Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
I would like to speak about some of Rosh Hashonoh's
traditional foods.
Apples are high in fiber and a good source of iron. Their
juice however, is usually strained, so the fiber is lost.
Furthermore, apple juice contains indigestible sugars which
often cause looser stool, so it is not a good choice for
children with diarrhea. Many Israeli apple juices are truly
apple "nectar," which means that they have some apple juice
with a lot of additives, the biggest one being sugar. Note
that Israeli law allows advertising "has only natural
ingredients" even if sugar is added. Diabetics: take note.
Honey is such an interesting food. Because of its acidity, it
cannot support bacterial growth and will never spoil. Honey
has a lot of calories, but since it is sweeter than sugar you
may be able to get away with less.
Pomegranates have a lot of sugar as well. The pits are
laxative. Pomegranate juice is very healthy and a good source
of potassium. Keep in mind that the Spring brand markets
plain pomegranate juice and a pomegranate juice with apples
and honey. Both mixtures contain a lot of sugar and are not
pure juice by any stretch of the imagination.
Everyone knows that carrots are high in vitamin A and may
even tint the skin yellow if eaten in abundance (No, I have
never seen a yellow rabbit). Vitamin A should never be taken
in excess, but it is doubtful that you can eat enough carrots
to cause a problem. Cooking carrots destroys a lot of the
Vitamin A, but you still get the benefit of fiber.
Heads of animals give the benefit of meat, but this is
another reminder that one should avoid organ meats. They are
high in bad fats.
Nuts are not eaten by many on Rosh Hashonoh, and neither are
grapes or pickles. Pickles are also not eaten — they
are filling and have fiber. Nuts are full of nutrients and
good fats, but oh, the calorie load. The nut with the fewest
calories is the chestnut, whose season is coming soon. Pecans
have the most fat and Brazils are not far behind.
Keep in mind that peanuts are one of the most common food
allergies. American law now dictates that any amount of
peanuts in a food item must be specified on the package, as
even trace amounts can cause allergies.
Do nuts prevent cancer? Many have antioxidants, but there is
not concrete proof yet. Seeds — and yes, the cashew is
a seed as well — are similar: high in nutrients, high
in calories.
Grapes are my personal favorite, but they are also high in
calories. Keep in mind that grape juice and orange juice are
high in sugar, but have lost the benefit of their fiber since
they are strained. However, they are good replacements for
salts lost in diarrhea.
Dates are delicious, but very high in the calorie department
as well. Many dried fruits are high in iron. El Al, in order
to provide a fruit dessert that will keep well on an
airplane, often serves dried fruit that has been softened by
the addition of sugar syrup. Again, it has a high calorie
count, but is still better than cake.
While we are on the subject of dried fruit, let's talk about
round challah with raisins. Raisins share the benefits of
dried fruit, and are a laxative as well. Laxatives, when
needed, help prevent colon cancer, the most common cancer in
industrialized countries. But patients with diverticulosis
— a disease of the colon where pouches are formed in
the colon wall — cannot eat raisins and seeds.
Eat in moderation during the holiday season. Crash eating and
then dieting afterwards is not a good idea. There is a
tendency to eat a lot. It isn't so much what you eat but how
much of it you eat.
Shonoh tovoh to all and write me in care of the
Yated.
