Thrive to 105

Information Junkie Day…and do I have some fun “junk” to share!  Here we go…

The July 15, 2010 edition of Bottom Line Personal had quite a few gems I found interesting:

• Buzzillions.com – This is an awesome website that will help you with your purchasing decisions.  Somewhat like a Consumer Report, the reviews of the items at this site (over 11.5 million, BTW) are all done by average Joes like you and me!  They have every category imaginable (electronics, computers, sporting goods, home and garden, shoes, toys, YOU NAME IT!).  Plus on the home page, you will see the Most Popular Top 10 Lists (washers, robotic pool cleaners, hybrid bikes, etc.).  On the right-hand margin, you’ll see an ever-changing  selection of individual product reviews.  It’s a well laid out, clean, user-friendly site.  The product review pages even have Q&A sections for people who are looking but need more information.  Before you part with those big bucks, you may want to try it out!
• Frequent Flier Award Tickets – In a recent poll of 22 airline websites checking on the availability of free tickets using Frequent Flier miles, results confirmed what most of us already know…all airlines are not created equal!  Not surprising to me, Southwest Airlines came up the big winner, fulfilling 99% of the free ticket requests.  They really are the way to go these days (i.e. no baggage charge and extremely easy online flight changes).  Next in line unfortunately (unless you’re traveling internationally) were Air Canada (94%), Lufthansa (86%), Alaska (75%)…oops, how did that get in there?…and Qantas (73%).  United and American weren’t horrible, I guess…69% and 58%, respectively.  But if you’re planning on using your Delta or US Airways miles (13 and 11%), good luck!
• Do you use bulky, awkward-to-handle bags of dry goods (i.e. rice, flax seeds, beans, and bird seed) on a regular basis?  Well, here is an intriguing product…the Bag Spout.  In a nut shell, there are a couple parts that go together and form a “collar” for the corner of the bag; then a cap attaches to the collar, creating a pour spout, of sorts.  The website (Lee Valley) caters to people who do woodworking and gardening, and it’s a company based to our north (Canada).  I think it’s a handy little item (#EA158) and reasonably priced, as well…..only $3.95 for two!
• Shorter days! Don’t you just love little bits of useless knowledge?  Apparently, the earthquake in Chili this past February (8.8 on the Richter scale) made the Earth “wobble” on its axis, increasing the rate at which it rotates by 1.26 microseconds!!!!  Do you know what this means???  Are you sitting down???  After 130,000 years, our days will be 23 hours and 59 minutes long!  Yes, that’s right, days will be one minute shorter within the next 1,300 centuries.  Now I’m planning to live a good long time, but I think I’m not going to worry about that little “issue”.
• Grilling and carcinogens – I know I’ve written about this before, but it’s worth repeating, in my humble opinion.  Even people who make an effort to eat more healthy love to grill their foods.  Personally, I try to avoid food cooked on a grill; but I know I’m in the minority on this one (and believe me…I do love a charcoaled hotdog, for sure!!!).  So here’s the deal…USE A MARINADE!!! It’s such an easy solution to a rather serious situation. Follow these simple guidelines, and you can reduce the carcinogens produced from grilling your meats by up to 90%…that’s huge!

Marinate for at least 20 minutes

Season with antioxidant herbs, such as turmeric, garlic, ginger, rosemary and cumin

Grill at cooler temperatures – sear the meat briefly, then cook slowly at low temps

Cook the meat rare, medium-rare or medium (be sure to cook poultry to an internal temperature of 165 degrees)

Use lean cuts to avoid “flare ups” caused by fat dripping

“Smoking” may increase cancer risks

Grill veggies instead…brushing with olive oil prior to grilling.  HCAs and PAHs (carcinogens) are only created from animal proteins

• Islands for sale! No doubt buying an island is on your bucket list…and I’m here with the website that will help you make that dream come true…Private Islands Online!   I went online and found locations in South and North Carolina…so you don’t have to go far for your island!  The one in South Carolina, called Live Oaks Island, has a “motivated seller”, so you should probably jump on that one if you don’t mind staying state side!

Okay, this is my last bit of info junk for the week!  You know I had to include more than just one “healthy”-type bit of info.  I’ve told you about grilling, now I want to give you a website (found in my Eating Well Magazine, July/August 2010) where you can actually order your own customized energy bars!  It’s called YouBars.   Isn’t that cool??!!  Build-A-Bar!! This site is AWESOME!  Not only can you customize your own energy bar, but you can also customize your own trail mix, cereal, shakes, and cookies!  Once you create your item, it even provides a Nutrition Fact bar for it!  Granted, these bars aren’t cheap ($2.99 each), but not much that’s customized is!  They even print your name on YOUR bars.  I think I’m going to try it!

Let me know if you check out and/or try any of these sites and let me know what you think…especially if you buy that island you’ve been wanting!  I expect an invitation for a little vacation!  Have a great week!

I’m afraid I kind of dropped the ball recently in regards to a follow-up blog I had committed to write.  After “reporting” on the acai berries, I was going to blog the next time about the other berries that were in the same article and their benefits.  So, although I didn’t get it done on the originally promised day…I’m here to do it now!

Before I begin, however, let me inform you all that I bought and tried jicama! You may recall it was one of the vegetables I wrote about recently, along with sweet potatoes and kale.  First let me say that peeling the darn thing is NOT such an easy thing to do…at least not with a potato peeler…or at least not with MY potato peeler.  What I found to be easiest was prying up a strip of skin with a paring knife and just peeling it off with my fingers.  The whole time I was doing it, I kept thinking, “This thing better taste good after all this!”  As a matter of fact, it is pretty good!  The video I included with my blog post where it was described as similar to an apple, but not as sweet, and the consistency of a water chestnut was pretty accurate.  It’s crunchy and moist.  I enjoyed it.  Don’t expect a huge taste sensation; it could be considered kind of bland.  However, I would definitely suggest trying it; I’ll buy another.  It’s nice to have something new to add to my new eating repertoire.

Now…back to fruits, specifically, berries!  You may have heard the term polyphenols used before; they are plant-based chemicals which are beneficial to your health.  One of these polyphenols is anthocyanins. This nutrient helps make your favorite berry red, blue or purple.  As cited in the June 2010 issue of Life Extension, recent research is proving the health benefits of anthocyanins.  They include:

• Stopping the growth of cancer cells and actually killing them (apoptosis) in some cancers.
• Lowering heart disease risks
• Helping with eye functions
• Controlling oxidative DNA damage on a cellular level

As we discussed before, bioavailability is of utmost importance.  Quoting from Life Extension,

An 8-week, randomized, placebo-controlled study published this year confirmed not only that they are highly bioavailable—they can also significantly increase levels of other beneficial polyphenols in the blood.

Here is the list of these darlings of the fruit world:

• Blueberry
• Bilberry
• Black currant
• Cranberry
• Elderberry
• Pomegranate (is this a berry????)

To give a quick, down-and-dirty description of just part of what these fruits may do for you…

Blueberry – helps with memory; improves insulin resistance; helps protect the myocardium

Bilberry – I don’t even know what these look like, though they’re related to blueberries; inhibits ACE (which contributes to hypertension); inhibits breast cancer cells from multiplying

Black currant – I don’t know if I’ve ever seen one, although I’ve seen the jelly!  Very potent anti-viral traits; reduces oxidative stress

Cranberry – Most women already know this one…urinary tract assistance! May help fight proliferation of certain cancer cells

Elderberry – Anti-viral, as well; protects endothelial cells (lining the blood vessels) against oxidative stress

Pomegranate – cardiovascular help; reduces inflammation (arthritis); promising studies show reducing metastasis in breast cancer and cell death in other cancers

In addition to the above, it’s generally accepted that other fruits we love are also similar in benefits:

• Raspberries
• Grapes
• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Cherries

Remember the ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity)?  Here is where these berries fall on the scale…all behind the acai berries reported on previously, of course:

1. Pomegranates – 10,500
2. Blackberries – 5,100
3. Bilberries – 4,200
4. Blueberries – 3,200
5. Raspberries – 2,600
6. Strawberries – 2,400
7. Elderberries – 2,100
8. Cherries – 1,160
9. Black Currant – 1,100
10. Red grapes – 1,100

Obviously, we can’t go wrong with any of these fruit choices.  Anybody have an easy way of getting into one of them there pomegranate things?

I’m going to get on a little soapbox this morning and tout the efforts of one of my favorite environmental organizations, The Nature Conservancy.  I’ve been a supporter of theirs for years.  What I like about this organization is that they actually purchase the land that they are trying to conserve so they can have decision-making rights over it.

This morning I was reading my Summer 2010 issue of their magazine and learned about some of the great (in my opinion) projects they’re taking on.

Asian Carp Invasion – Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?  Well, actually, it could be serious for the fishing industry based in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.  Asian Carp were imported here at one time to clean up algae in catfish ponds in the South.  Unfortunately, floods enabled them to escape into the Mississippi River system.  Now that they’ve made their way upriver, scientists worry they will starve the fish native to the Great Lakes and change the ecology.  Almost a decade ago, an electric barrier was placed on the canal between the Mississippi River Basin and Lake Michigan.  Last year, however, the Nature Conservancy’s “Great Lakes aquatic invasive species director (gotta love it!) found DNA of Asian Carp in several places beyond the barrier.  Of course, they are now trying to coordinate doing whatever it is they need to do to prevent an all out, full-scale “invasion”.

Zion National Park Easements – in Utah The Nature Conservancy has designated a total of 2,700 acres as conservation easements on ranches that are above Zion National Park in order to restrict development in these areas, thereby maintaining habitats that are of utmost importance to wildlife, such as cougars, elk, black bears, etc.

Penobscot River Dams – Truly amazing is the work they’ve done with the Penobscot tribe in Maine, along with other organizations, forming the Penobscot River Restoration Trust.  The long-time goal of the Penobscot Tribe has been to realize the fishing rights promised by treaties that have been in existence for centuries.  Through the collective efforts of not only The Nature Conservancy, but also such organizations as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they have been able to purchase dams along the Penobscot’s watershed from Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) in order to tear them down, opening up 100 miles of the river in the “main stem” (and tributaries where the fish can spawn) to Atlantic Salmon, American shad, as well as up to 11 other species.  Really fantastic!  I love reading stories like this that are helping people and our environment.  So much goes on around us that we are just never aware of, yet the ways in which lives are impacted are tremendous!

Alright, I’ll get off my soapbox now; but if you want to support an environmental group that does a lot of great “stuff”, consider The Nature Conservancy!  

Now on to other Information Junk!

• You know those coin-counting machines you see in the grocery stores?  I tend to avoid them, because they charge a percentage of your money to count it for you!  What I didn’t know is that you can put the amount of your change into a gift card, in which case you can get the full value of your coins!  The retail businesses involved include:  Amazon, iTunes, Lowe’s, Old Navy, and Starbucks!

• Look out for health insurance scammers!  Why am I not surprised!?  It’s sad that there are so many people out there willing to prey on others in order to make a buck!  Anyway…some are going door-to-door identifying themselves as federal employees offering to sign you up and getting credit card numbers or bank accounts.  Some of them, of course, are working through telemarketing and e-mail.  So if you are health insurance poor (as I am), don’t be scammed!  Keep your guard up and your wallets closed!

• Here’s a bit of information that I found important:  If you’ve survived breast cancer, you should watch your intake of alcohol.  If you average three or more drinks each week, your chances of having a recurrence of your breast cancer increase by 34%.  It also increases the likelihood of dying from the cancer by 51%!!!  These findings could make a teetotaler out of me!

• Last, but certainly not least, if you’re a cat or dog lover, be aware that lilies are toxic for cats (Tiger, Easter, stargazers, etc.), causing kidney failure and possibly death for a kitten.  Also, your dog can actually get poison ivy…on his tummy…because there isn’t usually enough fur there to provide a buffer from the plant oil.  Wash him right away with soap and water if you think he’s been exposed.

That’s it for this Wednesday’s Information Junkie!  I realize I got a little verbose today, but there’s just so much great “junk” out there…it’s hard to stop sometimes!

As we’ve seen so far, the Silver Gate of Wisdom is where we find a renewal and regeneration of our spirits and passions; we begin to really SEE things now, gaining insights and understanding we’ve never had before in our every day experiences.  These are the Gifts of this gate presented to us by the Four Fires…vision, heart, creativity, and soul.

Another part of the Gift is recognizing grace:

Recognizing grace in our lives is a blessing that comes from the curiosity, hope, flexibility, meaning, and gratitude that we regain at this gate.

In order to get a better handle on how this renewal and stirred up passion can lead us to discover knowledge about ourselves we may have never learned or have forgotten, Reflection is the order of the day at this point.  You’ll find below a few of the reflective questions you’re charged with pondering .  Notice I say “ponder”; that means “to weigh carefully in your mind” or meditate on.  It doesn’t mean we have to have all the answers within a finite amount of time.  Look out your window, take a walk, listen to some music…and reflect…ponder.  See what fresh wisdom comes to you.  You’re almost through this gate and the wisdom and renewed passion you gain here will be carried with you to the next.

This week, reflect on the following (taken from The Second Half of Life, Angeles Arrien):

• What generates meaning, hope, inspiration, and curiosity for you?
• Where do you experience symptoms of soul loss:  inertia, apathy, emptiness, numbness, confusion, futility, discontent, anxiety?
• What private longings and callings have you repeatedly dismissed?  What has prevented you from acting upon them?
• How do you renew and regenerate yourself?
• Where do you experience the spirit of fluency in your life and where are you willing to live “Like a river flows/Carried by the surprise/Of its own unfolding?

I would guess that some of the answers and insights we gain from this reflective time will be surprising; perhaps some will be disappointing.  Hopefully, many will provide us fresh fuel with which to stoke our four fires and light our way to the next gate!

Oh, and, by the way…have you started making your list of things you want to do for the year following your birthday that you’ve never done before?  I have!  I think I have three things so far.  It’s kind of  challenging.  Let me know what you come up with…I may want to copy you or maybe we can do it together!!!

I was struggling this morning with what to write about in regards to longevity.  I have some great information that is extremely intriguing, but so much of it is very technical and difficult to understand, let alone write about for others.  I’ll have to work on that for later posts.  My brain just wasn’t up to the task today.

In doing further research, I came across an article about three vegetables we should add to our diets to promote longevity.  Apparently, they’re frequently eaten in the “Blue Zones”.  In case you’re not familiar with the “Blue Zones”, they’re the areas in the world where people live the longest.

Since my diagnosis and my changes in eating habits, I’ve definitely increased my intake of vegetables.  Unfortunately, I’m not extremely adventurous when it comes to eating new things; so I tend to eat the things I’m familiar with…and I tend to eat them day in and day out!  Salads made with spinach, arugala, and mixed greens, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, zucchini, and my very favorite…orange and red bell peppers!  I was pleased to find that one of my other favorite veggies IS on the list of these three longevity-boosting food items…SWEET POTATOES!  In fact, I just had one for dinner last night!

Well…on to the short list and a description of each, including why they’re good for you.

Sweet Potatoes

Since I’ve already mentioned my favorite, let’s talk about sweet potatoes first.  Personally, I eat mine baked with absolutely nothing on them; I think they’re plenty sweet on their own without adding butter, brown sugar, cinnamon or whatever else restaurants throw on them.  Sweet potatoes contain plentiful beta carotene, vitamins C and B, iron and phosphorous.

According to the article I read, sweet potatoes have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.  It was suggested that, if you suffer from arthritis, you can use the water leftover from boiling them (and eating them, of course) to help ease painful joints!  Just rub some on!  Who knew!?!?

They’re also supposed to be good for digestion, being high in fiber and magnesium.  Because they contain vitamins B, C, beta carotene, calcium, and potassium, sweet potatoes can also help to heal stomach ulcers.  The beta carotene also places them on the list of “contenders” for staving off various cancers (colon, intestinal, prostate and kidneys).

A quick, easy, recipe on a video with the article was for sweet potato fries.  Put two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a zip lock bag with garlic salt, thyme, and ground black paper.  Cut up your sweet potatoes and drop them in the baggie…SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE; SHAKE YOUR B..oops, sorry, I was back in the 70s there for a moment.  Bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Easy…yummy!

Kale

I admit I have heard recommendations over and over again for including kale in my diet, yet I’ve never tried it.  As recently as last Friday, I had a new acquaintance tell me she puts it in a smoothie each morning…which is a good way, apparently, to not have to taste it…LOL!  I did learn from watching a short YouTube video that in the winter months it tends to be sweeter.  As a rule, it is a little bitter and peppery tasting.

The thing you can’t get around is how much nutrition is packed in this greenery:  vitamins A, K, and C, calcium, lutein, and iron.  In fact, it has ten times more lutein and seven times the beta carotene than is contained in broccoli.  Also, one cup of kale has one-third of the calcium as a cup of milk…which we shouldn’t be drinking anyway!

The carotenoids (lutein and zeaxathin) in kale may help protect against cataracts by protecting our eyes from UV ray damage.

We all know the benefits of calcium and beta carotene.  What I didn’t realize about kale is that its sulfur content promotes enzyme production in the liver, aiding in detoxification of chemicals that may cause cancer.  Now it’s got my attention!!

Jicama

This tuber vegetable sounds like something that may be right up my alley!  According to the article (and YouTube video I watched) it can be eaten raw or cooked, alone, in salads or with other vegetables.  The video described it as a little like an apple, but not as sweet; the consistency of a water chestnut.  It’s low cal (less than 50 calories per cup).

Jicama is rich in folic acid and beta carotene, which helps to lower homocysteine levels (an amino acid that contributes to an increased risk of heart disease).  It can also help you fight off those pesky colds, because of its high content of vitamin C.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of excited about something new to try.  Probably more about the jicama than the kale, but I’m not ruling it out!  I may wait until I get a juicer, though!  Let me know if you try any of these tasty treats, how you prepared them, and what you think.

THRIVE TO 105!!

INFORMATION JUNKIE DAY!!! I could spend the whole day pouring over periodicals and newsletters for “stuff” to share; but since I don’t have all day, I better get focused and get to the task at hand!

From Prevention, May 2010:

If you walk for exercise and want to burn more calories, take your dog instead of your best friend (unless, of course, your dog IS your best friend)!  According to researchers at the University of Missouri, walking with a dog can increase your speed by 28% and your calorie burn by up to 30%.  The other plus is that Fido is usually much more excited than that friend who willingly agrees with you when you want to shorten the route!

What kind of movies and TV shows do you watch?  Well, if you like comedies and you actually allow yourself to chuckle or laugh out loud, you could be improving your blood flow by 21%!  At the University of Texas in Austin, a study showed that “chuckling” while watching a show improved blood vessel dilation for up to 24 hours by one-fifth; whereas, watching documentaries or serious shows actually restricted blood vessels by 18%.  I guess that means if I watch Criminal Minds, followed by Modern Family, I should end up with a net 3% improvement!

From AARP Bulletin, May 2010:

If you’re looking for an idea for a vacation excursion, check out the over 500 tours across the United States that can be taken of manufacturing facilities at www.factorytoursusa.com.  Since I live in Missouri and hail from New York, I searched to see what I might find:  Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Purina, Hallmark, Harley Davidson Power Train, Herbaria Soaps, and Sierra Bullets (Missouri); Chelsea Modular Homes, Corning Museum of Glass, Herschell Carousel Factory, Madison Square Garden, NBC Studios, and the Original American Kazoo Company in New York, just to name a few. You can check out all 50 states on the site.

Be aware of the newest, rampant form of identity theft…your medical identity!  Information from medical records contains tons of valuable data, including social security numbers, insurance account numbers, addresses, etc.  Using this information, anyone can get health care using your identity, leaving you with the bill, not to mention having all the needed information for obtaining a passport in your name!  Be sure to keep an eye on letters and statements from your insurer, monitor your credit report (www.AnnualCreditReport.com) for billing errors, and keep a close eye on your insurance cards.

Last, but not least, From Living  Magazine (Martha Stewart), June 2010:

I don’t actually know how I ended up with this magazine.  It’s not really “me”, if you know what I mean; but I thought I’d take a look today.  A couple things I found were pretty cool…living more “green” is on my mind a lot (and others I know).  Both these items speak to this desire.  One is napkins and placemats that come on a roll…but they’re not paper, they’re cotton!  They are biodegradeable and recyclable and can be washed so you can use them again.  They’re called Mydrap and cost $29, come in three sizes and 20 colors.  Unfortunately, it appears they are not sold here in the U.S., but need to be ordered from overseas.  To order: 877-625-2539

Another great little tip I learned while skimming through Living today was to use leftover packing popcorn in planters.  Put them in a plastic bag, place the bag at the bottom of the planter, then put potting soil on top.  It saves you from having to use as much soil and saves the environment from all that “popcorn” being thrown away!

Well, that’s it for the Information Junkie today.  See you next Wednesday!

At the Silver Gate of Wisdom, the “Challenge” is:

“…to reconnect to our regenerative forces and stay connected.”

As we get older, “regenerating” doesn’t always come so easily…physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.  Our bodies don’t always cooperate like they used to; we forget a lot; we’re spent emotionally from years of just simply dealing with life.  As described in this chapter, we can end up at the Silver Gate suffering from what Arrien refers to as “soul loss” or a disconnection from the things that fill us up and give our lives meaning.  We feel depressed, anxious, restless, and empty.

Here is where the “Challenge” comes in; we can’t let ourselves get stuck in this soul-less place.  We need to dig down deep and find that spark within ourselves that is curious and creative, that child-like fearlessness that motivates us to try new things and grow in new ways we haven’t yet experienced.

There are four fires described in this “Challenge” that we have within us all our lives:

“The fire of vision provides visions or dreams that show us possibilities and potential in our lives, inspiring us to manifest what we see or are called upon to do.  The fire of the heart teaches us about what and whom we love.  The creative fire signals the work that we love, a keen awareness of our gifts, and our desire to express them as a way of contributing to the world.  The soul’s fire calls us to be authentically who we are and serve others rather than our own egos.”

At the Silver Gate our “Challenge” is to stoke these fires, get them roaring again, and find our passion.

Once we’ve found it, the rest of the “Challenge” is taking that “internal fire” and expressing it in how we live our lives.  This is the gate where we need to get past what holds us back and throw off that inertia.

A fun example from the book came from my ancestors, the Spanish.  Apparently, an ancient custom in certain parts of the Pyrenees was practiced in order to keep “soul loss” from occurring.  Each month, for a year, on the date of your birthday, you are supposed to celebrate by doing something that you’ve never done before.  What a great way of engaging and reconnecting with the world around us and our lives!  I first read this last year and was going to try it.  I must admit, sadly, I was a dismal failure at it!! As soon as I began trying to think of things I’d never done, I started to realize why…fear, economic restrictions (no money), time, pre-conceived notions… not to mention, lack of imagination…all things that can put out your fires, if you let them.

I’d like to put out a “challenge” to all of you taking this journey to wisdom with me.  On your birthday this year, set a goal to celebrate each month for the next year by doing something you’ve never done.  I have a few months until my birthday, but I may start keeping a list now, since I found it such a “challenge” the last time.  Write a comment to me, and let me know if you’re doing it and what you’re doing to celebrate!

Let’s get reconnected and regenerated starting with one day, one month, one year!!

ORAC…no, it’s not a new vacuum cleaner.  It’s a term developed by the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts to measure how an antioxidant absorbs free radicals.  It stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.  Sounds pretty important…and it is!  This test can measure the degree AND speed of an antioxidant’s ability to inhibit “oxidizing agents” (free radicals) and then assigns those two factors a single number or value.  Makes it a whole lot easier for us to figure out which antioxidants are better for us than others!

Of course, there’s an acronym for those nasty free radicals, as well…ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species).  “Species”…sounds sinister!  I’m thinking the less “species” I have in my body, the better.

What I want to share today is which antioxidants have been shown to score the highest according to the ORAC rankings.  I used to work for a pharmaceutical company for quite a number of years; and one of the bits of knowledge I took away from that experience is that “bioavailability” is imperative if you expect a supplement or drug to have the desired effect.  Knowing this was one of the reasons I became a believer in Juice Plus years ago.  Their extensive research has shown that what is in their capsules is actually “bioavailable” to our bodies.  This is also the reason I’m a little skeptical of companies that sell supplements touting all the marvelous medical conditions they can impact when they don’t have the research to back up their claims, including whether or not their wonder pill or drink is bioavailable.  So I admit I’ve been skeptical of all the information I’ve seen about the acai berry…up until now.

The article I read today in the June issue of Life Extension explores the scientific validation of the ORAC value of the acai berry, as well as numerous other berries and vegetables, which I’ll share later.  The acai is a kind of palm tree found in South America near the Amazon.  According to the scientific analysis of the acai berry, its…

…complete polyphenolic profile boasts a formidable array of beneficial compounds, including polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (11.1% and 60.2% respectively), along with 19 health-promoting amino acids.

Another description of the benefits of the acai berry from this article states:

Its potent antioxidant properties and highly beneficial polyphenolic profile endow acai with a singular ability to combat cellular aging and oxidative damage.  The latest research reveals the potential for significant beneficial effects on longevity and incidence of chronic disease.

There are a couple things that excite me about the information in this article.  One is a finding that antioxidants in the freeze-dried acai extract “…have been shown to enter human cells in a fully functional form and effectively neutralize free radicals at very low doses”.  Bioavailability…extremely important!  This freeze-dried extract is also “…extraordinarily effective against the most damaging Reactive Oxygen Species, the superoxide and peroxyl radicals”.

Even more exciting to me (and many others) is the growing research that shows acai berries may be a major battler against cancer.  I’m aware these same findings are in the alternative treatment world in regards to raspberry extract (which I currently take).

What makes these berries (and others) even more powerful is that they contain anthocyanins, one of the classes of polyphenols (chemicals found in plants).  These are the berries that have deep red, blue or purple colors.  Anthocyanins have benefits that are extremely important to thriving longevity.  Those benefits include:

• Inhibiting cancer cell growth and actually killing the cells

• Reduced risk of heart disease

• Improvement in eye function

• Limiting the damage done to DNA cells by free radicals

In Friday’s blog post, I’ll share which other berries were mentioned in the article and their individual benefits to your health.  I’ll also share the ORAC values assigned to all of them.  The acai berry is by far the most potent, highly ranked berry at 18,400 ORAC units per 3.5 ounces (or 100 grams).  Currently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 3-5,000 ORAC units per day.

Are you a fan of acai berries?  I’m thinking I’m heading in that direction!

It’s Wednesday…and you know what that means!  Information Junkie Day!

This morning I was perusing the May/June issue of AARP Magazine…okay, yes, I admit I am a card-carrying member of AARP!  Believe me, I fought it for a long time after I started getting those darn mailings when I turned 50.  But then I saw one of the magazines (I’m an information junkie, remember?), and it really was pretty good…and informative!  So I joined.  Anyway, one of the first things I read about in this issue had to do with spices that can help your brain.

If you read my post from Monday, that also had to do with the brain as we age.  It’s one of those challenges that we need to learn to accept (note yesterday’s post)…the fact that as we age we just don’t remember “stuff” like we used to.  However, this was more than information on improving your memory.

The first spice mentioned is Turmeric (accent on the first syllable).  A research study at the University of California, LA, found that curcumin (which is the “active” ingredient in turmeric) was quite effective in destroying that nasty amyloid beta brain plaque that is found in Alzheimer’s patients.  Now the study was done on mice, not humans, but it’s still a promising find, I’d say.  In fact, it seems that in India, where they eat a lot of curry (which contains turmeric), the rate of Alzheimer’s is only one-fourth of the rate of that found in the U.S.  Personally, I’ve been using turmeric in my home made salad dressing for the past couple of months; because it is also a good cancer-fighting spice.

You may want to try their chicken salad recipe: Toss 2 tsp curry powder w/2 cups cubed chicken. Saute’ in olive oil until cooked, then cool.  Add raisins, diced apples, chopped almonds, chopped celery, and low-fat yogurt to taste.

Second on the list is saffron.  I LOVE saffron!  It is nostalgic for me.  Being the daughter of a first-generation Spaniard, I was raised eating chicken and yellow rice (arros con pollo).  Saffron is what turns the rice yellow.  In 2007, the University of Tehran did a study showing that getting a dose of saffron twice a day can be as effective on mild to moderate depression as Prozac! You can add ½ tsp of saffron to the water you cook your rice in.  Of course, last time I checked, saffron cost a fortune; in fact, I think they keep it behind the customer service desk at the grocery stores so it doesn’t get ripped off!  Plus your insurance (if you even have insurance) isn’t going to cover that purchase.  I don’t have a problem with depression, but I may just ask how much it would set me back to buy a small supply of it the next time I shop.

This next research study I found very interesting, since I am constantly researching alternative treatments for cancer so I can pass the information on.  The study was referenced in the 2007 Cancer journal.  In the study it seems that garlic compounds were shown to eliminate brain cancer cells!  WOW!  Wouldn’t that be wild and wonderful if new treatments for brain cancer would be composed of garlic compounds rather than chemotherapy drugs?!!!  One suggestion for getting your healthy dose of garlic on a regular basis is to make marinara with tomatoes, a couple cloves of garlic, and basil.

For all you jocks out there, you might want to try chewing cinnamon gum when preparing to battle your opponents.  Apparently, cinnamon helps to regulate blood sugar levels, which helps you to stay focused.  This in turn helps your brain process visual cues at a faster rate.  If you don’t like to chew gum, try adding cinnamon to a bowl of oatmeal before you get out on the raquet ball court or pick up the controller on your Wii.

One last note on the spices you use.  Store them in glass jars, rather than plastic; they will last longer (6-12 months).

Okay, that’s it for Information Junkie Wednesday.   Go season up your brains; feel better; play better!  Adios!

In working through The Second Half of Life, you have to pass through the Eight Gates of Wisdom.  Who knew, right?  I’ve known for quite some time that I’m wiser than I was 40 years ago; but one would certainly hope that, after all we’ve gone through over four decades, we would come out the other side having learned something!

The first of the eight gates in Angeles Arrien’s book is the Silver Gate:  Facing New Experiences and the Unknown.  I’m sure there are plenty from the Baby Boomer set who would say, “No thanks, I’ll just stick with the familiar and comfortable at this point in my life.”  Personally, I’m intrigued by new experiences; the “unknown” makes it sound a little more ominous!  However, I’m game!

At each Gate in the book we are given a “Task”, a “Challenge”, a “Gift”, “Reflections”, and something we’re supposed to “Practice”.  Apparently, Arrien isn’t going to make it easy for us to get through all eight gates in order to gain all that wisdom.  For the sake of making it a little simpler, I’m going to break down the journey through each gate into one blog post per section mentioned above.  I’m hopeful that some of you reading this will take this journey with me.  As a rule, I think journeys are more fun when you have company!

I’m also holding out hope that for those reading this who aren’t yet in that “Second Half of Life”, they will find it good food for thought.  After all, who’s to say you can’t get a head start on all this wisdom stuff, anyway.

The Task of the Silver Gate includes acceptance of the aging process we’re going through, the aging of both our minds and our bodies.  That’s already a hard one, don’t you think?  This means, as is pointed out in the book, letting go of our egos.  There are times when I tell myself to just let go, that it is too much work to fight it.  Then there is the other side of me that has for years said that I’m going kicking and screaming!  What I find appealing is that in letting go and accepting where we’re headed, we find freedom.

With this freedom comes the opportunity to experience not only our status as “elders”, but also discover new adventures.  Of course, the author tells us we need to:

…see our lives with new eyes so we can begin to prepare for the ultimate new experience, which is our death.

Yeah…I’m not so sure about that “adventure”.  Not that I’m afraid of acknowledging it is on my journey somewhere down the road; I’m just not ready to travel that path quite yet!  I’ve got too much living to do first…too much to discover about the next 50 years of my life!

The “essential” task of this first gate, the Silver Gate, is to live this part of your life “like a river flows” with flexibility and perseverance.  Arrien challenges us, at this gate, to:

…return to a fresh innocence and resourcefulness as we fully explore the spirit of fluency, looking at our world with expanded curiosity.

The poem she quotes, by John O’Donohue, called Fluent does give a very simple, yet attracting way, of looking at how to live life:

I would love to live

Like a river flows,

Carried by the surprise

Of its own unfolding

Float trip anyone?!!