Don Adams, 78, USA

Age esteem is both for yourself inwardly and outwardly.  It is two different things.  One is esteem for yourself and the other is to encourage other senior folks to have high esteem for themselves.

One of my biggest concerns with aging is to not forget things. – To have the capacity to keep all the things going that I have a need to keep going for myself and my family.  I have the concern about being able to do that. – All the myriad of things that one does on a day to day basis.  If you lose track of some, the impact of not getting those things done, especially if you are the only person aware of the need to do it, may have an impact on family and friends.

One of my big concerns is to try to insure that I do whatever I can do day by day to contribute to the future life for my wife, Lynne, so if something were to happen to me she can have some reasonable life and not have a life of being in poverty.

Don’s Tips: Try to expand your sense of humor, not taking yourself too seriously.  Constantly evaluate and reevaluate all the things you have had that were important to you and things that you felt that you had to do and other people had to do to test those against reality.  Determine is this really true or do you need to rethink or re-evaluate?  Open up your thoughts, which I think is very important.  It’s not just thoughts; it’s all aspects of your life – not getting in ruts, not being willing to look outside the things you have been holding dear or sacred.

My advice to myself would have been to not have a double bypass operation.  I should have exercised more and watched my habits in eating, etc.   I would recommend that to other people. Unfortunately for some like with me this has taken place over my whole life time, so what is in my arteries is in my arteries.  Develop the skill and ability to communicate to people.  If you find me giving advice understand that if you chose not to take it that it’s ok.  You can do something with it or not do something with it.

You have to keep expanding your circle in all areas of your life whether it’s with people, skills, or whatever.  Keep trying to expand and not just live within what is familiar and what has been part of your life.  Do not say this is wonderful; it cannot be improved upon.  Expand in all areas.

Don Adams and his family have lived in Belgium and England as well as the USA.

Bonnie Fatio

This seems to be a month of action!  Not only is this the month of March, making you think of rhythmic steps and stomping feet. – It is also the month when Spring begins.

Rhythmic steps, stomping feet moving forward.  Add to this the leap and bounce of an upward spring.  This is clearly a month to move onward and upward with your age esteem.

Are you involved in regular physical activity that keeps you energized?  Physical exercise not only stimulates your body; it also keeps your mind alive.  Both increase your age esteem.

• Treat yourself to a daily walk.  Walking is one of the best exercises for your total well being, and the easiest.
• Join an aqua gym exercise class.  Water exercises are excellent and more gentle on your joints.
• Dance!  Research proves it to be one of the finest exercises for balance as well as being fun.  Dance to music at home or join a formal class.  Both are great options.
• Play with children.  Children seem to be constantly on the move.  You get exercise without even realizing it. – And it keeps your own inner child alive!
• Ride a bicycle.  Best is to ride outside on bicycle paths, but if this is not possible as stationary bike will do.  With the new outdoor electric bicycles, today you can ride up steep grades without hurting your joints.

Whatever you choose for physical action this is the month to commit to it.  Your overall health and age esteem will thank you.  When we feel good physically we are happier, healthier and more confident.

Bonnie Fatio

What came first – the chicken or the egg?  This question can be debated again and again but one thing is for certain.

According to the most recent research, eggs are very good for you.  Yes, eggs are healthy for you and more can be eaten than previously recommended as they are not linked to bad cholesterol.   There is no danger for most people to eat even two per day, according to one study, but even three or four per week would be beneficial.  This amount will not increase cholesterol levels or the risk of heart disease.

It is shown in several studies that eggs protect against the health risks which come with aging.

Eggs are rich in vitamin D, so needed for strong bones.  Two other substances, lutein and zeaxanthin, are found in them which help prevent macular degeneration and loss of eyesight as one ages, and control the development of cataracts.

Being very rich in protein with few calories, eggs are a valuable substitute for meat.  Memory is enhanced by eating eggs as well.  Finally, when you do eat eggs, you will feel full and thus eat less and thus lose weight!  Of course, they are beneficial when incorporated with other ingredients as well such as quiches or soufflés.

So, have eggs on hand all the time.  Eat eggs for healthy aging!

Grandma Nature

Beans, beans, the magical food; the more you eat the better your mood…

…. for your body will profit in many ways and you will feel great.  There are various types of beans – red kidney beans, white navy beans, green lima beans, brown lentils – and all are available in all parts of the world.  The beans, as opposed to string beans, are dried and have to be soaked before cooking, usually overnight.

They contain many nutrients and they have very little fat and thus no cholesterol.  Dried beans contain a lot of protein and can be substituted for meat or other high protein foods.  They regulate sugar in the blood and are important in controlling cardio-vascular conditions such as high blood pressure.   As they are very inexpensive, they can be eaten often and can be prepared in many different ways to vary meals.

Grandma Nature

PARMAGIANO REGGIANO

Mammamia!   What is this?

Actually, it is the Italian name for parmesan, the well-known, universally used Italian cheese so important in the cuisine of Italy.

Parmesan has a great quantity of calcium and is very low in fat, thus nearly no cholesterol.  This is a big contrast to most other cheeses which are high in fat.  Calcium, in addition to strengthening bones and teeth, is very important in controlling high blood pressure.

This cheese is also rich in protein and phosphorus and contains many vitamins.  It stimulates digestion and because of this it is very good for children.

Parmesan can be added to food during cooking or sprinkled on top of prepared dishes.  Aside from pasta, it is delicous in omelettes.  As cocktail food, serve small cubes of parmesan. It is very tasty, and the health benefits are enormous.

Parmesan is made in certain parts of Italy only, in the Parma region, and is aged for one to three years in cellars before being put on the market.   Add it to your grocery list and enjoy!

Grandma Nature

Acidity in food leads to joint pain making it more challenging to exude your age esteem.

Tackling the acid-alkaline composition of food is very complex.

It is known today that we all have too much acid in the body.  This enhances conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis and even cancer to name a few.  The problem is that nearly all foods are acid: meat, fish, cheese, eggs, and starch such as rice, pasta and oats.
The alkaline or non-acid foods are vegetables, some fruits and some nuts.  Anything green is alkaline and thus very healthy for you.  In fact, all vegetables are non-acidic except for tomatoes.  Potatoes are alkaline as well as dried fruits in moderation, except for apricots.  Only two kinds of nuts are known to be alkaline – almonds and brazil nuts.

With fruit it becomes complicated as well. The sweeter the fruit, the more basic or alkaline it is.  Bananas are alkaline. Strawberries and raspberries among other berries are acid; and one interesting fact is that lemon, once it is absorbed in the body, becomes alkaline.

Therefore, if you want to get rid of some aches and pains, try increasing the amount of vegetables eaten as well as the other alkaline foods mentioned above.

Grandma Nature

Watercress, what a lovely name. – And it does grow in water, being semi-aquatic.  Since modern medicine has existed, watercress has been considered a miracle vegetable as it is an aid in preventing and healing a number of conditions.

Watercress is a green salad type vegetable which can be used in various ways according to your taste and ingenuity. For example use it in sandwiches or mixed with other salads, or even on its own with a delicious vinaigrette. It has a peppery taste.

Calcium, iron and folic acid are important minerals found in watercress, and it is a potent antioxidant which is believed to help in controlling cancer cells.  It purifies the blood and kidneys. It eliminates metals from the body.  It is considered a powerhouse of good things for you with its minerals, vitamins and heart-preserving properties. It helps in reducing water retention which plays an important role in controlling cardio-vascular illnesses.

In addition it is loaded with the phytonutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin, which help prevent aging related changes in the eyes.  The amount of vitamin C is greater in watercress than in oranges and the iron content is higher than in spinach.  Rashes, eczema and other skin conditions are treated with substances containing watercress such as creams to be rubbed on the rash.

The moral to this story? – Always have some watercress within reach!

Grandma Nature

I’m not sure who wrote this; I received it from a girl friend over the internet.  We know that friends are precious at all ages and are important for our Age Esteem,  but this also has a special message for you men. – Marriage is good for your health!

“I just finished taking an evening class at Stanford.  The last lecture was on the mind-body connection – the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head  of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman whereas for a  woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.

At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time” helps us to create more serotonin – a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being.  Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities.  They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes.  But their feelings? Rarely.

Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health.  He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There’s a tendency to think that when we are “exercising” we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged—not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking!

So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. Sooooo, let’s toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it’s very good for our health.”

Inter-generational friendships are also important for our Age Esteem.

Bonnie Fatio

SAGE

It might be difficult to believe should one walk by a sage bush that it is such a valuable and versatile gift from Mother Nature.  In some parts of the world as in the south of France it may be found growing wild, so it is free as well as assuming one might pick a branch or two.

Probably the first thing one would think about sage is the Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey as it is an important ingredient in the stuffing.  It has healing powers too.  A hot sage gargle for sore throats and tonsillitis is recommended for curing these conditions   Add one or two teaspoons of dried sage to boiling water.  Then gargle!  The herb is not recommended for children due to the great amount of tannins found in it.

Actually there are two types of sage – Clary sage and Spanish sage, each with a different ability to treat symptoms.  Clary sage is efficient in combating stress or anxiety while Spanish sage is a more stimulating herb used in treating bronchitis, muscular aches and pains and poor circulation. Both treat conditions by baths, compresses, gargling and massage.

Used either in cuisine or for medicinal remedies, sage will bring comfort and joy to all.

Grandma Nature

Apparently being kind to others is not only good manners.  A recent Japanese study emphasizes it is also good for your health.

Holding the door for someone, saying a kind word of thank you, or showing your gratitude bring two positive outcomes.  According to this Japanese study you will feel happier and be healthier.  It is an easy and inexpensive way to reduce stress and avoid depression.

Being kind stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that has a positive effect on our humor, and reduces the secretion of cortisol which is a stress hormone.

So, to be healthier share your kindness and gratitude.  This is good news for people with age esteem, because they naturally show gratitude.

Bonnie Fatio