Eat Healthy Food Diet for an Energetic Life

test

2011-09-20T13:36:00.000-04:00

test

2011-06-17T14:46:00.000-04:00

test

2011-05-24T14:36:00.000-04:00

Organic and Non Organic Fruits and Vegetables Safe to Eat

2010-08-17T14:54:00.000-04:00

From the Gainesville Sun article by Dr. Jock Marilynn Preston

----------------------

Buy Organic Only

----------------------

Apples

Bell Peppers

Carrots

Celery

Cherries

Grapes

Lettuce

Kale

Nectarines

Peaches

Pears

Strawberries

----------------------------

Can Buy Non-Organic

----------------------------

Asparagus

Avocados

Broccoli

Cabbage

Eggplant

Kiwifruit

Mangoes

Onions

Papayas

Pineapples

Sweet Corn

Sweet Potatoes

Tomatoes

Watermelon

Oxis Advancing Oxidative Stress Technology with Potent Antioxidant Ergothioneine

2010-06-24T14:01:00.000-04:00

One of the causes of cell damage is oxidative stress. Certain oxygen and nitogen molecules are highly reactive and can damage cells. They are called reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) molecules.

Normal cell processes handle ROS and RNS molecules, but over production of ROS and RNS exceed the body's natural defense mechanisms. Oxidative damage occurs and can cause cells to fail.

Oxidative stress is also caused by other factors such as pollution, smoke, inflammation, UV light, some drugs and other sources.

Oxidative stress also increases as we age.

One of the major antioxidant enzymes that protect cells is glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Oxis has an oral compound that mimics glutathione peroxidase.

http://www.oxis.com Oxis International is advancing oxidative stress technology, which provides anti aging through the reduction of free radical molecules in the body.

Oxis International, Inc. can be found in the penny stocks at OTCBB: OXIS.

Oxis is the premiere provider of the potent antioxidant Ergothioneine and only significant commercial source of pure l-ergothioneine worldwide due to their patented manufacturing process.

From the Oxis website.

"Oxis has several therapeutic compounds that are available to be licensed including anti-inflammatory and several therapeutic antioxidant mimics with potential applications in the treatment of neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other conditions."

Oxis on facebook
Oxis on Twitter

Ganiesville 40 Days of Change Week 4 Eath Healthy

2010-04-05T11:23:00.000-04:00

From: Sims,Stephanie

This week marks days 21 27 of the Office of Sustainability's 40 Days of Change campaign, 40 opportunities to make a CHANGE in your home, life and world. Some of events on campus and in Gainesville this week include:

FOOD WEEK - 5 Days, 5 Issues Sponsored by UF Student Organizations

Diverse student groups will host events highlighting the problems, solutions, and opportunities presented by our current food system. The events will cover local to global food issues. Come hungry and be prepared to leave with a full stomach and mind.

Monday April 5
Stop Hunger Now!
Broward Basement, 630pm-830pm

Tuesday April 6
Be Organic & Slow Food
Plaza of the Americas, 1pm-3pm

Wednesday April 7
Young Farmers and the Future of Agriculture
New Physics Building 1002, 630pm-830pm

Thursday April 8
The True Cost of Food
Williamson Hall 100, 630pm-830pm

Friday April 9
The Bitter Side of Sugar
CSE E119, 6pm-8pm

Saturday April 10
The Old Homestead Trail
Dudley Farm, 10am-12pm

Sunday April 11
Food and Faith: A Panel Discussion on Sustainability, Food and Religion
Friends of the Music Room, University Auditorium

Next week's events include the Florida Food Summit (April 12 - 13). The event at UF's Reitz Student Union will facilitate networking, dialogue, and visioning among members of the Florida food system, and help develop the connections needed for robust farm-to-institution programs. All FFS events are free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, follow the links below.

Food Summit Day 1: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=105157976186258&ref=ts

Food on the Lawn farmers market and fair: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=108291702532173&ref=ts

Food Summit Day 2: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=108765575813525&ref=ts

Boston area Vegetarian Express Cooking Classes April 11th

2010-04-04T11:43:00.000-04:00

From: "les_mail" <leslie@lesliecerier.com>

*Hi Everyone,*

*I have a gorgeous collection of Kyocera Advanced Ceramic kitchen
knives, peelers, and mandolins for you to use in my cooking classes,
and everyone coming to my Vegetarian Express cooking class April 11th
will also receive a special gift package of sea salts from Selina
Naturally Celtic sea salts.*

* Sunday, April 11th 3-6PM: **Vegetarian Express*

*Location is Leslie's Gourmet Kitchen, Shutesbury, MA(*

*Sunday, April 11 3 p.m.- 6 p.m., Fee is $75*

*Please register soon. Space is limited!*

*Sunday, April 11th 3-6PM: **Vegetarian Express*

Fantasizing about quick, delicious and nutritionally balanced meals?
You'll excite your palate with Leslie's inspirational lineup and
the key word here is fast! You'll learn timesaving tips, meet quick
cooking ingredients, and discover how to manage every part of your
cooking process effectively and efficiently, from setting up your
kitchen and chopping vegetables to shopping seasonally. You'll also
get ideas on leftover management, enhancing flavor, substituting
ingredients, and using garnishes to dress up the dining experience.
Beginners as well as seasoned cooks will get great value in this
wonderful and approachable hands-on vegetarian cooking class.

To register, please call 413-259-1695 or email Leslie

Leslie@lesliecerier.com <mailto:Leslie@lesliecerier.com>

*Please join me and please let your friends and family know. *

*Registration Details and links for these classes are on my website
http://www.lesliecerier.com

*Spread the word. Thanks a lot!*

*Wishing you a joyful week.*

*Leslie***

*http://www.Lesliecerier.com

*leslie@lesliecerier.com*

*413-259-1695*

N-Viro converts wastewater sludge into biomineral agricultural products

2010-03-25T21:02:00.001-04:00

http://www.nviro.com

Pollution is often just something in the wrong place at the wrong time. With the right kind of alchemy garbage can be turned into gold.

N-Viro International Corporation converts waste to energy.

Here is some technical mumbo jumbo describing how that process works from their website.

The N-Viro technologies involve the mixing of municipal bio solids with specific alkaline waste products from the coal combustion electric generation (making clean coal), cement and lime industries. This process stabilizes organic waste thru pasteurization and complete disinfection.

Our suite of green technologies complement each other and build upon a unique concept transforming waste products into a beneficial fertilizer or ultimately creating N-Viro Fuel a renewable alternative energy fuel perfectly synergistic with the coal combustion industry.

N-Viro develops and licenses its technology to municipalities and private companies. Their patented processes use lime and/or mineral-rich, combustion byproducts to treat, pasteurize, immobilize and convert wastewater sludge and other bio-organic wastes into biomineral agricultural and soil-enrichment products with real market value.

The company has generated sales in excess of $40 million dollars, since its initial public offering in October of 1993, which was underwritten by Robertson Stephens, Raymond James, Oppenheimer & Co., and Paine Webber.

They are active in Florida and have taken over the Volusia County facility in Daytona, which processes solids into soil from many places in Central Florida.

April-May Boston area Vegetarian Express Cooking Classes on the East Coast

2010-03-25T00:02:00.000-04:00

Boston Area Vegetarian

--------------------------------------------------
From: "les_mail" leslie@lesliecerier.com

*Spring has sprung and it is very sweet. After spending the last 2
weeks in CA, I am back on the east coast and happy to be home.
California was beautiful and I loved teaching at Esalen in Big Sur. *

*Now it is time to teach my Vegetarian Express Cooking class and I am
offering 3 different locations and 3 different dates. Please register
for the one closest to you: *

*April 11th 3PM-6PM in Shutesbury, MA, my home gourmet country
kitchen*

*April 25th 3PM-6PM at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY*

*May 20th 6:30PM- 10PM at the Natural Gourmet in New York City.*

*Please join me and please let your friends and family know. *

*Registration Details and links for these classes are on my website
http://www.lesliecerier.com
. *

* *

*Spread the word. Thanks a lot!*

* *

*Wishing you a joyful week.*

* *

*Leslie***

*http://www.Lesliecerier.com
*

*leslie@lesliecerier.com*

*413-259-1695*

--
If you do not want to receive any more newsletters,
http://lesliecerier.com/les_mail/?p=unsubscribe&uid=627a673f0aa0d87c893697ea82c83320

To update your preferences and to unsubscribe visit
http://lesliecerier.com/les_mail/?p=preferences&uid=627a673f0aa0d87c893697ea82c83320
Forward a Message to Someone
http://lesliecerier.com/les_mail/?p=forward&uid=627a673f0aa0d87c893697ea82c83320&mid=67

--
Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com --

Nutrition healthy foods

2010-02-17T15:15:00.001-05:00

From: Ruth Kovacs

Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores. I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.

Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it.
Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Outrageous hospital medical bill

2009-10-01T22:00:00.000-04:00

My mother was feeling pain in her chest and elsewhere.

When the pain did not go away, my sister, who is a physician, took my mother to the hospital, because they were afraid she might be
having a heart attack.

She was there for one day.

The bill is for more than $11,318, for one day.

I imagine more bills are to follow from the various physicians. For example, on the bill is a charge for the MRI, but possibly the
charge for the doctor reading the MRI is still to come.

The bill has one charge after another for $220, $265, $384 and so on, which add up.

There are big charges like $1,470 for observation, which I believe is a way of keeping the charges down by not admitting her as an
overnight patient. Think they say she was only there for 23 hours so they can call it observation instead of charging her for a
stay.

Emer dept level 5 for $2,365.

MRI T-spine w/o cont for $1,917.75.

EKG tracing only for $500, three times for $1,500.

There is no explanation of what these things are, why they were done or what they found out. A little web research would probably
turn up some detail about each one, but I do not feel like doing that right now.

What was wrong with my mother?

Back spasms.

There is a Medicare Op Cy of -$9,543.60, which appears to be a reduction of the charges because of Medicare.

Mcare Op Nd Pmt of $918.93 appears to be what Medicare paid.

There is a B C Payment ND of $293.47, which must be the Blue Cross payment.

There is an Abn Wo Op of -$485.75 which looks to be some other reduction.

The hospital was paid a total of $1,212.40, other than from my mother.

That made the total adjustments -$10,029.35, so my mother only paid $76.25 of this particular bill.

The hospital bill then was $1,212.40 plus $76.25, which is $1,288.65.

This is disturbing, for many reasons.

First, they should just charge you the $1,288.65, if that is the bill.

Second, $1,288.65 is a lot for back spasms, even if they did do tests to rule out other stuff.

The problem is the medical field does not do business with their patients. They service their patients, but do business with
insurance companies.

If the medical field did business with their patients, they could only charge what their patients could afford to pay.

Other businesses operate that way. The car industry sells cars with $250,000 worth of parts for $15,000. They figured out how to do
it.

The computer industry figured out how to put a super computer on everyone's desk for $500.

The power industry figured out how to wire up the entire country and deliver energy to everyone's house for a few hundred dollars a
month.

The medical industry should be able to figure out how to do an EKG for under $500? The auto industry plugs a few sensors into a car
and does diagnostics for $50. What is the difference? Put some sensors on your body and run a computer program. It could tell you a
lot of information.

Other industries have competitive forces driving prices down.

The medical industry is like a scam. Everything is obfusticated. The target of the scam, the patient, is preyed on through their
vulnerabilites. The scam is driven by fear, fear of bankruptcy and fear of illness.

This is a sneaky way to get the maximum money out of people by lawyers, insurance companies, the medical industry and politicians.
It is not that they do not have valuable services to provide, but the way many of those services are provided in regards to today's
medical industry is to me a lot like a moving company scam.

They terrify you with a bill of $11,318. Obviously no normal person can pay that. Therefore you must have insurance. Now you are out
of the equation and the lawyers, insurance companies, medical industry and politicians decide how to divide up your money.

The solution is to get rid of insurance for most things and let the medical industry deal directly with their patients for normal
medical care. They will figure out how to charge what people can afford.

Once we do that, then there are three other things to deal with:

1. People who cannot afford to pay for normal medical care.

2. Large costs that are likely to affect a large percentage of people, such as end-of-life care.

3. Extreme costs that are likely to affect only a few people, such as trauma or rare diseases.

4. Liability lawsuits

By shrinking the healthcare problems to these four areas, the problem becomes more manageable and solutions easy to find. There are
food stamps. There could be healthcare stamps.

End-of-life care could be part of a normal life insurance policy. Instead of getting paid when you die, you get paid when you need
end-of-life care.

Extreme costs are what insurance is for.

The government involvement could be a safety net for those that fall through.

Why we fall asleep after eating

2009-09-23T19:18:00.001-04:00

My question was why do I fall asleep after eating?

After reading all the previous articles, it seems the question should by why do we stay awake?

Biologically it seems we stay awake to eat and do the other activities that are needed to allow us to procreate and raise the next
generation to pass on our genes.

When we are hungry, a cell in our brain releases a chemical orexins (plus who knows what else) that keeps us alert so we can get
food.

Sugar blocks those cells from producing orexins. Apparently without the chemical to keep us awake, we get sleepy.

Avoid sugar and stay hungry if you want to stay alert.

50 Ways to Boost Your Brain

2009-09-23T12:25:00.023-04:00

50 ways to exercise your brain.

http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/brain_health/articles/noodle_boosters.html

Sugar can be addictive, scientist says

2009-09-23T12:25:00.022-04:00

"We have the first set of comprehensive studies showing the strong suggestion of sugar addiction in rats and a mechanism that might
underlie it," Hoebel said.
http://www.physorg.com/news148116045.html

Amino acids that come from the protein you eat are the building blocks of your brain's network.

2009-09-23T12:25:00.021-04:00

Most neurotransmitters are made from amino acids obtained from the protein in food you consume. Neurotransmitters are the brain
chemicals that motivate or sedate, focus or frustrate. Their complex interaction is what shifts your mood and changes your mind.
Neurotransmitters wag the tail of tadpoles and wage the tale of humanity.

http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/proteins.html

My now-becoming-regular-flu-reading-ideas

2009-09-23T12:25:00.020-04:00

From: Mercedes
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 1:48 PM

Long time no see. Hope you're doing well.

This morning I decided I'd expand my circle of contacts and pass on to you some of the links I have found interesting or somehow
useful regarding the new H1N1 flu.

Some of you probably already have plenty of information about the flu from the media and your own institutions, and some already
know of this flutrackers.com website, which is visited and contributed to by medical personnel around the globe. So, this might not
be much of a contribution to your tools and knowledge.

Anyhow, today's site has contributions form infection control staff in medical facilities, which to me is a indicator of the way in
which CDC/Gov/medical institutions are handling the pandemic and consequently, us the public. But also thought it might be useful
to you as a resource on specifics related to you or your family or work place. If you are new to flutrackers.com, note that
"Florida1" is the username of the administrator. I kind of follow his/her lead as he or she seems to be pretty sensible,
non-sensationalist and strikes me as very knowledgeable.

Two of the most informative threads to me this AM were:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120892 Emergency symptoms.
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120753 On incubation periods

Or this one, the main NEW POSTINGS site on several topics/up dated (medically related) info re H1N1.
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=1531

Two other interesting threads were on the effect of vitamin D and one on asthma. Seems vitamin D might help mitigate symptoms. Let
me know if you come across confirmation of these ideas from legitimate sources.

Reading the emergency thread it occurred to me that many of us have probably never discussed our medical preferences in case of
emergency. I've been thinking about this a lot, considering my medical care preferences in case of severe illness. Yup, some of
which may require immediate use of extraordinary measures (like very invasive procedures) from resuscitation, to intubation for
breathing and cardiac support, to extra corporeal oxygenation of the blood (like a form of dialysis discussed in the new postings of
flutrackers) that help the lungs and heart while they recover. Recovery from these procedures is lengthy, the shortest being a few
weeks but too often lasting months and sometimes years. Sometimes there is not recovery. What decisions would you consider making?
What would you like done or not done to you? What if you had to decide on DISconnecting a loved one from a support system like
this? Just some food for thought.

I was enlightened this week by a YouTube on how to wash hands properly. However, the overwhelming majority of the demos are
incorrect. This one was the best I found. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYwypSLiaTU because of how it illustrates the finger
rubbing techniques, the duration and how to turn off the faucets. Just remember to touch nothing else in the bathroom with your
bare hands before you leave the sink/bathroom to go to your next task; otherwise you just nicely recontaminated your hands. In
public places I use a foot, or a clean paper towel to turn the knob or hold the handle and push the door open with the paper,
disposing of the towel outside the bathroom if necessary, making sure not to handle it any further before I get rid of it. At home
I clean door knobs regularly.

And just for kicks, this is one is on IMPROPER hand washing by a nurse instructor who thinks she is doing it correctly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG1uui3hslA&NR=1&feature=fvwp. Do not wash like this.

Happy reading, and stay well. As always, let me know if you want NOT to receive this kind of emails. My purpose is only to keep me
informed about the flu, understand what I can, and stay healthy for as long as I can. In the process, I've thought of people who
might find this kind of stuff useful in some way, and is why you just got this note.

Orexins and Sugar - Sleep after lunch

2009-09-23T12:25:00.019-04:00

A cell in the brain releases orexins that keeps people alert.

Sugar can block these cells from producing orexin.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5037720.stm

Norepinephrine warns brain is out of fuel

2009-09-23T12:25:00.018-04:00

Norepinephrine was previously known to operate as a stress hormone as well as a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood
regulation and other physical processes. New research shows it is also the final chemical step in warning the brain that it's out of
gas.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19699485/

Milk and honey promote sleep

2009-09-23T12:25:00.017-04:00

Milk and honey promote sleep. Milk contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that is among the natural dietary sleep inducers.
Tryptophan works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural sedative, in the brain. This is why so many folk remedies include
warm milk with a teaspoonful of honey, a simple sugar. (Carbohydrates facilitate the entry of tryptophan into the brain.) A turkey
sandwich provides another sleep-inducing combination of tryptophan and carbohydrates. A banana with milk gives you vitamin B6, which
helps convert tryptophan to serotonin.
http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/sleep-and-diet-eating-to-sleep-well/article29172.html

Sugar-sensitive people generally have a family history of alcoholism and are very fond of sweet foods and carbohydrates.

2009-09-23T12:25:00.016-04:00

People with normal body chemistries experience the opiate effect of eating sugars as simply a pleasant feeling. For sugar-sensitive
people, this pleasant feeling can become a drug-like euphoria, which is powerful enough to create a strong attachment to the food or
drink producing the effect. Research into neurochemistry suggests the reason may be that the sugar-sensitive personality appears to
have a dysfunction in two separate, but connected, biological systems that affect emotions and behavior. These dysfunctions include
a lowered level of serotonin functioning and an augmented response to beta-endorphin within the reward systems of the brain
(Gianoulakis, Krishnan, and Thavundayil, 1996). The consequences of these separate disturbances are both physiological and
psychological.
http://web.winltd.com/Article.aspx?PageURL=/Pages/English/healthnews/sugarconnection.htm

What to eat at each meal to keep memory and brain functioning

2009-09-23T12:25:00.015-04:00

Many people realize the harm the alcohol can do to our brain, but only a few know the danger of a lunch that consists of three or
more dishes containing carbohydrates: bread, potatoes or pasta, sweet desserts. A group of psychologists discovered that similar
combinations of products make women sleepy and men weak. After such a lunch, it takes about four hours to fully restore persons'
ability to concentrate. You've probably heard the joke: "Up until lunch, a person at work fights hunger and after lunch, sleep."
Sleepiness may not be the result of a bad night of sleep. Sleepiness is often caused by an incorrectly chosen combination of food
that reduces the activity of the brain.

What should you eat for lunch then? Lunch should contain products with a high amount of protein. Poultry or fish rich in protein
fill the blood of a person with amino acids, including tyrosine.

Let me also share a few words about the protective barrier of nervous cells of the brain. Each cell of the organism has an external
membrane - a protective cover which not only separates the cell from other parts of the organism, but also serves as the transmitter
of various substances. Through the membrane, the active withdrawal of harmful by-products of vital cellular activity is carried out.
Many cells of the brain possess a double membrane; not every chemical substance can penetrate into the nervous system. Physicians,
who are well-informed about these processes, invented a special way for the introduction of medicinal substances directly into the
nervous system - the subarachnoid way. Some substances enter into the brain only by means of their direct injection into nervous
cells. What is it that prevents those substances from reaching the nervous system? It is the double protective membrane that does
it. The mechanism that protects the brain from chemical substances is called a "blood-brain barrier."

Tyrosine easily flows through this protective filter in the brain and turns into chemical elements which help to increase brain
activity - dopamine and norepinephrine.

When you suddenly feel confused, helpless, or depressed, it should serve as an indicator of deficiency of these elements in your
brain.

Meat, fish, an egg yolk, porridge, peanuts, and soy products contain a nutritious element called choline, which also freely
penetrates through the blood-brain barrier. Choline is the chemical predecessor of the neurotransmitter of the brain, acetylcholine,
which plays an important role in the development of memory.
http://www.pmemory.com/articles/food_to_improve_memory.php

Sleeps Role In Forming Memories

2009-09-23T12:25:00.014-04:00

Sort transient brain events, called "sharp wave ripples," are responsible for consolidating memory and transferring the learned
information from the hippocampus to the neocortex, where long-term memories are stored.

Sharp wave ripples are intense, compressed oscillations that occur in the hippocampus when the hippocampus is working "off-line,"
most often during stage four sleep, which, along with stage three, is the deepest level of sleep.

During stage four sleep, Buzsaki explains, "it's as if many instruments and members of the orchestra come together to generate a
loud sound, a sound so loud that it is heard by wide areas of the neocortex. These sharp, 'loud' transient events occur hundreds to
thousands of times during sleep and 'teach' the neocortex to form a long-term form of the memory, a process referred to as memory
consolidation." The intensity and multiple occurrence of those ripples also explain why certain events may only take place once in
the waking state and yet can be remembered for a lifetime, adds Buzsaki.

http://www.impactlab.com/2009/09/16/direct-evidence-of-role-of-sleep-in-memory-formation-is-uncovered/

Foods That Feed Your Brain

2009-09-23T12:25:00.013-04:00

Eating more of these foods -- you are certain to remember so much more. Scientists are discovering new ways food and supplements
affect your brain. Here's the latest research on nutritional ways to boost memory, mood and kids' IQ scores and to protect against
mental decline as you get older.

http://platinumlotus.com/brain.html

Your Brain Signals Your Body's Need for Food Via Chemicals

2009-09-23T12:25:00.012-04:00

When the body needs nourishment, neurotransmitters are released. One neurotransmitter called Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is important in
sending messages to various parts of the brain.

Scientists have recently identified two chemicals - ghrelin and leptin - circulating in the blood that communicate with NPY.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-your-brain-signals-your-bodys-need-for-food.html

Orexin affects feeding, arousal, sleep, drug addiction

2009-09-23T12:25:00.011-04:00

New research performed in rats suggests that orexin, a brain chemical involved in feeding behavior, arousal, and sleep, also plays a
role in reward function and drug-seeking behavior.

Dr. Glenda Harris and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania showed that the activation of orexin-secreting brain cells in
the hypothalamus, a brain region that controls many vital functions such as eating, body temperature, fat metabolism, etc. is
strongly correlated with food- and drug-seeking behaviors. Past anatomical studies have shown that these cells in the lateral
hypothalamus also project to adjacent reward-associated areas of the brain.

This study suggests that orexin may be a factor in modulating reward-seeking characteristic of substance abuse. The findings help
to better identify neural pathways involved in drug abuse, craving and relapse, which may ultimately help scientists find more
effective therapies.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/05/NR8-25.html

Sleep is regulated by the activity of histamine cells

2009-09-23T12:25:00.010-04:00

''Sleeping Dogs, And Why'' Brain activity in narcoleptic dogs has helped solve some of the mysteries of sleep and waking. Brain
chemicals thought to have the same role appear instead to preside over different aspects of sleep. AWAKE -- Brain cells that produce
histamine and norepinephrine are active during waking. PARTLY ASLEEP -- In cataplexy, a semisleep state in which muscle tone is lost
but arousal maintained, histamine levels are normal; norepinephrine is reduced. SLEEPING -- Both histamine and norepinephrine are
silent. Histamine regulates arousal, while norepinephrine appears to control muscle tone.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/15/health/teasing-apart-chemicals-scientists-unlock-one-more-of-sleep-s-secrets.html

Sugar addiction

2009-09-23T12:25:00.009-04:00

For those individuals with an inclination for sweets, there is bad news: According to numerous researchers and scientific studies, a
sugar addiction can be just as strong as a drug or alcohol dependency.
http://byihypnosis.com/programs/addictions/sugar/index.html

ghrelin in the regulation of human eating and sleep

2009-09-23T12:25:00.008-04:00

Our findings suggest that the role of ghrelin in the regulation of human eating is more complex than suspected so far. In addition
to stimulation of appetite, cognitive functions appear to be involved. Exogenous ghrelin appears to be capable in promoting appetite
independently from acute action on leptin.Interestingly in one female patient with night eating syndrome nocturnal ghrelin levels
were distinctly higher than in healthy women.
http://www.mpipsykl.mpg.de/en/research/themes/sleep/steiger_03/index.html

Diabetes, the Brain, and Cognition

2009-09-23T12:25:00.007-04:00

Scientists once thought the brain played little part in diabetes-a disease in which the body is unable to produce or use the hormone
insulin from the pancreas. Now, new research indicates that the brain has its own insulin receptors and plays a big role in normal
blood sugar control. Scientists are only beginning to understand the details of the brain's role in normal insulin and glucose
control, diabetes, and the cognitive deficits associated with the disease. Better treatments for people with diabetes are sure to
follow.

Food addiction

2009-09-23T12:25:00.006-04:00

"Food might be the substance in a substance-abuse disorder that we see today as obesity," says Mark Gold, MD, chief of addiction
medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine. "If you ask some of the questions that are used to diagnose drug
abuse-for instance, 'Do you continue to use the substance despite its negative effects?' or 'Do you have a preference for more
refined substances?'-and then replace substance with food, it's not all that difficult to imagine that food addictions exist."

http://health.yahoo.com/weightloss-overview/are-you-addicted-to-food/prevention--23233.html

Food Cravings

2009-09-23T12:25:00.005-04:00

Our stomach hunger cycle begins with a hormone called ghrelin. When our bodies have burned up the food in our stomachs and our blood
sugar and insulin levels begin to drop, ghrelin communicates with the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus, housed in the
deep center portion of our brain cavity, regulates our basic body functions such as thirst, sleep and sex drive. Once it receives
the message, delivered by ghrelin, that we need to eat something to keep our bodies running, the hypothalamus triggers the release
of neuropeptide Y, which stimulates our appetites.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/food-craving.htm/printable

A banana a day keeps the doctor away

2009-09-23T12:25:00.003-04:00

Got this email today about the health benefits of bananas, which I eat regularly. Have no idea if it is true.

----------
Go Bananas
----------
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator. [Why?]

This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again..

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and
substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the
number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses
and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after
eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make
you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability
to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas
at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist
learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem
without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the
stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing
relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many
people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food
like chocolate and chips... Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in
high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by
snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady..

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the
only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation
by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature
of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and
magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water
balance.. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the
help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of
death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the
wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the
carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also
rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A
banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Pass it on to your friends
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the
INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.

Why we fall asleep after eating

2009-09-23T12:25:00.001-04:00

My question was why do I fall asleep after eating?

After reading all the previous articles, it seems the question should by why do we stay awake?

Biologically it seems we stay awake to eat and do the other activities that are needed to allow us to procreate and raise the next
generation to pass on our genes.

When we are hungry, a cell in our brain releases a chemical orexins (plus who knows what else) that keeps us alert so we can get
food.

Sugar blocks those cells from producing orexins. Apparently without the chemical to keep us awake, we get sleepy.

Avoid sugar and stay hungry if you want to stay alert.

Fats and nutrition

2009-06-04T02:24:00.001-04:00

Here is an interesting write up on fats and nutrition.
http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/OilsAndEFAs.html

Salmon made me sleepy

2009-06-02T02:09:00.001-04:00

Was alert, clear headed and filled a morning of energetic work. Snacked on almonds and raisons.

Went downstairs, made a fresh salad and had a piece of seasoned salmon. Ate the salad first and was still going strong.

Ate the salmon while reading a chess book. My mind starting getting foggy. Could not work any more and had to lay down. Had an
appoint and went there cloudy headed.

Do not know if it was the salmon or the seasoning.

Refined carbohydrates are not the only culprit.

Have been eating organic as much as possible to limit the chemicals that might be clouding my mind.

Thomas Edison avoided eating during the day for the same reason. That was more than a hundred years ago, so there were foods causing
problems then.

Probably there are natural foods that cause the mind to fog too.

Anti-inflammatory diet

2009-05-07T19:32:00.000-04:00

Lifestyle and Supplement Considerations Sanford H. Levy, MD

The epidemiological (population) data thus far indicates that those who get sickest from Swine flu and those who succumb to it are
predominantly 20-40 years old. Twenty to forty year olds are the same group which most frequently succumbed during the brief SARS
epidemic, as well as the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919.

A theory to explain why young, healthy individuals are more likely to succumb to these viruses is that it the cause of death is not
the virus itself, but rather an immune response to a foreign virus which leads to excess inflammation and what is labeled as
'systemic inflammatory response syndrome.' If this theory is correct, and I believe it is, it follows logically that an
anti-inflammatory diet may protect against death from Swine flu.

Many Westerners eat a diet considered pro-inflammatory. This is considered a part of the reason for the rising incidence of many
chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, coronary heart disease.

The general principles of an anti-inflammatory diet are to eat whole foods rather than processed food and 'fast food,' and to eat a
wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and whole grains. With regard to carbohydrate intake, one should maximize
dietary fiber intake, and minimize intake of high glycemic index foods and minimize intake of refined grains. With regard to fat
intake, one should avoid all trans fats, limit intake of saturated fat, consume plentiful amounts of mono-unsaturated fat, and
plentiful amounts of foods with omega 3 fats. Good sources of monounsaturated fat include olive oil (preferably extra-virgin) and a
variety of nuts and seeds. Fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, tunafish, and trout are rich dietary sources of
omega 3 fat.

With regard to protein intake, fatty fish, nuts and seeds, and legumes are all excellent sources of protein, and also excellent
sources of either omega 3 fat, monounsaturated fat, and/or fiber, all mentioned above as important elements of the anti-inflammatory
diet. Intake of poultry and red meat should be limited, or restricted to pasture fed poultry and cows. Pasture fed animals graze on
the grass, whereas most animals (including organic meat and poultry) are fed an unnatural diet consisting mostly of corn and soy.
Corn and soy are omega 6 fatty acids, found not only in meat but also in many processed foods. Optimal health is dependent upon a
balanced intake of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and the Standard American Diet (SAD) contains far too much omega 6 fatty acids
and far too little omega 3 fatty acids, and this likely contributes to a pro-inflammatory state in the body. Pasture fed meat
contains higher quantities of omega 3 fatty acids and lower quantities of omega 6 fatty acids, compared to 'ordinary' meat. Bison is
rich in omega 3 fat, as bison cannot be raised in close quarters like cows, and thus all bison are pasture fed (some bison are
topped off with corn and soy just prior to slaughter, as this practice creates meat more similar to cow meat and thus more palatable
to many Westerners).

A superb summary of the anti-inflammatory diet can be found in Appendix A of the book Healthy Aging, by Andrew Weil, MD (2005). A
more detailed narrative on healthy nutrition is posted on my web site, www.sanfordlevymd.com.

Based on the theory that an overactive immune response to certain viruses such as Swine flu triggers excess inflammation which can
lead to death, the dietary supplements most likely to be beneficial are those that reduce inflammation and those that modulate
immune response rather than stimulating it (a caveat is that an individual with a suppressed immune system due to AIDS or
prescription corticosteroids would probably benefit from immune stimulating supplements).

The primary anti-inflammatory supplement is fish oil, and specifically the EPA in the fish oil. Barry Sears, PhD, author of The
Anti-Inflammation Zone, states in this book that healthy adults should consume 2.5 grams of EPA + DHA in supplement form daily. I
believe that a healthy individual eating an anti-inflammatory diet needs only 1 gram per day of EPA +DHA, derived from either food
or fish oil supplementation. Flax oil is an omega 3 oil, but the molecule is 18 carbon atoms in length, and must be converted to
EPA, 20 carbon atoms in length, in order to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Published studies indicate that only 5-20% of alpha
linoleic acid in flax is converted in the human body to EPA, and thus flax does not have nearly the same anti-inflammatory effect as
fish oil. The percentage of alpha linoleic acid in flax which is converted to EPA will vary from person to person, and an
understanding of the biochemical pathways in the body leads to the conclusion that a person eating an anti-inflammatory diet will
convert a greater percentage of alpha linoleic acid to EPA than the person eating a pro-inflammatory diet.

Supplements which likely modulate immune system function include probiotics, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. While all of these
supplements can boost immune system function, it is my understanding of the mechanism of action of each that these supplements will
likely normalize the immune response in an individual who is experiencing an overactive response.

Why We Do Not Get Sleepy from Sugar

2009-02-12T13:29:00.002-05:00

When we are exercising our body is using the sugar in the blood to fuel our muscles.

There must be something in the process that supresses the release of insulin, since we are using the sugar.

If we eat sugar, the insulin is already being supressed, so we do not get a sugar crash.

This leaves the possibility of eating sugar during exercise creating high sugar in the blood, which is bad.

Why We Get Sleepy from Sugar

2009-02-12T12:58:00.005-05:00

Am guessing about this entire process.

1. High-glycemic foods immediately turn into sugar in the stomach and get absorded directly into the blood stream without going into the intestines.

2. Sugar you are not using in the blood is bad, as I know from my diabetic ex-girlfriend. Too much sugar in the blood damages the capillaries leading to failure of everything.

3. Since sugar is bad, your body has to protect itself. If it detects a certain quantity of sugar in the blood it releases insulin to rush the sugar out of the blood into fat cells.

4. When you eat, your body releases insulin both for what it detects and for what it anticipates is coming.

5. Your body evolved before there was refined sugar. A small amount of refined sugar looks like a large amount of unrefined sugar. For example, one cookie might look like a lot of grapes. While the cookie releases all its sugar immediately. The grapes release the sugar over time. Your body thinks a lot more sugar is to come. So, it releases much more insulin than is needed for the one cookie.

6. The extra insulin removes all the sugar from your blood. You have a sugar crash and pass out, plus get fat.

Cookies During Dancing

2009-02-12T12:54:00.003-05:00

Last night and frequently during dancing, I eat sweets, cookies and cakes.

Never get sleepy.

I guess the body does not react the same way when exercising.

During the day, all I do is sit at my desk, read and type.

Bow Tie Noodles Put Me to Sleep

2009-02-12T12:52:00.002-05:00

Had a late lunch yesterday of bow tie noodles, kasha, a little brisket and salad.

About a half hour later I passed out and slept for two hours.

I attribute it to the noodles turning into sugar.

Raisans, Celery, Humus No Problem

2009-02-12T12:51:00.001-05:00

Been eating raisans, celery and humus with no loss of energy.

Matzah Made Me Sleepy Again

2009-02-10T18:45:00.005-05:00

Had a small piece of matzah, only about a quarter of a piece. Ate it in the late afternoon. Had not eaten much all day. Ate it plain.

Was going to have it with peanut butter and jelly, but wanted to see what would happen. Fifteen minutes later, I was in bed, passed out. Slept for an hour and a half.

Albacore Tuna

2009-02-03T15:08:00.003-05:00

Having trouble concentrating.

Had not eaten much. About 3:30 in the afternoon. Ate some albacore tuna. See what happens.

--------------

Now 10:30 at night.

The tuna worked. About a half hour later was back to full steam writing software. My mind sharp. Able to work right through to dinner time without trouble.

So, we now know tuna is safe. Does not make me sleepy.

Potatoes Are Bad

2009-02-02T14:35:00.002-05:00

Already knew potatoes are high glycemic.

Had a good lunch, salmon, broccoli, vegetables and lots of potatoes. After eating, but still sitting at the table reading, started getting sleepy.

The culprit has to be the potatoes. Happened fast. This happened a couple of days ago too.

The potatoes have about the fastest reaction. Other high glycemic foods can take a half hour to an hour for a sleepy response.

Felt Energized, Ate and then Sleepy

2009-01-28T13:31:00.004-05:00

Was energized today before eating lunch. Am convinced diet is the reason. Sleeping well, alert, feel good. Had a banana and an almond cookie.

The cookie was risky, but I was going out, so thought the movement would hold off the cookie. Was fine.

Got home. Ate chicken strips (long chicken nuggets), green salad with humus, spoonful of organic peanut butter and lentil soup with added rolled oats and wheat germ.

After eating, while still at the table, was reading, and got cloudy headed and sleepy. What caused it?

As soon as I stood up and started moving, felt clearer.

As I sit at the computer and write, I feel a little sleepy.

Lost the Battle and Had to Lie Down

2009-01-26T19:51:00.002-05:00

Lost the battle against the sugar.

After a while, got tired interupting my work with exercise. Could not concentrate. Had to lie down. Lost two hours.

Back at work now and feel alert.

Exercise Is the Antidote

2009-01-26T16:11:00.003-05:00

Rather than give into the sleep induced in the last post, I started exercising.

My head cleared.

Seems exercise is the antidote to higlycemic foods making you sleepy.

Stopped exercising and started feeling sleepy again. Exercised more and my head cleared.

Vicious battle going on. Will see how this turns out.

White Rice, Juice or Both Made Me Sleepy

2009-01-26T16:08:00.005-05:00

Had the white rice and lentils for lunch today. Also had juice. Both white rice and juice are pure sugar.

Was alert and energized before eating.

Soon after eating, started feeling cloudy headed and sleepy.

What Food Stole My Brain Today?

2009-01-22T18:36:00.006-05:00

Was sharply alert and energetically productive.

Had a small bowl of barley soup and a vegetable medley over white rice with red lentils for an early lunch. Was still humming along.

Around 2:30 toasted a piece of organic, whole grain bread and thickly spread smuckers organic roasted peanut butter and blackberry jelly.

Picked up my niece from school.

Got in another hour or so of work and then the mind disappeared. Could not focus. Lied down and took a fitful nap for an hour and a half.

One or more of the items I ate was the culprit. I am on the case.

Kimchi

2009-01-19T20:52:00.002-05:00

Been trying to make Kimchi. Cut up vegetables and added salt. Put in a container, which has been sitting in my refrigerator for two weeks. Still not Kimchi.

Read the article linked in the title of this post and followed the links to Why Kimchi Is So Healthy and the Importance of Fermintation. Am suspecting my vegetables and salt need to ferment.

Filled a plastic bag with water and put it on the top of the aspiring kimchi. Put the lid on the container and stuck it back in the refrigerator. The point of the bag is to deprive the vegetable mixture of air and thereby oxygen, which is how to make it ferment, according to the article.

Will give it another week and see.

Sleep prevents colds

2009-01-13T17:34:00.002-05:00

There was an article in the Gainesville Sun today that said people who sleep eight hours or more get less colds. People who sleep under seven hours do not fight off viruses as well.

Eat healthy, get enough sleep, exercise. The formula is simple.

Matzah Made Me Sleepy

2009-01-02T16:31:00.004-05:00

Have been noticing for a while now, that sugar makes me fall asleep.

Had not eaten much today. Was feeling clear headed, alert and able to focus. About 2 pm, melted some swiss cheese on matzah and had some apple juice.

Sat down to see how Ole Miss was doing against Texas Tech, a possible preview of Florida Oklahoma.

Not long afterwards, became sleepy, my mind clouded, could not get up.

Suspect the matzah is coverted into sugar. Of course, the apple juice is all sugar too, but I think the main culprit is the matzah, since I have suspected the matzah in the past.