunch putting the grain into a salad. He showed a plastic bottle and a sprig of rosemary to use to spritz the skin; but that just goes to show you he has no earthly idea how advanced aromatherapy is. He’s trying to reinvent the wheel and is lacking a few spokes…

You can do better with a real application of the Essential Oil of Rosemary and either apply a drop to your wrist or diffuse the oil into a room. There are several oils and blends that will stimulate and invigorate you. Save the sprig of rosemary for chicken dinner!

Dr. Oz needs to have his head examined. He recommended that an herb known for overstimulating the adrenals be added to your oatmeal. Refuse to use that crutch!

One good idea was the coconut butter and oil in food preparation. He also introduced Rooibus tea. That’s not new to most of us, but his audience is about thirty years behind the times…

Gotu Kola when used properly is great, but don’t abuse it the way the doctor does. He tends to treat herbs like they are drugs and they are not! His knowledge of extracts and applications is lacking. Work on your spider veins from within first through nutrition, but don’t use an alcohol-based extract on the skin for more than a few days. Learn from your local expert Herbalist, not a doctor pulling rabbits out of his medical bag that he hasn’t raised himself.

I know he’s is trying and he means well…

You can do better and avoid the mistakes of a beginner in the holistic field of health care by tempering what Dr. Oz has to say with those who are genuine professionals trained in these Healing Arts.

Several suggestions were made about which foods are thought to contribute to preventing cancer on Dr. Oz yesterday.

Dr. Oz and Cancer-Fighting Foods

Beans contain fiber and help with the transit of material through the colon. Greens provide vital minerals and more fiber for the benefit of the digestive system. There are nutritional components in green plants that build the blood and nourish the cells in the body.

The doctor has forgotten about the power of sea vegetables like wakame, kombu, and nori. The doctor has also lost the concept of a true whole grain, but you will remember.

The seeds, nuts, legumes, beans, grains, fruits, vegetables, and all kinds of unique foods have a place in keeping you strong and healthy. When you balance your diet with herbs and spices and healthy beverages; then you will do as much as possible to prevent cancer.

While Dr. Oz can give you a quick glimpse into which foods are best, there’s a whole Lifestyle to take into consideration, including the quality of water you drink and the air you breathe.

Cocktails are becoming increasingly popular thanks to the experts who have learned to use unique ingredients in mixed drinks and specialty spirits.

Martha featured some of these herbs used in cocktails while she planted seeds with her expert guest who built a bed for herbs used in culinary applications.

Martha Features Drinks with Herbs

The ideas for drinks with herbs can be used for holidays or every day when you want something refreshing and healthy. These are nicely paired with sandwiches or salads for light spring fare.

If you want to take a Tour of a Culinary Herb Garden which is extraordinary, visit this masterpiece:

Martha’s Tour of the Ideal Herb Garden

You may have a few rows and a smaller garden this year, but it can provide plenty of herbs for both your beverages and your food. Remember to use heirloom seeds to derive the most incredible plants that have given us flavor and flair for thousands of years.

I found it interesting for Dr. Oz to recommend Spirulina to his audience today.

He seems to think highly of the green gold, but he didn’t give out a customary smoothie recipe.

He’s trying to come up with products that improve your energy.

Dr. Oz and spirulina

He only adds some lime juice to some powder. Most of us need to dress up our algae before we let the body wear it.

We suggest Vital 18!

This short little video by Dr. Oz gives you some tips for foods to avoid at night and foods to eat for a good bedtime snack.

Video of Late Night Snack Tips

This is general knowledge and decent advice. Listen and learn before those snack attacks pile on the pounds.

Remember to chew your food completely when you do snack and restrict liquids late at night that might call on the bladder only to disrupt your sleep.

We enjoy a nice cup of Chamomile Tea or Chai before bed on occasion.

Martha Stewart knows how to dress up a grilled cheese sandwich for National Grilled Cheese Day

She embellished her cheese sandwich the same way she embellishes her crafting items with flair. she added provolone and swiss to her ham and onion spread on quality bread.

While the original grilled cheese traditions began with aged cheeses and cured meats in Europe, there will always be twists and turns to take on this road!

WholeLiving magazine

It’s far more common than you realize…hidden food allergies are robbing people of energy, health, and peace-of-mind – not only their inability to drop excess weight.

Dr. Oz and Dr. Mark Hyman on Food Allergies

Dr. Mark Hyman stopped by the Dr. Oz studio to discuss this vital health issue. He began by suggesting that you start out with dairy products. You eliminate them from your diet and observe what you feel.

The three week plan seems to work for most people, but some allergies can be so subtle that more time is beneficial to observe changes. It’s individualized, so it takes some teamwork with a health care provider to sort it all out methodically.

Keeping a journal is important. You’ll notice little things that will slip your mind unless you write them down or draw them on a picture of your body for reference.

Dairy products, corn, wheat, tomatoes, sugar, peanuts, shellfish are among the most common foods groups that are well-known to cause reactions. It helps to narrow down the foods that product the biggest reactions. Notes in a journal can be referred to at any time, so nothing is forgotten or over-looked. Even the sugar in the ketchup makes a difference…

AJ Jacobs has spent the last two years using his body as a petri dish. He has taken hundreds of supplements and tried so many diets that he lost track. He just wanted to know if anything made a difference.

Dr. Oz asked Jacobs to share some of what he learned. Jacobs eats the rainbow with food of every color. He insists that veggies taste better with crunch which he supplied with cheetos. It was gross!

Dr. Oz and AJ Jacobs: Two Years and Learning…

Jacobs eats his food like a baby and shops the outer territory of grocery stores. He makes purees and chews more now!

After talking with AJ, Dr. Oz was on a roll and discussed foods and teas with experts and members of the audience. Raspberry tea to vitamin D – he was on it today.

Jacobs is only getting started on his journey, he doesn’t look all that healthy to me. But at least he’s working on it with enthusiasm!