Rice is the second most consumed cereal, after wheat, worldwide and has been thus for hundreds and hundreds of years.  It is found in the diet of many civilizations.

There are hundreds of different varieties.  There is perfumed rice, long-grain rice, brown rice and red rice from the Camargue region of France.   Wild rice, however, is not a rice but a seed from a grass which grows in marshes in the Great Lakes district of the U.S.

The Spanish use rice in their national dish, paella; the Chinese eat bowls of rice with their delicious meat and fowl dishes; the Italians have their risotto; the Indians their curries; and rice is eaten as well with the Mexican meal chili con Carne.

What would we do without rice and its ease of cooking – steamed, boiled, baked?  Rice is also used in desserts as in a creamy rice pudding.

Its real asset, however, is the nutrition that it brings to the body.  It is not fattening and has no cholesterol.  It contains the vitamin B complex group, which is good for the nervous system, iron for the blood, magnesium and calcium so necessary for strong bones and teeth.   It has anti-cancer activity.  Of all grains and cereals it is the least likely to cause problems such as spastic colon.

Next time you are at the grocery store, pick up various kinds of rice and enjoy.

Grandma Nature

Teresa Kaufman, 56, France

When I heard the term AgeEsteem the first time I thought it is truly learning or knowing how to get older in life and enjoy it and respect it. – And enjoy yourself as you get older.

It probably brought that to mind more than anything else because I’m here in Chamonix, France at the foot of the Mont Blanc where you have some of the greatest athletes in the world of mountain climbing and trail running, paragliding, delta planning, base jumping and sking.  I’ve seen so many people here afraid to get old and who do everything that they can to hide it.  It’s sad to see because they’re not going to win that game.  All they can do is fool themselves, but they can’t fool their surroundings.  Instead of fooling themselves, they should flaunt it and get older more beautifully in a handsome way.

Teresa’s Tips: The wording of age esteem and self esteem is so appropriate because I think you have to truly love yourself in order to hold your head up high through all different points in your life.  It’s something that I always appreciated seeing.  You can see it in someone walking down the street, just by the way they walk, the way they hold their body, the way they present themselves to other people.  It’s the way they present themselves to themselves in the mirror in the morning.

Our esteem comes and goes with life and good days and bad days.  Yesterday I said to a friend, “Today I’m in love with life.  I’ve got to take a picture because it won’t be like this tomorrow.  Let me take this picture because this is how I feel today.”  It’s being sensitive to the wonderful things in your life.  That could be a breeze.  It could be the light just before the sun goes down.  It could be birds singing in the morning.  It’s as simple as that.  That will help you enjoy your life.  And you can do that anywhere and under any conditions.  It’s about being sensitive to your environment. It’s my recipie for getting old in life.

Teresa Kaufman is a photographer whose photos capture the essence of life.

Are ticks interested in older skin?  It’s possible that they are less interested, but I am living proof that they still find parts of a grandmother’s body succulent.

At my appointment for a quick follow-up to my annual checkup the doctor said to leave my skirt on.  He would just listen to my heart.  “Oh, no”, I said.  “I have something to show you!”  The evening before I had discovered that I had something uncomfortable on my backside, but it was not where I could see it   I wanted the doctor to tell me what it was, thinking that it might have picked up a tick walking in high grass to pick wild flowers with our two little granddaughters.  The doctor confirmed that it was indeed a tick.  The nurse removed it, a photo was taken (!) for research, and I was congratulated on having it removed properly.

Apparently the tick will still search out the soft skin of hidden areas no matter what your age.  Take a tick seriously.  Lyme disease is well known, and there are multiple other diseases borne by ticks.

• Learn about ticks in your area.
• Use a tick repellent and wear long trousers tucked into your socks when hiking in the forest or through high grass.
• Check your body for ticks if you have been in tick territory, including behind the ears and in your hair.
• If you have a tick, have a doctor remove it if possible.  If not,
• Remove a tick by pulling it straight out with a pair of tweezers close to the skin and save the tick in a plastic to show a doctor. Carefully wash and disinfect the skin where the tick was removed.
• If there is any swelling or redness, especially a bull’s eye, around the sore see a doctor immediately

Many of us remember Popeye and his advice to eat spinach in order to become big and strong!  Well, unfortunately, this is not exactly true.

Yes, spinach does have some iron but it also has oxalate, which prevent much of the iron from being absorbed by the body.  To counteract this, simply drink or eat something with the spinach that has a lot of vitamin C.  Red and green bell peppers, strawberries, cantaloupe, and Brussels sprouts are some sources. This is essential in helping the iron to be absorbed in the body.

There is still good news regarding spinach. Its dark green leaves are full of antioxidants which aid in preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer.  In addition, the vegetable is full of beta-carotene which will help in preventing eye diseases such as macular degeneration.

As some antioxidants are lost in cooking, it is very important to eat spinach raw or very slightly cooked.

Spinach Salad
Fresh spinach, washed
Add chopped hard boiled eggs, chopped red pepper, and garlic roasted croûtons.
Serve with a salad dressing of extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and a bit of mustard.

Yum.  So healthy.

Grandma Nature

Unfortunately, intense heat goes hand in hand with increased pollution.

Besides taking precautions to keep your body healthy during the heat wave, it will also be good for your age esteem to be proactive to help reduce the effects of pollution on everyone.

• Limit your use of polluting engines during the heat wave.
• Use your car as little as possible.
• If you do use your car, drive 20 km (12.5 miles) per hour less than the limit.

Many parts of the world are experiencing an important heat wave which promises to last.  Such intense heat can seriously affect your health and it is important to take precautions.

The 2003 heat wave provoked thousands of deaths in France, especially among older people who lived alone.  A heat wave has hit Europe again this year and governments are taking precautions to inform people of measures to take for their health.

As Age Esteemers is important for each of us to respect the negative effects that prolonged heat has on our bodies and to take our own precautions.  We are in control.

• Keep physical activity to a minimum between 11am and 9pm.
• Drink at least 1 1/2 liters (1.59 quarts) of liquid daily, especially water but also teas and diluted fruit juices.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeinated and sweetened drinks since they increase dehydration.
• Stay in an area that is cool or air conditioned at least 2 hours during the day and take cool showers.

Imagine the wonderful aroma of cinnamon when it is added to a dessert baking in the oven.  Do some of you remember cinnamon buns?

Cinnamon originated in Asia where it was discovered centuries ago in Sri Lanka. It is even mentioned in the Bible, as a perfume and as an anointing oil.

In desserts it is mixed with sugar, giving a sweet taste.  In some countries as in India it is added to main dishes of meat or other foods such as curries.

Cinnamon is  known to control type II diabetes. It stimulates insulin which in turn enables the body to process sugar more easily, thus needing less insulin. It is very efficient in soothing the digestive system when problems like indigestion occur.  It is also utilized in scents, especially men’s colognes but also in room fresheners.

Cinnamon toast
Mix even amounts of cinnamon and sugar
Toast slices of bread
When ready, spread with butter.
Sprinkle cinnamon mixture onto buttered toast and eat while warm.

Cinnamon on its own can be sprinkled on oatmeal or rice pudding.  Whenever consumed, it is very beneficial to us.

Grandma Nature

Ginger is a tropical plant originating in Asia.

Ginger has existed for thousands of years and used to treat certain medical conditions.  The most important use is against nausea and motion sickness.  It has even been proven that ginger can be more effective than some modern motion sickness drugs. Rheumatism and inflammation are also improved or cured with the use of ginger.  Fresh ginger may be used as well as the powder or even candied ginger, which can be eaten a half hour before travelling.  There is even enough in ginger snaps and ginger ale to bring relief.

The ginger root is  used as a spice in cooking.   Gingerbread and ginger snaps are both popular and deliciously healthy!  Fresh ginger is an ingredient found in Chinese cuisine.

The essential oil is used in aromatherapy by applying the essential oil in a massage, bath or compress. This helps relieve the pain of arthritis, rheumatism and inflammation.

So, next time you are out shopping, pick up some ginger in its various forms and keep it in your medicine chest as well as in your kitchen.

Grandma Nature

June 26, 2010

Today, 45 years later, we remain committed, continue to have dreams – and love is still alive.   We have grown together while encouraging and supporting each other in our separate endeavors.   Our family now includes two precious granddaughters.

Neither of us would pretend that there have not been difficult moments during the years.  That is part of  life.  And marriage is a relationship; it  takes commitment, understanding and dedication on both sides to flourish.

We celebrated this 45th wedding anniversary with a simple barbecue among friends and family, people who share our values and rejoice with us in the blessings of the moment.  Each of them has played a positive role in our lives over the years.

45 years is neither the beginning nor the end.  However it is a happy event to celebrate.

June 26, 1965

Forty-five years ago my husband Gerard and I committed ourselves to growing as a couple and founding a family together.  We were full of dreams.  We were in love.  Nothing would ever change that.

We met while I was doing my student teaching in St. Joseph, Michigan where he was working for a year with Whirlpool Corp. to learn the American way of doing business.  He was Swiss and had just finished his Engineering studies at the famous University of Technology in Zurich.   It wasn’t necessarily love at first sight, but there was a definite bonding that grew as we got to know each other and sparked that love .

He didn’t win me over with lavish gifts and flowers.  He did it fighting off imaginary dragons, flying kites, sailing, and blowing bubbles from the life guard stand.  Sunsets and walks on the beach gave us ample opportunity to get to know each other and to talk about the future.   It was often with laughter since his English was still rusty and my French was what I had learned in high school.  We learned to give the other the benefit of the doubt if something came out oddly. – Like the romantic evening that he told me I was a “witch” when he really meant that I was like a fairy God mother.

It may sound odd to younger people today, but this all created a solid foundation. – One that is lasting.