(I was heavy into spinning at the time) would protect my spine against future loss and even result in denser bone. It is now known that daily controlled, unprotected sun exposure is crucial to maintaining adequate vitamin D levels in the body. Vitamin D bolsters immunity and is one of the most important molecules in our complex human systems. On blue-sky days, I will begin my outing with Violet sunscreen-free; approximately 15 minutes into the walk, I’ll stop to apply sunscreen on any exposed body parts. I spend a lot of time in front a computer screen, and on days when my brain starts to congeal like oatmeal, nothing feels better than going outside for fresh air. Violet, you see, innately understands this, which is why she is smarter than me—certainly smarter than your honor student.
Health guru Andrew Weil has long touted the benefits of walking (which does include hiking) over other forms of exercise. A brisk walk tones the glutes, quads, calves—even the abdominal muscles.
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anji sawant
mountainhealth
And finally, let’s discuss civic pride: the health benefits we receive when we are connected to a place and involved in a community. What am I getting at? Pick up your dog’s poopies. Yes, it’s gross, but it’s worse to step in the mess when you’re meandering a mountain trail or dipping your toes into the San Miguel. Abandoned feces can host parasites, harbor disease, pollute watersheds—and no, it does not make good fertilizer. In short, dog poop makes dog owners look bad, so Violet and I ask that you kindly pick it up (and don’t forget to engage the core while doing so). —Michelle Kodis
[ Slow Food ]
Got to Make the Moment Last Slow down and appreciate food and its origin; be mindful about the treatment of farm animals and grateful to farmers; care about the quality of the water and the soil that nourishes our food: These are the tenets of a grassroots movement called “Slow Food” that has grown globally and is now making an impact locally. Slow Food is a way of living and eating that links the pleasure of food with a commit-
ment to the community and the environment. The movement strives to transform food policies, production practices and market forces to ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat. In this time of financial worries, Slow Food might seem a luxury, but it can stimulate local economies. From supporting local farmers to enhancing school lunch programs and offering garden-toplate education, these types of beneficial ventures have emanated from the movement. In 2003/04, Telluride chef Jake Linzinmeir worked in Torino, Italy, the country where the Slow Food movement debuted. Linzinmeir is now organizing a local Slow Food chapter here in Telluride. His intention is to raise the level of interest in Slow Food while pairing up with the sustainability efforts of Kris Holstrom and the Telluride New Community Coalition. Linzinmeir’s vision is to add another element to the movement: a culinary academy, where students would be taught and encouraged in the Slow Food consciousness. These pupils might stay in the region, adding to the fine dining offered in Telluride, or take Slow Food concepts home to be shared. Either way, the planet will benefit. As USA Today says, “Slow Food aims to be everything fast food is not.” To join in the movement, and get more enjoyment out of your food, visit www.slowfoodusa.org. —Lynn Mayer, MA, CNC
[ Quick Question ]
Double Dipping
How dedicated should we be to avoiding germs?
ccording to a 2008 study at Clemson University, “double-dipping”—the act of plunging a chip into a communal food bowl twice—transfers approximately 1,600 to 3,000 germs from the dipper to the dip each time. Some equate this party foul to kissing everyone in the room. The previous year, the same professor who authored the 2008 research, Paul L. Dawson, studied the “fivesecond rule,” the theory that food snatched quickly from the floor can’t gather germs. Turns out, the theory is false. So germs are transferred easily and quickly, but the New England Journal of Medicine published a manuscript in 2002
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that argues exposure to dirt, dust and bacteria actually helps children develop better immune systems. So what does this tell us? Should we panic when we see dip at a picnic and avoid food that’s touched anything but our plate? Dr. Kent Gaylord, a general practitioner at the Telluride Medical Center, says, “Kids who live in a sterile environment do have more problems with asthma.” He recommends that we wash our hands and use clean utensils, but we shouldn’t clean the house with Clorox. He adds, “If something drops on the floor, that personally doesn’t bother me, but double-dipping is a little different—a party foul.” ■ —Lise Waring
www.TellurideMagazine.com