Broccoli

In a word-broccoli denotes thoughts of healthy food with great medicinal benefits. In fact a new study from UCLA found that the compound sulforaphane found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may help prevent respiratory inflammation and diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. How does this work? The compound seems to increase the production of enzymes in the airway that protect us from everyday pollution, smoke and other substance that cause tissue damage. Broccoli sprouts are the richest natural source of sulforaphane and in the study of 65 people who received varying doses, researchers found a two to three-fold increase in the anitoxidant enzymes that protect us.

The study was published in the March issue of Clinical Immunology.

Friends and health

Researchers are paying attention to the importance of friendship and health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. Last year,a study from Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties may promote brain health as we age.
Yet, I am not happy with the kind of friend I am. Perhaps I am too picky and impatient to appreciate my friends. I have let too many friends go and I regret it now as I age and understand the difficulty in making friends. Friends keep us well and happy. We can have fun because friends are less judgmental and our relationships are not as complicated as family relationships. I am going to work on my friendships because I must be missing something and I want to find it.

Health and friendship

The more friends we have the better our health and Tara Parker Pope writes about it well in her article in the nyt.

What Are Friends for? A Longer Life

It seems that the more friends we have the longer we live and the better our health outcomes. I am convinced. My friend Allison has cancer for the 4th time and yesterday our group of eight, met, cried, cooked and laughed. This appears to be the best medicine we could offer and ParkerPope points to research to support my claims.
Friends are better than family it seems and maybe because you can reinvent yourself ignoring childish flaws and foibles.
So friends, thanks you add time to my life.

Walk, rest, eat but not too much

Lose 15 lbs Fast-No Hunger Ever, A Gorgeous New You; Instant Pain Cures; Stop Cancer; A Flat Belly in 10 minutes; snacks that boost Metabolism, Best ways to melt stress; Complete plan for Lasting Weight Loss and 159 new fat-burning secrets. A headline page for Health Magazine promising the world of health in just 123 pages of pictures and blurbs. I like the push. We take it in with gusto although some people literally hate the whole thing.

I wish the hints beneath the cover were new information, interesting, easy to do changes worthy of passing on to clients. But ya know, its all a haze. Nothing so simple, no plans so easy, some intersting info, but not for me. Save your cash and take some really simple advise. Walk, rest, meditate, eat well but not too much and smile. Be well.

Loud, long, fast

Someone broke a string on the violin bow. I asked Drew, my 12 year old, "Did you break the string on the violin. He replied in true deniable fashion, "It wasn't me. Drake saw me holding it, but it was him. He played it as loud as he could, as long as he could and as fast as he could and it broke. "

I actually believe Drew. My elder son does do things loud, long and fast. What energy and a true dicotomy-a Gemini by birth and style. I think of long and fast as opposites, but they certainly are not. Think of a fast marathon runner or a long, stressfilled fast car ride. One is slow but fast and one is long but seems to "last forever. " Time molds for people. Perception molds our health and wellness. How we see things changes our minds and we are in control of how we perceive. It takes work, as do all worthy things.

Tomorrow is Wednesday. My first day of meditation class at Parkpoint. I must go and of course I resist. Not tomorrow though. I insist.

I am quiet, long and moderate in my dealings. My job, now that I recoginize it, is to make the best of it. It is simply that simple. Be well.

Wellness not war

There are so many things in this world out of our control that cause pain and suffering. Why then do human beings create chaos with bombs and guns? Think Isreal and Palestine these days and suffer for their losses. Is land so much more important than life? Seems so. I heard on the radio this morning these words from one of the leaders. He said, "A certain amount of civilian death is okay as long as it brings peace." What????????? There are diseases and accidents, earthquakes and floods for which we have little control. I wonder when human beings will have the restraint for peace? God help us.

Wellness in Isreal and Palestine eludes society. Their anger strongly outweighs their peacefulness. Without that how can they be well?