Health for life

20 hours of TV weekly may nearly halve sperm count; 15 or more hours of moderate to vigorous exercise weekly may boost sperm count

Mens sperm quality may be significantly affected by their levels of physical activity, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). They found that healthy young men who were sedentary, as measured by hours of TV viewing, had lower sperm counts than those who were the most physically active.

"We know very little about how lifestyle may impact semen quality and male fertility in general so identifying two potentially modifiable factors that appear to have such a big impact on sperm counts is truly exciting," said lead author Audrey Gaskins, a doctoral student at HSPH.

The study will be published online February 4, 2013 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Gaskins and her colleagues analyzed the semen quality of 189 men between the ages of 18 to 22 participating in the Rochester Young Mens Study during 2009 at the University of Rochester. The men were asked about their physical activity and TV-watching habits, in addition to health issues that may affect their sperm quality, such as diet, stress levels, and smoking.

Results showed that men who watched more than 20 hours of TV weekly had a 44% lower sperm count than those who watched almost no TV. Men who exercised for 15 or more hours weekly at a moderate to vigorous rate had a 73% higher sperm count than those who exercised less than 5 hours per week. Mild exercise did not affect sperm quality.

"The majority of the previous studies on physical activity and semen quality had focused on professional marathon runners and cyclists, who reach physical activity levels that most people in the world cannot match. We were able to examine a range of physical activity that is more relevant to men in the general population," said Jorge Chavarro, senior author of the study and assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at HSPH.

(Rejected titles for this post: “Free Cooking Lessons Part II: Electric Cookaloo,” “Free Cooking Lessons Part II: The Cookening”)

Months ago, CHG featured two pieces about finding cooking lessons for free on the internet. One was cleverly called Free Cooking Lessons, while the other, a rundown of web-based slicing and carving techniques, was titled Chop ‘til You Drop. Today’s article is a sequel to those posts, focusing on television instead of the web.

See, while many might of us not have access to high speed internet, many of us get some form of basic cable or cable TV. This means that morning, noon, and night, we’re exposed to some of the best chefs and cooks on Earth, from flame-haired, Dionysian Italians to entrancingly mom-esque Hampton doyennes. These folks can teach us TONS, as long as we’re patient, observant, and know how to navigate through the programming. That last part is where CHG comes in.

What follows is a basic guide to 21 instructional cooking shows, including brief descriptions and links. It’s designed to give beginners an idea of where to start, and to direct more advanced cooks to series that might interest them. It focuses mostly on the Food Network, though several PBS shows and a few Martha Stewart ventures are included. Air times should be included in the links.

Before getting started, a word: while I usually try to avoid injecting my opinion into Wednesday articles, it’s not the case here. This post is 99% personal opinion (1% bad jokes), with my favorite shows marked as “suggested viewing.” That said, I urge readers to chime in with brilliant suggestions, supportive comments, terrible insults, and threats to turn me into a tablescape.

Lets get this thing started...

BEGINNER

America’s Test Kitchen with Christopher Kimball (PBS)
Good for: anyone
Bad for: N/A
America’s Test Kitchen is PBS in a nutshell: calm, informative, and most excellent. The sister show to Cook’s Illustrated magazine, it’s chock full of equipment tests, product tastings, and painstakingly researched recipes. The cuisine is mostly traditional American, though international dishes do make frequent appearances. Suggested viewing.

Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger (Food Network)
Good for: healthy eaters, dieters
Bad for: sumo wrestlers
Oh, I like Ellie a lot. Her measured, sweet demeanor is a soothing oasis in a land of yappers. As FN’s resident healthy chef, she creates sane, lo-cal dishes with a dollop of nice flavor. I’ve prepared several of her recipes, and their success/failure rate is about 3 to 1. Suggested viewing.

Everyday Food with the Everyday Food Crew (PBS)
Good for: folks on the go, simplicity enthusiasts, fans of Thoreau’s “Walden”
Bad for: N/A
Martha Stewart is the Executive Producer here, and it shows. Simply presented and gorgeously shot, EF’s a solid reference for casual cooks and beginners, both. It covers the basics of preparation quite well, and has some fine-looking recipes to boot. The show’s one downfall? The 14,000 hosts, who switch off every segment. Theyre a tad tough to identify.

Everyday Italian with Giada DeLaurentiis (Food Network)
Good for: anyone, but especially Italian food lovers
Bad for: N/A
Dubbed "Little Big Head" by the denizens of Television Without Pity, the quality of Giada’s food is in direct proportion to the fabulousness of her cleavage. In other words, the lady can cook. By employing fresh ingredients and simple techniques, she creates some seriously good-looking Italian food that’s easy enough for most kitchen novices. GD takes a lot of flack for being an abnormally attractive, thin chef (well, that and the claw hand), but the haters need to back off.

Good Deal with Dave Lieberman
Good for: college kids, first-time apartment owners, anyone
Bad for: N/A
Cute! Smart! A good cook! The eminently date-able Lieberman centers his show on simple, lower (but not low) cost food – the kind most people can procure at the local supermarket. I haven’t made many of his dishes, but the Braised Hoisin Beer Short Ribs are TO DIE FOR. Worth checking out, especially for younger viewers.

Good Eats with Alton Brown (Food Network)
Good for: anyone
Bad for: N/A
Food Historian, Science Geek, Gastronomic Innovator, Guy You Wish Was Related Somehow: Alton Brown is all of these and then some. It’s really, really hard to find detractors of his show, Good Eats, because I don’t think there are any. Alton pretty much breaks down where meals originate, how they come together on a chemical level, and which ways they’re best prepared. I CAN NOT recommend it (or his cookbooks) highly enough. Suggested viewing.

Guy’s Big Bite with Guy Fieri (Food Network)
Good for: dudes
Bad for: people concerned about their health
Are you a dude? Are you a large dude? Are you a large dude who’ll eat 87 wings in a single sitting and then take enormous pride in farting on your girlfriend? Big Bite is the show for you. Guy’s a spike-haired skater who specializes in Man Food, and his series is a solid resource for Super Bowl Sunday and/or any impending tailgate parties.

Jacques Pepin’s various shows (PBS)
Good for: almost anyone
Bad for: people who don’t understand thick Bourg-en-Bresse accents
Initially, I thought Jacques’ shows consisted entirely of upscale French chef-ery. Alas, I’m dumb. While he does specialize in la cuisine de Paris, he’s also a technique guy, who carefully and methodically demonstrates the proper ways to make a plethora of dishes. Jacques, vous êtes trés bon.

Paula’s Home Cooking with Paula Deen (Food Network)
Good for: southern cooking enthusiasts, comfort food lovers
Bad for: weight watchers, people allergic to “Y’ALL!!!!!!!”
Years ago, PauDain was a relaxed, sweet middle-aged lady who serenely prepared all sorts of indulgent, down-home goodies. Today she cooks the same food, but the personality volume is constantly jacked up to 11. I still harbor happy feelings about Paula and her wonderfully extravagant “27 sticks of butter!” meals, but others may shy away from the loud.

30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray (Food Network)
Good for: people who love Rachael Ray
Bad for: people who hate Rachael Ray
The objective view: Rachael Ray shows viewers how to prepare a diversity of filling meals in under 30 minutes with easily attainable ingredients. Her recipes are do-able for almost anyone, and she’s inspired more home chefs than possibly even Julia Child. Also, she has dogs.
The subjective view: Anyone who uses the word “yummo” in regular conversation deserves ... well, a food empire, apparently.

Sara’s Secrets with Sara Moulton (Food Network)
Good for: Anyone
Bad for: N/A
Repeat episodes of this show are becoming ever so rare, and that’s a big, fat bummer. If you have the good fortune to catch Sara Moulton on anything, you’ll quickly find she’s a lot like my friend K – quiet, competent, and blonde. It’s really a pleasure to watch her cook, and like Alton or the America’s Test Kitchen crew, she’s a great teacher of the basics. Suggested viewing.

Simply Ming with Ming Tsai (PBS)
Good for: anyone, but especially Chinese food lovers
Bad for: people with ginger allergies
America’s most famous Chinese chef, Ming Tsai makes a wonderful case for eating the cuisine exclusively. Also? He’s super-hot. Suggested viewing. (Especially for all the ladies out there.)

Food 911 or Tylers Ultimate with Tyler Florence
Good for: anyone
Bad for: N/A
Tyler specializes in meals fundamental to American menus, but branches out from time to time with positive results. Provided Good Eats and America’s Test Kitchen aren’t broadcasting at the same time, those searching for the end-all-be-all macaroni and cheese recipe could do worse than starting here.

BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE

Barefoot Contessa (Food Network)
Good for: anyone - especially if you own a beach house
Bad for: N/A
I put Ina in the intermediate section for two reasons: 1) she tends to use some expensive ingredients, which beginner cooks may not want to experiment with yet, and 2) that Kitchen-Aid standup mixer makes an appearance in 50% of her recipes, and it’s kind of an advanced tool. If neither of these apply to you, please tune in to Barefoot Contessa RIGHT NOW. Ina rules, and her recipes simply do not fail. Even if you don’t give a flying crap about braising, icing, or frying, it’s worth a gander for the soothingness of her voice. Suggested viewing.

Boy Meets Grill with Bobby Flay (Food Network)
Good for: dudes, chile pepper lovers, people with grills
Bad for: people who hate mango
The Flayster. Flayorama. The Flayonator. Food Network built part of their empire on this man’s back, and it’s kind of easy to see why. His food is fun, gorgeous, and unifying, in that it marries a lot of fruit and spiciness to great effect. Like Ina, Flay’s tools and ingredients can be a tad expensive (he works with a bunch of seafood), which is why he’s not in the beginner’s category. Nonetheless, Boy Meets Grill is a great resource for recipe ideas, particularly if you’re planning a backyard shindig.

Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (Food Network)
Good for: easy entertainers
Bad for: difficult entertainers
For those who need to wow a crowd, Michael Chiarello is the man with the plan. Based in Napa Valley, Easy Entertaining concentrates on classy, crowd-friendly dishes, often created with neato wine pairings in mind. The ingredients could run a buck or two, but otherwise, Chiarello’s fun to watch.

Essence of Emeril or Emeril Live with Emeril Lagasse (Food Network)
Good for: anyone, especially Louisiana food lovers
Bad for: Emeril’s nemesis - Evil Emeril
There’s not much to say about Emeril that hasn’t already been covered by every food blog, ever. Yet, in spite of his tiny-bit-hammy onstage persona - dude can cook like the dickens. Watch and learn.

Lidia’s Italy with Lidia Bastianich (PBS)
Good for: anyone, especially Italian food lovers
Bad for: N/A
Lidia is my secret Italian grandma – the one who whipped up massive Istrian feasts every Sunday without breaking a sweat. Her elegant show is a gentle wonder, and her children’s occasional appearances are always good for comic relief. The abundance of handmade pasta may be a bit complex for newbies, but otherwise, Lidia’s Italy is aces. Suggested viewing.

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED

Lessons with Master Chefs with Julia Child (PBS)
Good for: the cult of Julia, anyone
Bad for: people who believe this is actually Julia Child
From what I’ve seen of this older show, it’s lovely and not as slick as todays cooking series. There aren’t many beauty shots (of the food) and the techniques seem to fly by fairly quickly, which makes them a tiny bit harder to follow. That said, it’s Julia fargin’ Child. The woman didn’t become the first lady of American cooking for nothing. Plus? Apparently, Meryl Streep signed on to play Julia in the upcoming Julie & Julia movie, so that’s fun.

The Martha Stewart Show with Martha Stewart (NBC)
Good for: moms, organized people, fans of Real Simple, anyone
Bad for: frat guys
Do you spatchcock? Would you like to know how? Martha knows. In fact, Martha knows everything, except possibly how to project enthusiasm loudly (though she can be dryly hilarious, and isn’t above poking fun at herself). Her show is faboo for creative meal ideas, from flavor combinations to placemat patterns to cupcakes that look like toadstools. And while Martha’s recipes can occasionally seem very Sunday Dinner in Cape Cod, those who look past her image will discover a treasure trove of kitchen brilliance.

Molto Mario with Mario Batali (Food Network)
Good for: anyone, especially Italian food lovers
Bad for: N/A
Look, this guy is a GREAT chef (I’ve eaten at two of his restaurants), but preparing his food on my own scares the crud out of me. Those not totally intimidated by Mario’s awesomeness should DVR this show at every possible opportunity. He’s not just a wonder to behold, but a veritable fountain of culinary knowledge as well.

UNCLASSIFIABLE

Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee (Food Network)
Good for: people who hate food
Bad for: everyone else
Two words: Kwanzaa Cake.

UNKNOWN (Input welcomed)

Daisy Cooks! with Daisy Martinez (PBS)
Down Home with the Neelys (Food Network
The Hot Australian Guy That Cooks for People in Their Homes (?)
Jamie at Home with Jamie Oliver (Food Network)
Kathleen Daelemans (Food Network)
Mark Bittman (PBS)
Nigella Feasts with Nigella Lawson (Food Network)
Party Line with the Hearty Boys (Food Network
Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller (Food Network)
Simply Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffman (Food Network)

Comments are open and I’d love to hear your input. Thanks!

(Photos courtesy of CelebChefs.net, newasiancuisine.com, and circlealine.com.)

Today on Serious Eats, Marinated Mushroom Salad, another fine entry in our No-Cook pantheon of goodness.

As a break from talking about A) how hot it is, B) how much we’re perspiring, and C) how it’s currently possible to cook tuna on the streets of NYC, I’m going to talk about D) television. Yay!

(This isn’t meant to detract from today’s recipe – a stunningly easy, very tasty no-cook red pepper and white bean wrap. I’m just feeling punchy.)

I tend not to watch a lot of TV, but it’s a good time when the mood strikes. Since we don’t get cable, we rent Netflix DVDs and take in a few episodes of one show in a single evening. It’s kind of like watching a really long, really good movie over a few nights. It’s how we discovered both Friday Night Lights and Mad Men, which we now quote constantly, to the detriment of actual original language.

Anyway, for kicks, I thought I’d compile my top ten single TV episodes, ever. In history. Of America. Readers, do you agree with any of them? What are your favorites? The comment section is wide open. I think this’ll be a good one.

(Needless to say, there are spoilers ahead. Read with caution. Oh, and try the wraps. They’re good.)

1) The Sopranos – “Long Term Parking”
I am of the opinion that this is the greatest hour of television ever made, and it’s 99% due to Drea de Matteo’s performance as Adriana La Cerva, the FBI-informant girlfriend of gangster Christopher Moltisanti. (She won an Emmy for her troubles.) There’s one scene in which she appears to be escaping from certain death, only it turns out to be a dream, and I think I stopped breathing for about 20 minutes. Sopranos fans, you know what I’m talking about.

2) Six Feet Under – “Finale”
You know how super solid shows seem to mess up their series finales? (See: Seinfeld, The Sopranos, etc.) Totally not the case with SFU. They wrapped it with a pitch-perfect montage that echoed a major plot device within the show, and made me openly weep for about four days straight.

3) Roseanne – “War and Peace”
Sullen, smart, and just trying to navigate adolescence, Darlene Conner was my hero growing up. This episode, she bails her father out of jail after he decks her aunt’s abusive boyfriend. Sara Gilbert kills it. (Other Roseanne contenders: “A Stash From the Past” and the one where Jackie and Roseanne’s dad dies, if only for this scene. Man, Laurie Metcalf is the best.)

4) The Office – “Casino Night”
Yeah, there’s the whole PB&J scene at the end, which catapults this season finale into the canon. But it’s what comes before that makes this Season 2 episode truly outstanding. Every character, from Creed to Bob Vance, have wonderful scenes. Steve Carell/Michael Scott anchors the whole shebang with the funniest imagined love triangle, evah.

5) Friday Night Lights – “The Son”
Why isn’t anyone watching this show? EVERYONE should be watching this show, if only to see Zach Gilford’s portrayal of Matt Saracen, the put-upon second-string quarterback who deals with indignity after indignity with the patience of Job. Here, Matt confronts the death of his dad with heartbreaking confusion and characteristic sacrifice.

6 & 7) The Simpsons – “HOMR”/”Treehouse of Horror IV”
Man, it’s so hard to pick just one. So here are two. The first is largely about the relationship between Lisa and Homer, which always guarantees a good plot. The second is, IMHO, the best of the show’s Halloween episodes, not least because of the hilarious Dracula parody. (“Oh, Lisa! You and your stories! ‘Dad, Bart is a vampire.’ ‘Beer kills brain cells.’ Now, lets get back to that... building thingy... where our beds and T.V... is.”

8) Friends – “The One With the Embryos”
While the first three seasons produced some classic television, Friends really started firing on all cylinders in Season 4. Phoebe was still a sweetheart, Ross had not yet become a shrill drip, and even Monica had moments of hilarity. This episode, in which the girls engage the boys in an all-out trivia war, is the best of the whole series. Miss Chanandler Bong agrees.

9) The Wire – “Misgivings”
A shockingly violent act committed by Chris and Snoop (the scariest henchman and henchwoman in all of television) binds Michael forever to Marlo’s organization. Really, all of Season 4 is exemplary TV, but few include such an obvious turning point for one of the major characters. Horrifying and riveting.

10) Mad Men – “Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency”
Aesthetically, it’s easy to like Mad Men. The people, clothing, and sets are all meticulously gorgeous. Emotionally, it takes a little longer to engage. I wasn’t fully in until this episode of Season 3, in which a dippy secretary runs over a bigwig’s foot with a lawnmower at the office. High stakes, personal connections, and hilarious dialogue make it the best in the series.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Community – Paintball episode
Undeclared – the one with the dolphin noises
Planet Earth – the one where the shark eats the seal in one bite

Readers, what about you?

~~~

If you would like this recipe in your stomach, you might also quite enjoy ingesting:

• Chickpea Salad
• Daikon (Jicama) Mango Slaw
• Tomato and Avocado Salsa

~~~

White Bean and Roasted Red Pepper Vegetable Wraps with Spinach
Serves 6.
Adapted from Supermarket Vegan.


1 (15-ounce) can white beans, rinsed and drained
1 (7-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained thoroughly
1 or 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium-large clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
6 8-to-10 inch flour tortillas
A few handfuls baby spinach

1) Combine beans, peppers, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Puree.

2) Divide the mixture amongst the tortillas (about 1/4 to 1/3 cup each). Spread, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges of each one. Add a few spinach leaves to each.

3) Roll ‘em up.

4) Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Serve cold.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
218 calories, 5.5 g fat, 4.8 g fiber, 8.7 g protein, $0.76

Note: My (Tropical brand) tortillas come in at only 100 calories each. Your calculations may vary, depending on your wraps.

Calculations
1 (15-ounce) can white beans: 536 calories, 1.4 g fat, 22 g fiber, 33.3 g protein $0.89
1 (7-ounce) jar roasted red peppers: 35 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $1.39
1 or 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice: 6 calories, 0 g fat, 0.1 g fiber, 0.1 g protein, $0.50
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil: 119 calories, 13.5 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.12
1 medium-large clove garlic: 4 calories, 0 g fat, 0.1 g fiber, 0.2 g protein, $0.05
1/2 teaspoon salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.01
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.01
6 8-to-10 inch flour tortillas: 600 calories, 18 g fat, 6 g fiber, 18 g protein, $1.07
A few handfuls baby spinach: 6 calories, 0 g fat, 0.7 g fiber, 0.3 g protein, $0.50
TOTAL: 1306 calories, 32.9 g fat, 28.9 g fiber, 51.9 g protein, $4.54
PER SERVING: 218 calories, 5.5 g fat, 4.8 g fiber, 8.7 g protein, $0.76