Watermelon Spritzer

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Watermelon is in season, and it could not be more refreshing. Did you know that watermelon is a nutritional powerhouse? According to Paul Fassa at Naturalnews.com, "Watermelon has the most nutrition per calorie of common foods." A few of the benefits include:

Besides tasting great and being low in calories because watermelon is mostly water, it is an excellent source of Vitamin C, which a major antioxidant. It has a high beta carotene concentration, thus offering a fair amount of vitamin A as well. Both beta carotene with vitamin A help support good eyesight and prevent glaucoma.

To learn more about watermelon's nutritional properties, check out this article at Naturalnews.com.

Besides being delicious plain, it also makes a refreshing and easy summer drink. Try making a watermelon spritzer for a fun, seasonal treat.

Watermelon Spritzer recipe from CDKitchen
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pound watermelon
2 cups sparkling water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 ounce lime juice

Preparation:

Cut pulp from watermelon and remove seeds. Put in a blender with water and salt. Blend until smooth. Add lime juice; may add more water if desired. Serve with ice

All About Nutrition- By Greg Gorman

The more I research, the more studies conclude that nutrition, proper diet, and exercise help to prevent many diseases. So, today is all about nutrition. Here are 3 interesting facts and helpful hints offered on Dr. Carroll Parish's News and Views blogsite at: http://carrollsviews.blogspot.com/

THE POWER OF CINNAMON

"Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics, a new study has found. The effect, which can be produced even by soaking a cinnamon stick in your tea, could also benefit millions of non-diabetics who have blood sugar problems but are unaware of it. The active ingredient in cinnamon is a water soluble polyphenol compound called MHCP. In test tube experiments, MHCP mimics insulin, activates its receptor, and works synergistically with insulin in the cells. In a study using Pakistani volunteers, cinnamon also lowered blood levels of fats and "bad" cholesterol, which are also partly controlled by insulin. And it also neutralized free radicals, damaging chemicals which are elevated in diabetics. Cinnamon's essential oils also qualify it as an "anti-microbial" food, and has been studied for its ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi, including the commonly problematic yeast Candida. So, start using that cinnamon!"

Low Vitamin D Levels Could Cause Liver Disease

by Dr. Simi Paknikar
"We are all aware that low levels of vitamin D can cause weak bones. A recent study indicates that it could be associated with liver disease as well! Researchers claim that low vitamin D could be one of the reasons behind the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD occurs due to accumulation of triglycerides in the liver cells. Outpatients of suspected metabolic syndrome with normal liver enzymes, no excessive alcohol intake, negative for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, no cirrhosis or chronic liver disease were subjected to liver ultrasound to estimate the presence and degree of fatty liver disease. 25(OH) vitamin D levels were measured to estimate any deficiency of vitamin D. The researchers found that patients with NAFLD had low levels of 25(OH) vitamin D. They also found that the lower 25(OH) vitamin D levels, the worse is the degree of fatty liver disease. This association was independent of other possible influencing factors like age, sex, triglycerides, HDL and fasting blood glucose levels."

Finally, one last helpful hint for today:

DIETARY FIBER

You don't usually see it or taste it, but fiber works wonders for your body. Dietary fiber is a known cancer fighter found only in the cell walls of plant foods. For years, studies have pointed to the fact that increased fiber intake decreases the risk of colorectal cancer. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (1999) this protective effect may be due to fiber's tendency to add bulk to your digestive system, shortening the amount of time that wastes travel through the colon. As this waste often contains carcinogens, it is best to removed it as quickly as possible. The Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1999) reported that fiber may also help protect against breast cancer, an effect noted especially with consumption of whole grains and wheat bran. Studies indicate that that high amounts of fiber may also prevent breast cancer by binding to estrogen. When bacteria in the lower intestine break down fiber, a substance called butyrate is produced which may inhibit the growth of tumors of the colon and rectum as reported in the Journal of Oncology Research in 2000. Fiber may also have a protective effect against mouth, throat and esophageal cancers according to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2001. Most Americans only take in about 10-15 grams of fiber per day. However, studies have shown that to have a cancer preventing effect one needs about 30-35 grams per day. So what should we do? Eat more vegetables!

For more hints on nutrition, visit: Dr. Carroll

Deep Breathing: An Effective Tool for Stress Relief

Sometimes relaxing is much easier said than done. We all know that stress is part of life, and that if it goes unchecked, it can be destructive to your health. Helpguide.org states:

When stress overwhelms your nervous system your body is flooded with chemicals that prepare you for “fight or flight”. While the stress response can be lifesaving in emergency situations where you need to act quickly, it wears your body down when constantly activated by the stresses of everyday life. The relaxation response puts the brakes on this heightened state of readiness and brings your body and mind back into a state of equilibrium.

Fortunately, there are ways to intentionally help your body relax, and deep breathing is a powerful tool to do this. The Pioneer Woman has an excellent post on how to effectively do soft belly breathing. Check it out here.

See other information from Helpguide.org on effective ways we can all use to reduce stress here.

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Planning Activities for Loved Ones with Dementia

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Planning and doing activities with a loved one who has dementia can provide meaning and encouragement to both the memory-impaired individual and his/her caregiver. Finding activities that are well-suited for your loved one can be challenging but it is rewarding when you have a positive experience. The Alzheimer's Association has provided tips and guidelines in their online brochure, "Activities at Home." You can read the whole brochure by following this link.

Some helpful information that has been pulled from this brochure includes:

 

Effective activities:

• Bring meaning, purpose, joy and hope to the

person’s life

• Use the person’s skills and abilities

• Give the person a sense of normalcy

• Involve family and friends

• Are dignified and appropriate for adults

• Are enjoyable

10 quick tips for activities at home

1. Be flexible and patient
2. Encourage involvement in daily life
3. Avoid correcting the person
4. Help the person remain as independent as possible
5. Offer opportunities for choice
6. Simplify instructions
7. Establish a familiar routine
8. Respond to the person’s feelings
9. Simplify, structure and supervise
10. Provide encouragement and praise

 

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Bird Feeder Activity

It can be relaxing and enjoyable to observe nature. Bird watching is an activity that almost anyone can do. The following is a simple, affordable and effective way you and your loved one can make a bird feeder. Young family members would also enjoy doing this and learn about nature by doing so.

Materials for this project include:

• A large open pine cone
• Peanut butter
• String
• Birdseed
• Resealable plastic bag

To make the bird feeder:

• Spread peanut butter all over the pine cone.
• Put the bird seed in a resealable plastic bag and put the peanut butter-covered pine cone in the bag. Shake to cover with seed.
• Put the pine cone in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes to firm-up the peanut butter and make the next step more manageable.
• Tie a string around any part of the cone (I use the mid section) and secure the other end of the string to a tree branch, hook or other object in view.

Watch as birds find your feeder and enjoy the meal you left them. Identify what species of birds you have attracted and see if you seem to have any "regular visitors". Cornell has put together a great resource to identify common feeder birds. You can access their website by clicking here.

Hopefully today's post may help create moments of joy by spending time together and creating something that will inspire fun and conversation.