A GREAT DAY FOR MOTHERS, BUT NOT THE LAKERS

     I hope all you mothers had a great day; a better day, at least, than the L.A. Lakers did.   Today the Lakers really looked vulnerable, and at this point Dr. Tofuhead will officially have to predict that the Los Angeles Lakers will NOT be your championship team this year.

     But who really cares.   After all, today was about mothers.   What did I do for my special mother today?   Nothing that unique...flowers, breakfast, a card, and some fun time with friends.  What more could a mother want?

FOOD OF THE DAY: RADISHES

     I don't know a ton of people who love radishes.   I'm not sure why this is the case; I really think these colorful and fun little roots have a completely crisp, lively taste.    I always think of them in the spring because they are the first garden vegetables that are ready to eat- and though store-bought radishes are fantastic, it certainly is fun to pull a few from the garden and eat them moments later.   Relatively ignored in the United States, radishes are everywhere in Asia and Latin America.   The massive Daikon radish is used both raw and cooked in Chinese and Japanese dishes, and the more familiar red radish is frequently found in soups, stews, salads, and as a condiment south of the border.   I think the best way to eat them is to slice them thin and sprinkle them on a fresh summer salad, or to sprinkle them on a spicy Mexican soup such as posole or menudo.

RADISHES: BENEFITS

-For their size, these things are loaded with an impressive amount of vitamin C.

-Reputable nutrition web sites note that radishes have "anti-inflammatory" properties, much like garlic.   I am not sure how they determine this; but sounds good to me!

-In addition to Vitamin C, they have significant fiber and B vitamins.

-They keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

-Probably the easiest of all vegetables to grow, and they go from seed to harvest very quickly.

-If you buy them, they're cheap.

RADISHES: DRAWBACKS

-A bit acidic.   If you are in the middle of a case of heartburn, have a Tums, not a radish!

-I can't think of any other drawbacks.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHY DO MY JOINTS CRACK?

      I asked this question to a colleague who knows a ton about sports medicine.   His answer: "Because they're joints.  And joints crack."   

      Obviously, that's a bit of a "smart ass" answer- but if you think about it, it's true.   Almost all joints CAN crack, whether they are healthy as can be or worn to shreds.   Arthritic joints crack and the cracking hurts; that's because any event within an arthritic joint can hurt.   Healthy joints crack and it feels good; that's because healthy joints are healthy and they don't cause pain.  The point is that the cracking of a joint generally has nothing important to tell you about the health, function, or alignment of that joint.    

       I have heard numerous explanations from orthopedists about why joints crack- some say there are small air bubbles in the joint fluid bursting, others say that tendon fibers crack as they slide over each other, but most say that there is no good explanation.   But all the doctors I've talked to agree: there is nothing unhealthy or abnormal about joints cracking.   So if your joints crack, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!