Pink slime and mad cows are food for thought.

    I am sure you have already read about the case of mad cow in California recently.  What you may not know is that only 40,000 out of 34 MILLION cattle slaughtered in the US each year are checked for BSE (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy)!  The disease takes decades to show up in humans and it is very hard to track. Here is an interesting article:
       http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/pink-slime-mad-cow_b_1455656.html?ref=healthy-living


Thought for the weekend:


                                  repinned from Pinterest

Fear the Turtle (U.of Md. Terrapins, of which I am one)

     Last night I went to my Wednesday night running group.  We warm up for 15 minutes, do some speed intervals for 15 minutes, and then cool down for 15 minutes.  I am so sick of being the very slowest turtle out there. I am always last.  Everyone else just floats by me.  Many are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, but at least a couple are around my age.  So I practice my mantra and repeat: "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch".  That helps, but at some point I really want to improve.  I want to lap someone....anyone.
     Then today a dog-trainer was complaining about his knees.  Another volunteer, one with 2 artificial legs, who uses a wheelchair when training, stated that she had no sympathy. She is so right.
     So next time I will mentally just:
 

and:


Maybe by next year, I'll get just a little bit faster.  Meanwhile, I'll just keep turtle-ing along.

"Some days, even my lucky rocket ship underpants won't help."--- Calvin and Hobbs

Get over it.

                                  reblogged from Pinterest

What if one day you could no longer remember any of it?

     My Aunt Elsie died last week after a long illness with Alzheimer's Disease.  She was 89.  Her husband, my Uncle, cared for her at home until just 6 months ago.  I can't even imagine the pain of caring for a loved one who eventually no longer even knows who you are, and cannot share in your joint memories.  Please send your thoughts out into the universe on their behalf.  Thank you.

     Alzheimer's may have a genetic component.  We can't do anything about that at this point.  But we can:
1.  Get regular exercise
2.  Eat a healthy diet
3.  Get mental stimulation
4.  Get quality sleep
5.  Manage stress
6.  Keep an active social life.
   
Daily exercise lowers Alzheimer's disease risk.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/244390.php

Exercise leads to a better brain.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/magazine/how-exercise-could-lead-to-a-better-brain.html?_r=1&ref=magazine

"Memory is a way of holding on to things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ---Kevin Arnold


"Caring for the sick can feel like writing a travelogue about a country you've never visited.  You can't know where you haven't been." ---Suleika Jaouad and Seamus Mckiernan

Fauja Singh

     I've mentioned Fauja Singh in the past.  He is a 101 year old marathoner.  He completed the London Marathon last weekend.


     After that marathon, he announced his retirement from marathoning, but not from racing!  He still will run races from 5K to the half marathon.  Good for him.  We all need more active role-models as we age. (Note his tee-shirt, "Sikhs in the City"---he has a sense of humor, as well).

http://running.competitor.com/2012/04/news/fauja-singh-hangs-up-his-marathon-shoes_51299

Nutrition--the biggest bang for your buck.

     Broccoli is a wonder food.  It is contains vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid, calcium and fiber.  It also contains two anti-cancer phytochemicals (indoles and isothiocyanates) that help prevent cancer.  Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, part of the cabbage family, which health organizations say are must-have foods several times a week. The best way to eat your broccoli is raw, and to chew it well as that is what produces the wonder phytochemical sulforaphane.
     Broccoli sprouts have much more concentrated nutrition than full grown broccoli, but are almost impossible to find in a grocery store, and even then are usually cost-prohibitive.
     The solution---Do it yourself sprouting.  Easy. I've been doing this for a month or so since watching this video:      http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/biggest-nutrition-bang-for-your-buck/   I do own a sprouting jar which my Mom gave me years ago. I had to buy the organic broccoli sprouting seeds on-line.  We are really enjoying this. I may have to buy a second sprouting jar to keep up.    
   
     Other interesting research on the wonders of broccoli in case you aren't yet convinced:
                  http://nutritionfacts.org/blog/2012/04/19/breast-cancer-stem-cells-vs-broccoli/

                  http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/raw-broccoli-and-bladder-cancer-survival/

                  http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/lung-cancer-metastases-and-broccoli/

                  http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/dna-protection-from-broccoli/
                 

                 

Spring means nature's babies

     I got over yesterday's vacation of slothfulness and got myself out of doors this morning.  I was rewarded by seeing two baby rattlesnakes on the sidewalk, half a mile apart.  They were just sunning themselves and seemed pretty sluggish although the temps were in the 70's.  They were only 6-8 inches long, but I kept my distance.  Surprisingly enough, they don't scare me too much anymore. (Knock on wood).