Flash those pearly whites....

Okay, so this weather is ridiculous! It's May and it is freezing and raining non-stop. Could we please have some sunshine and mild temperatures?!?!

I have had quite an interesting two week break. I had to swallow a big dose of reality while battling some miserable allergies but on the upside I have caught up on all the sleep I have missed over the past five months (adios to the dark circles under my eyes!). I've also been able to put in about 100 miles of running throughout the break but I fully intend to counteract that with my trip to NYC tomorrow. So many cocktails/culinary delights and so little time.....

By the way, I thought I would share a very quirky tidbit...due to my super curly hair, I have recently been accused of having a weave! (thanks Mary!) So I did some research and it turns out that the curly hair gene is called "trichohyalin." Any coincidence that one can spell "tricia" with that? I guess my parents knew all along.....

One other thing I have tried to do this break is to let go of my worst vice (except for black tar heroin) which is Diet Coke. I am grateful to also have the pearly white tooth enamel gene but unlike curly hair, enamel can be destroyed through consumption of certain foods and beverages--especially Diet Coke! So I thought I might share with you some guilty culprits of enamel erosion and how to help prevent it.

Acid is the number one villain of tooth enamel. Food with low pH and high acidity can create irreversible tooth enamel erosion. These include things such as ALL sodas (yup, that even includes tonic and soda water!), fruit juices (especially orange and pineapple), sports beverages (gatorade), and kool-aid or fruit juice cocktails. The two worst sodas are regular coke and regular pepsi and surprisingly root beer is the least damaging.

As well, it's true that sweets also make a significant dent but did you know all vinegar-based foods are even worse than sweets! (that hurts, that really hurts).

However, take heed because there are ways to offset the acidic damage. The best possible thing one can do to help prevent acid-based-tooth enamel erosion is to chew sugar-free gum. Also, drinking lots of water and using mouthwash after meals will help.

So remember, you don't need to stop drinking soda or eating mustard all together, just remember to cut back a bit (if you can) and chew that Extra or Trident and SMILE!

Hey Mango!!

Wow! I am still in shock that I passed this semester. It has been a very long and hard road and I'm so happy that one leg of the journey is complete. Couldn't have done it without the love and support of family, friends and my cohort. Muchisimas gracias to all of you!!

Now, enough of the sappy crap, let's talk about MANGOS!! Mother nature has bestowed upon us another bountiful mango season. In my top 10 favorite foods of all time, mangos and avocados take a rank. Therefore, I wanted to share my very simple Mango and Avocado salsa recipe. It's wicked awesome on its own or with other foods like fish tacos and tortilla chips. It's also high in antioxidants because Mangos are full of Vitamin A, C, and Fiber while Avocados have heart-healthy fats and loads of Potassium. Another added bonus is the fat from the avocado helps your body to absorb the Vit A from the Mangos. Dig it!

TJ's Mango & Avocado Salsa
1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced
1 lime, juiced
1 mango - peeled and diced
1 small red OR yellow Spanish onion, chopped (depends on which you prefer)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
salt to taste

After mixing it all together, let it sit about 15 minutes so all the flavors can mate.