SCHOOL DAYS

Fresh thoughts come to us each day,

And offer kindness on our way,

A hopeful thought brings joy and peace,

Wrapped with love with your release.

Share it often with those you meet,

All body systems will find it a treat.

Expressed in words with acts and deeds,

You have planted a lovely kindness seed.

September brings us school days once more for nearly all ages, and now there is talk on the news suggesting the government supply tuition for college and university students also, to be paid back later after they found employment.  Someone asked me what happened to all that $30,000.00 we had saved for our son to pursue further his studies because of his interest in the Science Department.  It is true we had saved that money to be ready for him after high school but he suggested we keep it in our savings account in case he could earn his own way through university with scholarships and summer jobs.  After graduation at the University of Victoria he was offered a scientific position in Calgary that supplied him with free rent for 6 months until a home could be found.  It seemed like a good idea and they moved to Calgary.  I believe I touched on it briefly several days ago in my previous entry.  He was transferred to other states that included Texas and California.

    My husband's work was also in the science field and he with others had worked with harmful chemicals that were the precursors of Parkinson's and other related diseases.  My older sister Helen had become a dental missionary in the Ivory Coast of Africa and when she learned of our nieces expressing an interest in becoming medical doctors, she tapped her retirement fund to help them out.  She made out two checks, one for each of them that totaled $5,000.00 and asked me to check them over for accuracy.  Canada was importing doctors from Africa, in groups of 65 as needed.  To date the two nieces have not proceeded to become medical doctors and the $30,000.00 is waiting for its true owner.  Perhaps some of the $30,000.00 was used for elaborate weddings and trips to tropical countries.  The courts of time are waiting for the true owners.  At a future time, perhaps one of my four great-granddaughters may be needing funds for medical schooling.

TAP INTO THE POWER OF FOODS AND KEEP SATISFIED

Here is the answer you have been looking for as you add healthy years to your life and life to your years, with a deeper sense of satisfaction, according to Rob Thompson, M.D.

Sugar Blocker No. 1: Have a fatty snack 10 to 30 minutes before your meal. It must be eaten before you eat your meal. The pyloric valve regulates the speed at which food leaves the stomach and enters the bloodstream. A handful of nuts or a piece of cheese will do the trick.

Sugar Blocker No. 2 Start your meal with a salad. It soaks up starch and fibre before you eat a starch.

Sugar blocker No. 3. Have some vinegar - most salad dressings have some type of vinegar with it.

Sugar Blocker No. 4. Put some Muscle Behind it. A waist size 35 for women and 40 for men, exercise helps.

Sugar Blocker No. 5. Include protein with your meal to blunt insulin spikes. Even though protein contains no glucose, it triggers a "first phase" insulin response.

Sugar Blocker No. 6. Eat lightly cooked vegetables.

LONG WEEKEND HOLIDAYS

Our July weekend holiday gives us all an opportunity to celebrate and feel grateful for the birth of our United Country of Canada.   The Christmas holidays often brings families together to celebrate the occasion.  Our son Ken, graduated  from the University of Victoria in their Science program.  It would be appropriate for us to know that he graduated from this university as their top student.  Large companies often send a representative to meet top university's students to interview them and hopefully accept employment with their company.  Later the same day after he had graduated from university  Ken was also married.  Ken's company moved them to Calgary, Alberta with six month free rent there until they found a home to buy and then with promotions he was transferred to other company branches and finally to their head office in Los Angeles, California.   When Ken and family lived in the south-eastern states they became acquainted with snakes and other tropical animals including alligators.  Their son was born in 1979 and was married to a lovely lady in 2000.  They now have four daughters.

A NATURAL SLEEP HELPER

Women metabolize caffeine slowly so your morning tea or coffee or afternoon soda will still be working at bedtime. "Limit these drinks to less than four ounces early in the day, and avoid caffeine after 3:00 PM. Alcohol should be limited to two or three a week. That glass of wine may help you fall asleep but it can wake you up at 2:00 AM. The best bedtime snack is peanut butter on toast, or a small serving of yogurt and fruit," says Dr. Tasneem Bhatia, MD. "The protein helps produce tryptophan which is more available to your brain."

If any of our readers have other medical questions, they are invited to send any questions to Dr. Travis Stork, MD to askdrstork@prevention.com. His tip for today is: "If your teeth are feeling extra sensitive lately you should minimize bleaching strips or other whitening products and don't brush within 30 minutes of drinking your morning java - that's when the acid level in your mouth is the highest and teeth enamel is most prone to damage, so brushing can do more harm than good. Another trick that my friend Clint Newman, DDS, suggests is to use a straw with all sodas, juices and other acidic drinks. Can you say "Iced coffee". This keeps the acid from landing directly on your teeth.

A NATURAL CURE FOR PAIN

New research shows that an ancient therapy can significantly decrease pain.  Cupping, a close cousin of acupuncture, involves placing glass cups on your body (on either the affected area or the acupuncture points used to treat it) to create suction.  It may sound odd but cupping reduced neck pain by an average of 45 % study from the University of Duisburg-Essen located in Germany.  Further details are written by Stephanie Eckelkamp.

   The suction caused by cupping is meant to free up and balance the flow of qi (pronounced CHEE) or the energy in the body says Byn Clark, a licensed acupuncturist and diplomate of  Oriental Medicine. It also seems to improve blood circulation.  The practitioner creates suction either by burning the oxygen from the cup and removing the air with a valve.  Any bruises clear up within a week.  Many practitioners have treated many ailments with the cupping therapy, along with acupuncture, including sinus problems, high blood pressure, to treat pain, colds, asthma, hot flashes, arthritis, and painful or irregular periods.

PROTECT AGAINST SKIN CANCER

Recent studies show that supplements including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants from green tea, berries and tiny amounts of dark chocolate may help protect against skin cancer," says Andrew Weil, MD, director of the Arizona Centre of Integrative Medicine. "Compounds found in grapes, berries, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy and brussel sprouts, garlic and the spice turmeric also show promise of cancer prevention.

Ellen Marmur, MD, Chief of Cosmetic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New York City says, "Lately I have removed more "hidden" cancers in places you would never expect to find them: under a toe nail, on the back of the ear, in the mouth and genitals and even under the breast and areas that have not been exposed to the sun, but I suspect that overall exposure to UV radiation suppresses the body's immune system in general, and is making it harder to fight off cancerous cells. The atmosphere's thinning ozone layer makes the sun's rays even more dangerous. Whether you are on the beach or in an indoor tanning salon, there is no safe way to tan. The risk is highest if you have fair skin and light coloured hair and eyes.

EAT THE RIGHT FOOD

According to Drew Ramsey, M.D. , eating the right foods can make us less stressed, give us more energy, and make us smarter.  Rule 1 is to reduce the amount of processed food eaten.  Much of our food is loaded with sugar and contributes to the shrinkage of key brain areas involved in mood regulation.  More fruits, vegetables and whole grains should be eaten. Plant foods contain the minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients that the doctor refers to as what the brain needs for optimal  functioning. Whenever possible opt for grass-fed meat.  Grass fed meat has more omega 3 acids that promote the formation of new brain connections.  The greater the range of whole foods you consume, the broader the range of brain boosting nutrients.  Variety is important and will energize the mind.

     Vitamin B12 is crucial for nerve cells.  A deficiency causes irritability, depression, and cognitive decline.  A little folate will keep your brain's neurotransmitter factories humming.  Iodine would be another plus since it is good for thyroid functioning.  An under active thyroid leads to lethargy, weight gain, depression, and dementia that can lead to Parkinson's disease and PMS.   The standard barnyard egg is a nutritional powerhouse and a perfect brain food.   Butter also is a brain food and not found in many vegetable oils.  Butter from grass fed cows is even better.

    In upcoming items we will confirm the value of the coloured vegetables that include the common potato, especially the red skinned ones.  But we can leave that for another day.  Dr. Oz has many suggestions for energy foods, and his advice appears often in the Prevention magazine.