Many readers forwarded me a recent NYT blog post entitled, “Kale? Juicing? Trouble Ahead.” The author, Jennifer Berman, who used to juice kale daily, has been a self-proclaimed health fanatic since the 1980s, but she recently developed hypothyroidism—a common ailment for 40+ women. Research suggested that her condition required avoidance of cruciferous veggies such as kale and broccoli, as well as flax, almonds, strawberries, and a host of other nutritious plants with critical vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
After cutting out these foods and moving to daily carrot-celery juice, plus tons of lemon water, the author found herself with five cavities, diagnosed by a dentist who ridiculed her healthy ways and snidely remarked that she’d be “better off with chocolate and cola.” At that point, she started dabbling in Twinkies.
If this story makes you secretly gloat, “Aha, I knew it! These health fads are all bullshit! Off to Krispy Kreme I go!” please think again. Here’s a reality check.
If you blinked, you may have missed National Kale Day on October 2. I did. The brainchild of Columbia University psychiatrist Drew Ramsey, 
I was in Evergreen, CO last weekend for a wedding that took place at the edge of Evergreen Lake in a valley surrounded by verdant mountains. The day was 85 and sunny. The bride wore a lavender gown of her own design, and the groom, a microbrewer, served a special brew—”Biere de mariage”— with notes of citrus, that we used to toast the happy couple. It was all so creative, beautiful, fresh.
