The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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While in Barra do Bugres during my third year in the Peace Corps, Sr. René stopped by my house and asked me to attend a churrasco at his place on the upcoming Jan. 1st. René was the biggest rancher in the area, running about 20,000 cows. He said that his son-in-law was going to make a circle of the ranch that day, and if I wanted, I should arrive in the early morning and go along. I accepted. I got there about 7 a.m., and we caught our horses. As I finished saddling my h...
Dear Readers, I thought it would be good to end 2019 on a positive note, and according to an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), American diets are getting healthier! The overall Healthy Eating Index increased from 55.7 to 57.7 (1). This may not seem like much, but scientists found it statistically significant. A synopsis of the findings is below: • Americans decreased energy intake of low-quality carbohydrates by 3.25 percent (2). E...
Fur trappers, followed quickly on the heels of Lewis and Clark into the new frontier. Searching for beaver to satisfy the latest fashion demands of Europeans, they wandered to what would become Montana Territory and particularly to the southwest sector of the state. But they were not settlers, just passers-through, and they left behind a mostly negative legacy that included degradation of the natives and a depletion of resources that saw the profits flow to only a few....
Hi, and welcome to the first edition of a new column I've been working on called "From my Perspective." I mean let's face it, everyone has an opinion, so why not share it, but I'm pretty sure my perspective is generally different than most. See, I have this knack of seeing the good in almost every situation, and if I don't see it, I try to find it. Some people call that being optimistic. Others call it having my head in the clouds, and yet, even others have a nickname for me....
Father Time just keeps moving along doesn't He? Here we are facing 2020 in just another week. Over the past few years I have found it a bit harder to keep moving along. My knees and hips hurt, arthritis is in my neck, lung capacity is not what it used to be, yes, this aging thing is a challenge! But Father Time, well He keeps running strong every year, and in fact it seems to me He is getting faster and faster. I imagine many of you reading this feel the same way. For those wh...
Dear Dietitian, My husband has been diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. His doctor told him to lose weight, and he tries, but he ends up getting discouraged and goes off his diet. I'm worried about his health, but what can I do? Lauren Dear Lauren, One of the most difficult things in life is watching someone struggle with a health condition. It is perhaps more difficult than when we struggle ourselves. Of course, you worry about your husband's health, and you...
The Brazilians don't trade many presents during Christmas, preferring to have family/friends gatherings centered around "churrascos," or meat roasted on a spit. Some will offer huge churrascos, like Sr. Joaquim Miranda, one of the old coronels who took possession of thousands of acres of land around Barra do Bugres back in the late 1940's and early 50's. Sr. Joaquim had two churrascos a year – Christmas and Easter. At one of his Easter parties, his help came to him to say that...
Well Christmas isn’t just around the corner anymore. It’s here. People are still out shopping until the very last minute and taking “extreme measure” trying to find the latest high-tech gadgets, phones, and toys for their loved ones and friends, etc. This will never change, but I can’t complain myself though, for I too have been very blessed already this season. So, I would like to send out a big Hey Howdy Hey of thanks to “The Big Guy In The Sky”. Because without the b...
Work and pray, live on hay, You'll get a pie in the sky when you die. - Joe Hill (Joseph Hillstrom) The Preacher and the Slave I've written a number of times about the changes in ranching that I've seen. The most dramatic is the sophistication of the mechanics involved in putting up the hay. The introduction of the round and big square balers, plus the swathers changed the summer ritual of haying from 30 – 60 days of frenetic activity by eight men or more to just a few w...
Dear Dietitian, This past weekend, a friend encouraged me to try a meatless burger. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was delicious and tasted like meat! Are these meatless substitutes healthier than meat? Thanks, Josh Dear Josh, When it comes to consumer satisfaction, burgers made with meat substitutes taste like meat, look like meat, and have a similar texture. An increased number of consumers are switching to plant-based diets for many reasons, including...
An important portion of The Corps of Discovery's journey occurred in southwest Montana. On July 19, 1805, Lewis and his men were struggling up the Missouri between present-day Upper and Lower Holter lakes. "from the singular appearance of this place I called it the gates of the rocky mountains." The next day, searching for "the three forks of the Missouri," they entered the first of southwest Montana's big valleys – Helena's Prickly Pear Valley. Arriving at the meeting of t...
Defining a province like Southwest Montana is subjective. For us, an imaginary line commences at Lolo Pass west of Missoula and moves east along Interstate 90 and the Clark Fork River to Garrison Junction. Then it follows Highway 12 over McDonald Pass to Helena. From there, our boundary extends slightly in a southeasterly direction, taking in the Big Belt Mountains before heading to Bozeman and then along the Gallatin Range crest to West Yellowstone. The south and west line of...
As I think back about the way Congress has failed to address some major issues, I cannot help but scratch my head and wonder “What do they think their job is?” I mean we have put up with some of the most unproductive politicians I can remember. We have a large segment trying to legislate with no regard for the Constitution. They want us to become as destitute as Venezuela in fiscal and social integrity. We have some who think fiscal restraint is only spending say 4 per...
Dear Dietitian, I have irritable bowel syndrome and appreciated your column on a high fiber diet to manage IBS. My symptoms are usually pretty well-controlled, thank goodness. I've been reading about the low FODMAP diet, and it seems pretty detailed. Should I try it? Thanks, Katie Dear Katie, The low FODMAP diet was created by a research team at the Monash University in Melbourne, Australia as a treatment for irritable bowel disease (IBS) (1). As you know, IBS is an...
God never send'th mouth but he sendeth meat. John Heywood c.1497 - c.1580 Via cell video calling I visited with some friends in Brazil this week. They were at a churrasco (shur-has'-ko), the ubiquitous weekend pastime of American picnics with roasted meat and drinks. They often include rice and beans with the meal, and it's not rare to see boiled mandioca. But it's just the meat, roasted on a spit over an open hardwood fire, that is the mandatory fare. And cold beer - there...
Dear Readers, Soon we will be celebrating one of America's favorite holidays, a day our ancestors set aside to give thanks for a plentiful harvest. It's a time to reconnect with friends and family we haven't seen in a while, with lots of food, fun, and football. Many of us will settle in for a big meal with turkey and dressing, and pumpkin pie. We may eat more than usual, become a bit drowsy, take a nap, wake up and eat some more! There has been an age-old tale that it's the...
Bless me father for I have sinned. My last elk hunt was several years ago. In Montana, elk hunting is akin to religion. You don't have to be a true believer, but a day spent chasing elk, following tracks in the snow, or even sitting in the woods and watching the natural world unfold can be as beautiful as time spent in a cathedral. Why, then, would someone renounce that? Good question. This is not to belittle anyone's beliefs in an afterlife, a Creator or sacred writings. Rath...
A man said to the Universe: "Sir, I exist!" "However," replied the Universe, "the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation." (Steven Crane, WAR IS KIND) COW A digestive tract, pierced at both ends. Rarely gives birth or milk. BULL 1,800 pounds of dubious genetic potential. $6,000 of sterility and lameness. CALF 80 pounds of hope when born; 500 pounds of disappointment when sold. DOG, (yours) An intelligent and loyal marvel, worth more than three people when working...
Dear Dietitian, I was recently hospitalized overnight for irritable bowel syndrome. The abdominal pain was treated, then I was released the next morning. I was not given any information on what diet I should follow. Can you help? Julie Dear Julie, A flare-up of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be very painful, but the good news is it can be well-managed with diet and lifestyle changes. IBS is a common intestinal disorder that affects 25-45 million Americans. It requires a...
The best of men That e'er wore earth about him, was a sufferer, A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit, The first true gentleman that ever breathed. Thomas Dekker Growing up in a hunting household gave me a scale to judge how I was doing on my chronological path to adulthood. The scale was composed of regional animals, and the older I got, the bigger the animals I could hunt. I started with magpies when they were pests, then the next year I could hunt gophers on my...
As summer fades to fall many people start worrying about winter. I guess that is a natural thing for us to do. Each season brings about change, new responsibilities, and finding a new rhythm for life. For many people winter and the cold exacerbate physical problems like arthritis, or breathing issues due to the cold air. For some it is weight gain as depression hits and the junk food calls. You may have to get some over-due vehicle maintenance done to ensure there are no probl...
Dear Dietitian, I recently had surgery to correct a small bowel obstruction. I have been following a low fiber diet, but now I've been instructed to transition to a high fiber diet. My question is how much fiber do I need and should I increase it all at once? Betty Dear Betty, For readers who are not familiar, a small bowel obstruction (SBO) is just as it sounds; it's a blockage in the small intestine, and digested food cannot pass into the colon (large intestine). The...
Dear Readers, It is estimated that the common cold is responsible for 150 million missed workdays each year in the United States (1). With cold and flu season fast-approaching, many of us will be headed to the nutrition supplement aisle in an attempt to ward off these nasty viruses. But do these supplements really work? We investigated four of them, and this is what we found: Elderberry- In one small study, elderberry syrup given four times daily was found to improve symptoms...
I must say that I have really enjoyed the World Series so far this year. Of course, I am rooting for the Houston Astros and by now they may well be the champions. If not, they and the Washington Nationals are playing tonight in game 7. Either way it will be some fantastic baseball, many will be ecstatic, and many will be disappointed. Of course, we are sitting here with low temperatures and lots of snow starting to pile up; not exactly baseball weather is it? Again, many will...
Dear Readers: Have you ever endured the unpleasant experience of someone criticizing or ridiculing your food choices? One day at lunch, the dietitians were enjoying a party and dining on cheesy foods and rich desserts. A coworker passed by and commented, "Maybe you all should take your name tags off so no one knows that you all are dietitians." She thought it was funny; I didn't. It was actually a reader who brought this idea for a column to my attention. After much thought,...
