Food, Health and Fitness
Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, October 9,
1997 13
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Honey apple cake
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Honey cake is one of the festive foods so
often found on the Jewish holiday table.
In some homes, family members and guests
will dip slices of apple into honey in wishing
each other a "sweet New Year." We've com-
bined the apple and honey in a spiced cake
that' s brushed with a honey-lemon glaze while
both are still warm, giving the cake a delicious,
moist texture. The grated lemon zest and touch
of cinnamon gently flavor the honey. The cake,
spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger, is
quite simple to put together and may be made
in a fluted pan for a pretty presentation or in a
rectangular pan.
HONEY APPLE CAKE
314 cup honey
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
2 eggs
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
I/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups finely chopped apples
Honey-Lemon Glaze*
Combine honey, margarine, sugar, coffee and eggs;
heat thoroughly. In a separate bowl, combine flour,
baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and ginger. Add to
honey mixture; beat until thoroughly blended. Stir in
apples. Pour into greased 8-inch fluted** baking pan.
Bake at 325F. for 50 to 60 minutes or until pickinserted
near center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes.
Invert on serving plate. Brush with warm Honey,Lemon
Glaze (recipe follows). Makes 10 to 12 servings.
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Fibromyalgia
by Karcn Mooney
One pervasive illness we hear a lot about today is
fibromyalgia, a seemingly rheumatic disorder characterized
by chronic muscular pain. Many people with fibromyalgia
"appear" well, some are even told "it's in your head," but if
you could look inside you would understand the reports of
"burning, stabbing, shooting, throbbing pain" and many other
symptoms that interfere with their normal daily lives.
The course of fibromyalgia is unpredictable. Some cases
can clear up on their own, some become chronic and some
cases have flare ups andremissions (especiallyduring weather
changes).
Most people suffering from fibromyalgia have associated
sleep disorders. One is Alpha EEG anomaly, in which sleep
is interrupted by bouts of waking type brain activity. Sleep
apnea, restless leg syndrome, brnxism, and sleep myoelonus
(sudden rapid contractions or "charlie horses" in one or a
group of muscles) can be present. Any one of these results in
a poor night's sleep and fatigue.
Depression is not uncommon with fibromyalgia, given the
debilitating effects, fatigue, pain and the accompanying mis-
understanding of many physicians, loved ones or the patient
him/her self.
Causes are generally unknown. Evidence points to various
factors such as problems with the immune system, infections,
such as Epstein Barr (mono virus), yeast infections (candida
albieans), mercurY poisoning, anemia and especially previ-
ous injuries, even as far back as childhood.
The most distinct features of fibromyalgia is the existence
of "tender points" or trigger points where the muscle is
abnormally tender to touch.
In our practice we have found that ,depending on the stage
of the illness, there is a vast difference in treatment.
In the early stages we address the neuromuscular problems
because at that time the inflamed areas or trigger points are
causing low blood supply to that area and the muscles are in
a low grade rapid firing. The blood also takes away the waste
products of muscular aetivity, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2)
and metabolic products such as lactic acid. Now the cells are
*Honey-Lemon Glaze: In small saucepan, com-
bine 1/2 cup honey, 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest and
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; heat until consistency
is thin enough to hrush over warm cake. Makes about 1/
2cup. •
** A greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan may be sub-
stituted. Bake at 325F. 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden
pick inserted near center comes Out clean, Do not
remove from pan. Brush with Honey-on Glaze.
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not only getting less nutrition because of lack of blood flow
but the need for waste removal increases and the muscles and
nerves do not stop their firing. In fact, one side effect of high
levels of CO2 and lactic acid is to stimulate muscle cells to
fire. This is a vicious cycle that has to be broken hefore a
muscle can relax.
When a muscle can't "turn itself oft' or relax the arteries,
veins and capillaries which penetrate the muscle are "pinched"
and blood flow to tissues becomes limited. We find the
problem spreading to other areas and since the tissues become
inflamed it's like a wildfire spreading out of control.
As the illness spreads to this next level with other areas
becoming involved we then see problems with the immune
system, skin sensitivities, headaches, palpitations, insomnia,
irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis, dry eyes, dizziness, fre-
qucnt changes in vision, anxiety and so on. The change in
treatment then is to address the changes in the body before we
are able to treat the underlying neuro muscular problem. Most
patients are too sensitive at this time to handle more than that.
Another characteristic of our fibromyalgia patients we
have observed is their tendency to overwork. They are usually
very helpful persons whoa re generally depended upon by
another or others, who try to keep up with an overwhelming
set of responsibilities and have a need to serve. They take no
real time in their life to allow the body to have recovery time
and their bodies are thus continually set on "go."
Of course the best time to treat fibromyalgia is at the onset
but since we often ignore our bodies until the situation is
intense, the fibromyalgia patient is often seen after the frst
level, There are dietary changes and supplements that have
been very effective in treating fibromyalgia, as well as "body-
work" with a therapist that is knowledgeable about the illness
and the appropriate treatments.
Editors Note: Karen Mooney is a licensed massage
therapist now practicing in Pahrump with her husband,
Howard. She did her undergraduate work in rchabUitation
education at Penn State University and graduate work in
psychology at Marywood College in Pennsylvania.
