Friends at the 50th reunion reinforced studies I have read.  Those who were aging well were not necessarily the most physically fit and healthy.  Instead they were the ones with healthy attitudes.  Cancer, strokes, pain, paralysis and bankruptcy did not hold these healthy attitudes back.  Rather they were the ones we sought out first.  They exuded age esteem.

• We were drawn by their contagious laughter.
• They were genuinely interested in listening to the stories of others.
• They embraced the opportunity to play, to release their inner child.
• Their health was a minor event in their life story which was filled with family, friends,  accomplishments and contributions.
• They dwell on the positives of life.

Bonnie Fatio

Cranberries

When one sees this cute little fruit many happy times come to mind such as holidays with cranberry sauce to complement a delicious roast turkey.

Cranberries grow on vines in bogs in northern North America.  There are vast areas in which the cranberry bushes are covered in water when harvested.  What a sight to behold! – A beautiful red sea of small, round balls bobbing up and down.  The American Indians used them to prevent and to treat infections of the urinary tract and  today cranberries are known as a wonder solution for cystitis.  They also aid in improving various digestive problems.  Liver, kidney and blood conditions are also improved or healed with the utilization of the cranberry.  In addition it has anti-inflammatory properties.

Cranberry got it name from “craneberry” because its pink flower was thought to resemble the head and neck of a crane; hence craneberry.  The berries are first white, then pink and finally become a glorious red. They are of the same family as the blueberry.

In addition to cooked cranberries in jams and sauces, cranberry juice and dried cranberries are easily available today in supermarkets.  Dried, they can be added to cereals, eaten as a snack or sprinkled on top of a green salad to give a festive appearance.  In whatever form they are consumed, they will bring you health along with happiness!

Grandma Nature

A cucumber sandwich might make one think of England; or is it the other way around? –  England makes one think of a cucumber sandwich?  The Ritz in London among other fine English hotels is famous for its high tea.   Sometimes reservations have to be made two months in advance.  In any case, it is certain that the cucumber sandwich, thinly sliced cucumbers in between very fine slices of buttered bread with the crusts removed, is a landmark of English food.

The elongated green vegetable is a powerhouse of valuable components.  It belongs to the same family as the  zucchini  and melon.  When choosing a cucumber look for a firm, shiny one with a smooth skin.

The skin is valuable in facilitating digestion.  Vitamins A, B, and C are substances found in this tasty vegetable as well as Vitamin E which helps to slow down the aging process in the body. In beauty products cucumber is a known component in facial remedies for rendering the skin smooth and shiny.

Cucumbers are, of course, eaten raw in salads and sandwiches but can also be sauteed for a lovely accompaniment to a meal.  So, especially in summer when they are fresh and in season, stock up on fresh cucumbers and benefit your health.

Grandma Nature

Is it a fruit or a vegetable?  Actually, the pear-shaped avocado is a green tropical fruit.

However, it is not sweet but full of fat – good fat. That is why it is so valuable in preventing cardio-vascular disease; it benefits arteries and lowers cholesterol.  A powerful antioxidant, glutathione, which is an important source found in the avocado, is shown to block the onset of many carcinogens. And the avocado is rich in vitamins E and B as well as potassium, magnesium and amino acids.

Avocado is used in face creams and bath products because it renders the skin soft and smooth.

On the culinary side, it is adaptable to salads, as a dip, or as a dessert when sugar is an ingredient in the recipe.

Tip: If prepared in advance for a dip and it may become brown. Keep the pit in the avocado, and it should remain green.  Lemon or lime juice will also help.

Grandma Nature

Unfortunately being older does not make us immune to stress.  In fact it may bring even more as we juggle grandchildren and caring for our own parents while trying to carve out time for ourselves.  We are told that there is good stress and bad stress, but it might be better to have no stress at all!

Mother Nature provides us with many effective aids to combat stress.  A lovely walk in the countryside or in the mountains or along a river will lower blood pressure, oxygenate your body and enable you to forget your worries and problems.  Depending upon the season, there is much to see such as trees and flowers in blossom and vegetables bursting forth in all their colorful glory.  How beautiful it is to see a field of sunflowers, bright yellow and tall, all having turned their heads to look at you as you pass by.  They might make you laugh and this is “the best medicine”.  In colder months, we see the beautiful colors of turning leaves, and even in winter we can be refreshed when outside and getting physical exercise. Just looking at nature soothes the soul.

Regardless of the season being in the warm sun for a while can calm you as well.

Also to soak in a warm bubble bath, preferably with relaxing oils such as lavender, chamomile, jasmine, rose or sandalwood will do wonders for your well-being.

A swim in the ocean will increase endorphins which will give you a euphoric feeling.

Studies have shown that sugar and low-fat carbohydrates are very effective in lowering anxiety. This is due to a chemical reaction in the brain.  Sugar works more quickly than carbohydrates but both successfully create a calming effect, and even chewing gum aids in relieving anxiety. When feeling overwrought and overburdened just have some chocolate, other sweets.

Finally to end a stressful day there is nothing more rewarding than a delicious meal and a glass of wine, again bounties coming from the earth.  So, enjoy and no longer feel stressed. – Just take the time!

Grandma Nature

Mother Nature entices us to try all of her fruits and vegetables with their bright and various colors when we see them displayed at outdoor markets and food shops. Their beautiful colors mingled together remind us of a secret garden, all in bloom.

Today it is known that these colors, phytonutrients, are beneficial in preventing heart disease and cancer, among other illnesses.  The darker the color the more important they are to the body. Yellow and orange vegetables are full of vitamin A and beta-carotene, a wonder drug in preventing cataracts and retina problems. Vitamin A is known to help control lung cancer.

What is even more important is to combine them together and eat various colors at the same time.  This is easily done, for example, with a mixed salad of dark red tomatoes, bright orange carrots and bell peppers, dark green lettuce and white onions and garlic which enhance the immune system and increase memory capacity.

Dark blueberries and blackberries are full of a nutrient effective in helping to offset the anti-aging process as well as circulatory problems.  And these precious little berries can be mixed with other fruits of a different color.

A couple of dishes consisting of several different colored vegetables are ratatouille and a tomato, mozzarella and basil salad. Just use your imagination when shopping and pick up whatever you find in season. Your body will then be filled with valuable nutrients to keep you fit.

Grandma Nature

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

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.