Tuesday, August 31, 2010
◯◯◯17 TINGS◯◯◯◯SIGHT BEYOND SIGHT◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯
Here's a list of the 17 vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements that research shows are essential for optimum vision and eye health...
The following list is in alphabetical order and not in any order of importance...
Essential Nutrient #1: Alpha-Lipoic Acid
(ALA), which has been called the "universal," "ideal," and "ultimate" antioxidant. According to the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, "What makes ALA special as an antioxidant is its versatility - it helps deactivate an unusually wide array of cell-damaging free radicals in many bodily systems."
ALA also helps "recycle" vitamins C and E and other antioxidants, thus making them much more effective.
ALA is thought to be a powerful weapon in the fight against the oxidative stress we encounter as we age. The incidence of eye problems such as macular degeneration, cataracts and pterygium (a fleshy growth on the cornea that can impede vision) increase dramatically as we age due to free-radical damage from factors such as smoking, poor nutrition, and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
Essential Nutrients #2 & #3:
Bilberry and Bioflavonoids
Bilberry is thought to improve night vision. A close relative of the cranberry, bilberry is high in a certain type of bioflavonoid that speeds the regeneration of rhodopsin, the purple pigment used by the eyes' rods. British air force pilots in World War II ate bilberry jam to improve their night vision during evening sorties.
Bilberry fruits, found in the forest meadows of Europe, western Asia, and the northern Rocky Mountains, contain flavonoid compounds called anthocyanidins.
Flavonoids are plant pigments that have excellent antioxidant properties; they have been shown to help prevent a number of long-term illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness in Americans age 65 and older, according to the eye-health organization Prevent Blindness America.
Essential Nutrient #4: Chromium
Dr. Benjamin C. Lane, O.D., from the Nutritional Optometry Institute in New Jersey, says, “Americans are getting less chromium and much more of its major antagonist, vanadium (a trace element) because of recent dietary trends to large marine fish and poultry.”
In numerous tissue testing and diet assessment studies that Dr. Lane has performed over the past twenty years he has found that “low levels of chromium are a major risk factor for increased intraocular pressure.” Chromium plays a large role in muscle contraction which is why this occurs when deficiencies are present.
And yet another negative effect of near-point activities like computer use, Dr. Lane reports that “the set of muscles we use more than ever before, are those that help focus our eyes.” He has conducted several studies that have shown that straining to focus over a period of time, does in fact increase intraocular pressure. But with proper amounts of chromium in your diet, focusing may be easier and less stressful to your eyes.
The body does not make chromium naturally, so it must be obtained through your diet. The best sources of chromium are beef, liver, eggs, chicken, oysters, wheat germ, green peppers, apples, bananas, and spinach.
Essential Nutrient #5: Copper Gluconate
Copper is an essential trace element that is required for the proper formation of collagen, a component of the connective tissues. It is found in various foods, including organ meats (especially liver), seafood, beans, nuts, and whole grains.
Copper gluconate, a readily absorbable form of copper, is one of the most important blood antioxidants, helping to keep cell membranes healthy and aiding red blood cells to produce hemoglobin.
Since the function of the blood is to carry oxygen and other nutrients, poor circulation causes decreased oxygen delivery - and subsequent damage - to tissues in different parts of the body; some of the most sensitive tissues to decreased blood flow and oxygen delivery include the brain, the heart, the kidneys, and the eyes. Over time, vision loss can occur.
Essential Nutrient #6: Eyebright
Eyebright has been used for centuries to treat eye irritation. Its Greek name, Euphrasia, comes from Euphrosyne, one of the three Graces, who was distinguished for her joy and mirth. The name is thought to have been given the plant because of its valuable properties as an eye medicine that preserved eyesight and so brought gladness into the life of the sufferer.
Eyebright is an antioxidant herb. Its antibiotic and astringent properties tighten membranes and mucus surrounding the eyes, effectively strengthening and improving circulation. Rich in vitamins A and C, eyebright also contains tannins that are beneficial for reducing inflammation.
Essential Nutrient #7: Ginkgo Biloba
The ginkgo is the oldest living tree species, growing on earth for 150-200 million years. No surprise, then, that it's one of the most well-researched herbs in the world. Studies have confirmed that ginkgo, a powerful antioxidant:
- Increases blood flow to the retina.
- Can slow retinal deterioration which results in an
increase of visual acuity.
Retinal damage has a number of potential causes, including diabetes and macular degeneration. Studies suggest that gingko may help preserve vision in those with macular degeneration.
Essential Nutrient #8: Glutathione
Glutathione is an amino acid that protects the tissues surrounding the lens of the eyes. According to Web MD, "It also has potentially widespread health benefits because it can be found in all types of cells, including the cells of the immune system, whose job is to fight disease."
Numerous studies link glutathione with the prevention of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disease, and diabetic blindness. Foods that increase glutathione levels include sulfur-rich foods such as garlic, eggs, asparagus, and onions, and glutathione-rich foods such as watermelon, asparagus, and grapefruits.
Essential Nutrient #9: Lutein (containing Zeaxanthin)
Lutein, found in our retinas, is essential for healthy vision. Lutein and a related dietary carotenoid, zeaxanthin (see entry below), accumulate within the retina and imbue a yellow pigment that helps protect the eye.
It lowers the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration (low lutein intake is implicated as a risk factor in age-related macular degeneration), and may also help to prevent or slow down atherosclerosis.
Lutein is found in the red, orange, and yellow pigments of fruits and vegetables; for example, tomatoes, carrots, and squash. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach also contain high amounts of lutein.
Clinical research has determined that lutein along with zeaxanthin are two naturally occurring carotenoids present in the macular segment of the retina.
The concentration of these two is so high in the macula (the retinal region responsible for fine visual activities), that the carotenoids are visible as a dark yellow spot, called the macular pigment, in normal, healthy retinas. They act like sunglass filters to protect the eye.
Research performed at Harvard Medical School has established that dietary zeaxanthin plays an essential role in protecting the retina of the eye from the damaging effects of light.
Epidemiologic studies have shown that people with higher lutein/zeaxanthin levels have reduced risk for advanced stages of macular degeneration.
Blue-eyed individuals need more lutein and zeaxanthin because they have less of these protective pigments in their retinas. Again, dark, leafy greens are the dietary winner here, along with corn, nectarines, oranges, papaya and squash.
Essential Nutrient #10: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
NAC is an amino acid similar in structure to cysteine, a building block of proteins. In our body, NAC helps stimulate the production of antioxidants by replenishing the body's levels of glutathione (see entry above).
NAC is thought to both stave off disease and play an important role in boosting the immune system.
Essential Nutrient #11: Quercetin
Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant, as well as a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory. It is a citrus bioflavonoid, a natural substance that helps protect capillaries, prevent bruising, and intensify the effect of vitamin C in the body - in fact, bioflavonoids are essential for total vitamin C effectiveness.
In a study of adults with symptoms of macular degeneration, moderate red wine consumption (a source of quercetin) offered some protection against the development and progression of the disease.
Dark berries, such as blueberries, blackberries, and cherries, are also high in flavonoids. Animal studies suggest that quercetin inhibits the activity of compounds that contribute to the development of cataracts.
Essential Nutrient #12: Rutin
Another bioflavonoid, rutin, is found in many plants, especially the buckwheat plant, the flour of which is used to make pancakes. Other rich dietary sources of rutin include black and green tea, and citrus fruits.
Rutin is considered to be an important nutritional supplement because of its ability to strengthen capillaries. The American Journal of Ophthalmology notes that rutin has been used with success to treat retinopathy in preliminary research.
Essential Nutrient #13: Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that our bodies need to boost immunity and fight off infections. It can also help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration by acting as an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that can damage the eye's lens and macula; studies have identified low selenium levels in cataract sufferers.
Selenium also helps your body to absorb vitamin E. Fish, shellfish, red meat, grains, eggs, chicken, liver, and garlic are all good sources of selenium, as well as brewer's yeast and wheat germ.
Essential Nutrient #14: Vitamin A
Known as the ultimate eye vitamin, Vitamin A is absolutely essential for eye and vision health. In our bodies, vitamin A is required by the retina for its proper functions - in fact, one of the two sources of dietary vitamin A goes by the name "retinoids."
The other source is carotenoids, obtained from fruits and vegetables containing yellow, orange, and dark green pigments, including that old standby, beta-carotene. When Mom told you to eat your carrots for good vision, she wasn't kidding!
Vitamin A is necessary for the production of rhodopsin, the visual pigment used in low light levels. One of the causes of night blindness is vitamin A deficiency; supplements of that vitamin are often recommended for those with poor night vision, along with a diet emphasizing Vitamin A-rich foods, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, mangoes, spinach, and cantaloupe.
Vitamin A also helps:
- Your eyes adjust to light changes
- Moistens the eyes, which can enhance visual acuity
- It has been shown to prevent the forming of cataracts
- It has been shown to help prevent blindness from macular degeneration.
Essential Nutrient #15: Vitamin C
Vitamin C's importance as an antioxidant cannot be overstated. The Web site All About Vision even calls this eye vitamin the "Vision Superhero"!
Vitamin C has been linked to the prevention of cataracts - one study has shown that taking 300 to 600 mg supplemental vitamin C reduced cataract risk by 70 percent - the delay of macular degeneration, and eye pressure reduction in glaucoma patients.
It's an interesting fact that, while most animals produce their own vitamin C, we humans do not have that ability. In addition, we can't store this vitamin in our bodies for very long, so it needs to be constantly replenished to obtain its benefits.
Most of us think of orange juice as the quintessential source of vitamin C, but many vegetables are actually even richer sources: chili peppers, sweet peppers, kale, parsley, collard, and turnip greens are full of vitamin C, as are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, watercress, cauliflower, cabbage, and strawberries.
Essential Nutrient #16: Vitamin E
Because of its antioxidant action, vitamin E helps protect against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. A clinical study has showed that taking vitamin E can cut the risk of developing cataracts in half. Another study also showed that the combination of vitamins C and E had a protective effect against UV rays.
Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency include muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, abnormal eye movements, and impaired vision.
Uveitis, an inflammation of the middle layer (uvea) of the eye, is another disorder for which the antioxidant vitamins C and E may be helpful. The uvea contains many of the blood vessels that nourish the eye; inflammation of this area can affect the cornea, the retina, the sclera, and other important parts of the eye.
The richest source of vitamin E is wheat germ. Dark green leafy vegetables (such as spinach, kale, and collard greens), sweet potatoes, avocado, asparagus, and yams are also good sources of vitamin E.
Essential Nutrient #17: Zinc
Our eyes actually contain the greatest concentration of zinc in our body. This essential element is required for the conversion of beta-carotene into vitamin A. If u eat meat, oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American diet.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tonight>>>In DC
The official after party for the 9:30 club show @ 9:30 Club featuring Nas, Damian Marley and Gyptian. Bless
Event Information
Monday August 30, 2010
9:00 pm - 2:00 am
18+
Cover: FREE
Cover Notes: FREE
Music: Reggae
Sunday, August 29, 2010
nEw mUse-TAYLOR MC FERRIN – TRACKS “EARLY RISER” (PREVIEW & FREE DOWNLOAD)
Taylor McFerrin stays consistent with his latest beat construction EP. Simple melodies and medleys as usual. Be well and listen.
Taylor McFerrin - Track Preview from EARLY RISER by Taylor McFerrin
How to remove RADIATION, mercury and other heavy metals from your body – safely and inexpensively||||
The presence of mercury, aluminum and other heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can cause a virtual breeding ground for yeast, fungi, parasites and pathogens in our digestive tracts. Many common health problems today, as mentioned in last month’s column, can be resolved by removing these metals and going on a yeast elimination diet.
To check for the presence of heavy metals, many people still go by hair analysis. However, most experts on heavy metal poisoning have determined that a urine analysis is more accurate since urinary porphyrins reveal the presence of mercury and other toxic metals by evaluating the porphyrin pathway.
Some people may be thinking that, since they do not have any mercury amalgams, this information does not apply to them. Wrong! Our food, air and water are constant sources of heavy metals. The ability of our liver to detoxify from the increasing amounts of metals we are exposed to depends directly on the nutrient content of our diets.
Chemistry professor Dr. Boyd Haley is an expert on mercury toxicity and wrote an article, "Concepts for Safe Human Body Mercury Removal." In this paper Dr. Haley stresses the importance of first utilizing natural vitamins and supplements instead of automatically using such chelating drugs as EDTA, DMSA or DMPS.
The most important supplements that will assist in your body’s ability to excrete mercury and other heavy metals are ascorbates (vitamin C), lipoic acid, methylcobalamin (Methyl B-12), B-6, magnesium, selenium, melatonin, methionine, and glutathione.
Mineral supplements such as Zeolite are also very helpful since our bodies tend to store heavy metals when there is a deficiency in bio-available minerals.
The following is from Dr. Deborah Baker’s website www.y2khealthanddetox.com:
"A recent research article published in the journal Radiology states that ‘radiation from a single whole-body scan is equal to that from 100 mammograms and is similar to that received by survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan—about 1 mile from the explosions—according to radiation biologist, David J. Brenner of Columbia University. The radiation from one scan is enough to produce a tumor in one out of 1,200 people and, for those who have annual scans, the risk increases to one tumor in every 50 people.’ With inadequate intracellular GSH the risk is greatly increased."
Dietary sources of GSH: Glutathione is synthesized from three amino acids - cystein, glutamate and glycine. Since most healthy diets rich in raw fruits and vegetables have an abundance of glutamate and glycine, the focus should be on dietary sources of cystein. Cystein content is relatively high in proteins found in red peppers, garlic, onions, brussel sprouts, oats, and wheat germ. Fruits and vegetables that are high in these precursors to GSH production are avocado, watermelon, asparagus, grapefruit, potato, acorn squash, strawberries, orange, tomato, cantaloupe, broccoli, okra, peach, zucchini, and spinach.
Avocado, asparagus and walnuts are particularly good sources. Cystein is also metabolized by the body in the presence of methionine, these two amino acids being the two sulfur-containing amino acids. Due to the stress our bodies are under dealing with the myriad of pollutants in today’s world, some say it is important to supplement. I am not a doctor but I disagree. Herbs and raw foods is the way.
Herbs for eliminating metals: There are several herbs that are useful in the elimination of heavy metals. Some say one should use pure vegetable glycerine to eliminate mercury; bladderwrack, a seaweed, for aluminum; potassium for excess copper; and horsetail (shavegrass) for lead.
Others have found that cilantro and chlorella are helpful for mercury elimination with many advocates making a delicious hummus or pesto using cilantro that includes lots of raw garlic.
Again, bio-available minerals are important and many herbs are excellent sources of these important nutrients. I use a formula that has been specifically designed for eliminating these heavy metals from the body. His "Heavy Mineral Herbal" formula contains bugleweed, cilantro, yellowdock and lobelia.
Another herb that is gaining popularity is turmeric, which contains curcumin. Using this "spice" in therapeutic doses has shown promise in treating Alzheimer’s patients, who are known to be loaded with both mercury and aluminum.
Liver Health: When on any detoxification program, it is essential to make sure your liver is also cleansed and protected. Milk Thistle is extremely important as are other blood purifying and liver cleansing herbs. We find taheebo (pau d’arco), barberry, dandelion root, chaparral, and red clover to be absolutely essential supports in the liver detoxification process.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
New Music : Flying Lotus – Pattern Grid World EP
Full tracklisting:
1. Clay
2. Kill Your Co-Workers
3. PieFace
4. Time Vampires
5. Jurassic Notion/M Theory
6. Camera Day (preview below)
7. Physics For Everyone!
Flying Lotus - Camera Day (taken from Pattern+Grid World) by Warp Records
Ant Colonies Shed Light on Metabolism|||||
The Study
A team of researchers led by James Waters of Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. conducted a series of experiments designed to measure the components of ant metabolism, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, in individual ants and in colonies of ants. The team studied 13 colonies of seed harvester ants taken from a nearby desert and housed in the university's research lab. By using flow-through respirometry and factors such as growth rates, patterns of movement, behavior and size, the team measured standard metabolic rates (i.e., energy expenditures) of the functioning colonies as well as in individual ants.
The researchers found that the metabolic rate of seed harvester ant colonies could not be predicted by adding and dividing the by-products of the metabolisms of all individual colony members. In fact, the colony as a whole produced only 75% of the by-products that its individual members would produce individually if each ant lived alone. Thus, the colonies' metabolism was less than the sum of all the individual ants' metabolisms.
The team also found that the larger the colony, the lower its overall metabolic rate. "Larger colonies consumed less energy per mass than smaller colonies," said Mr. Waters. "Size affects the scaling of metabolic rate for the whole colony."
Colony size appeared to influence patterns of behavior and the amount of energy individual ants spent. "In smaller colonies, more ants were moving fast, and there was a more even distribution of fast-moving ants," said Mr. Waters. "But in larger colonies, there were more ants that moved more slowly, and fewer that were moving really fast."
That the distribution of individual walking speeds became less uniform as colony size increased suggests that disparities in effort among individuals increased with colony size.
An Exciting Ratio
The 0.75 scaling exponent for colony metabolic rate strikes Mr. Waters as important because it indicates that colony metabolism is influenced in a way similar to what most individual organisms experience.
"As creatures go from small to large, their mass-specific metabolic rate decreases. It's a broad pattern in biology," he said. "When you graph these patterns, you can see how metabolism decreases as a creature gets bigger, and the exponent is usually near 0.75."
Yet a colony of ants experienced this decline as though it was one single "super-organism." Mr. Waters noted that the team isn't sure why this is so, but he has a few ideas.
"Ants need to stay in contact with each other in a colony, and it's possible that in larger colonies, certain ants take on the role of a network hub to keep the other ants in the colony more in touch with each other," he said. "That would relax the demand placed on the other ants."
He added that a larger size might afford a colony a division of labor not possible in a smaller colony. Individuals in a smaller colony would have to work harder to satisfy basic energy demands.
Implications
According to Mr. Waters, because ant colonies behave metabolically like individual organisms, studying how a colony's size changes its metabolism could offer useful insight for developing theories about medication dosage in humans.
"It's hard to figure out how size affects metabolic rate in individuals because it's not easy to change an individual's size," he said. "With an ant colony, it's as easy as adding or removing individual ants."
This is not to say that ant colonies function like individual humans. Rather, ant colonies could serve as a model for testing theories about the role of networks among cells in human metabolism.
"We've got this pattern where the larger an organism is, the slower its metabolism, and we don't really understand why," said Mr. Waters. "It's important to find out because we really don't have any sort of theoretical basis for deciding the right dose of medication. We can do charts on weight, and we can run tests on animals, but it's really more alchemy than science."
Mr. Waters presented his paper, Scaling of Metabolism, Growth and Network Organization in Colonies of the Seed Harvester Ant, Pogonomyrmex californicus, at the American Physiological Society's Intersociety Meeting Global Science: Comparative Physiology in a Changing World. The program is located at http://the-aps.org/meetings/aps/comparative/preprogram.htm.
Favela On Blast now Available for Purchase
Favela on Blast, the directorial film debut from Diplo and his partner Leandro HBL, is out now! Documenting the vibrant and innovative musical subculture that has emerged in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this film tells the story of Baile Funk through its producers, dancers, parties, mcs and singers. It's both an engrossing journey through the many pieces that have shaped this music, and also a telling portrait of present day life in the favelas.
Seaweed Rice Recipe☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀
If you don't know what to have for dinner tonight ...
Seaweed, also known as sea vegetables, contains a very broad range of trace minerals. I share this recipe with you not only because it complements so many entrees but it is a great way to add these nutrient-rich foods to your diet. Enjoy!
Seaweed Rice
Prep and Cook Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 medium pieces wakame, (2 TBS soaked and chopped)*
- 2 TBS chopped dulse seaweed
- 2¼ cups warm water
- ½ medium onion, minced
- 2 large cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 cup long grain brown rice
- salt and white pepper to taste
- *For more on Sea vegetables.
Directions:
- Chop garlic and mince onion and let them sit for 5-10 minutes to enhance their health-promoting benefits.
- Rinse wakame, and soak in 2½ cups warm water. After 5 minutes, squeeze out the water from the wakame and chop it. Save water.
- While wakame is soaking, chop the dulse.
- Heat 1 TBS of seaweed soaking water in a medium saucepan. Healthy Sauté chopped onion over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in garlic, rice, chopped seaweed, and soaking water.
- Bring water to a boil on high heat. As soon as it begins to boil, reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for about 35 minutes. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡⌡TRIPOD FISH
Tripod Fish are fish that have 3 extended “legs” coming out of their fins that allow them to stand still on the ocean floor.
▒▒▒▒▒ Senate Bill S510 Makes it illegal to Grow, Share, Trade or Sell Homegrown Food
Since the story first broke, a lot has happened. One reason for this could be that food is being poisoned. Collecting rainwater is now illegal in many states. Your intake is being controlled. For more information, visit the following articles as well:
"Raiding organic food stores. A sign of new times?" at: http://www.firetown.com/blog/2010/08/05/raiding-organic-food-stores-a-sign-of-ne...
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
fOr the lOve oF Collards!!!!As Long As There's Atmosphere....Eat From The Ground■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Long a staple of the Southern United States, collard greens, unlike their cousins kale and mustard greens, have a very mild, almost smoky flavor. Although they are available year-round they are at their best from January through April.
While collard greens share the same botanical name as kale they have their own distinctive qualities. Like kale, collards are one of the non-head forming members of the Brassica family along with broccoli and cauliflower. The dark blue-green leaves that are smooth in texture and relatively broad distinguish them from the frilly edged leaves of kale.
Dark, leafy greens are also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin C. Many of the greens contain appreciable amounts of magnesium (good for bone and heart health) and the B vitamin team of folate and B6 (also good for heart health).
Folate by itself offers a few additional health boosters. It helps in the production of red blood cells and in normal nerve function. And by helping to reduce homocysteine levels in the blood, it may help prevent dementia and bone fractures in people with osteoporosis.
These greens are also rich sources of phytochemicals, such as the carotenoid called lutein and lipoic acid. Lutein is proving itself to be a protector of vision -- helping to prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Lipoic acid is an antioxidant and also helps to regenerate vitamin C and vitamin E in the body. Because of the particular role lipoic acid plays in energy production, it's being investigated as a possible regulator of blood sugar.
To reap the benefits of all the nutrients in dark, leafy greens, include them often in your 21/2 cups of daily vegetables. They will be a boon to your health while helping with weight loss, since they are so low in calories.
- Baybutt RC, Hu L, Molteni A. Vitamin A deficiency injures lung and liver parenchyma and impairs function of rat type II pneumocytes. J Nutr. 2000 May;130(5):1159-65. 2000. PMID:10801913.
- Cohen JH, Kristal AR, et al. Fruit and vegetable intakes and prostate cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Jan 5;92(1):61-8. 2000. PMID:10620635.
- Ensminger AH, Ensminger, ME, Kondale JE, Robson JRK. Foods & Nutriton Encyclopedia. Pegus Press, Clovis, California 1983.
Globally√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√√
Think Globally!!!!!!!!!!
Postcards!
Luggage!
Passports!
Postcards!
Luggage!
Passports!
Siem Reap/Cambodia 2010 from Very Masa on Vimeo.
╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬Eating Berries May Activate the Brain's Natural Housekeeper for Healthy Aging
Shibu Poulose, Ph.D., who presented the report, said previous research suggested that one factor involved in aging is a steady decline in the body's ability to protect itself against inflammation and oxidative damage. This leaves people vulnerable to degenerative brain diseases, heart disease, cancer, and other age-related disorders.
"The good news is that natural compounds called polyphenolics found in fruits, vegetables and nuts have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect that may protect against age-associated decline," said Poulose, who is with the U. S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston. Poulose did the research with James Joseph, Ph.D., who died June 1. Joseph, who headed the laboratory, pioneered research on the role of antioxidants in fruits and nuts in preventing age-related cognitive decline.
Their past studies, for instance, showed that old laboratory rats fed for two months on diets containing 2 percent high-antioxidant strawberry, blueberry, or blackberry extract showed a reversal of age-related deficits in nerve function and behavior that involves learning and remembering.
In the new research, Poulose and Joseph focused on another reason why nerve function declines with aging. It involves a reduction in the brain's natural house-cleaning process. Cells called microglia are the housekeepers. In a process called autophagy, they remove and recycle biochemical debris that otherwise would interfere with brain function.
"But in aging, microglia fail to do their work, and debris builds up," Poulose explained. "In addition, the microglia become over-activated and actually begin to damage healthy cells in the brain. Our research suggests that the polyphenolics in berries have a rescuing effect. They seem to restore the normal housekeeping function. These findings are the first to show these effects of berries."
The findings emerged from research in which Joseph and Poulose have tried to detail factors involved in the aging brain's loss of normal housekeeping activity. Using cultures of mouse brain cells, they found that extracts of berries inhibited the action of a protein that shuts down the autophagy process.
Poulose said the study provides further evidence to eat foods rich in polyphenolics. Although berries and walnuts are rich sources, many other fruits and vegetables contain these chemicals ― especially those with deep red, orange, or blue colors. Those colors come from pigments termed anthocyanins that are good antioxidants. He emphasized the importance of consuming the whole fruit, which contains the full range of hundreds of healthful chemicals. Frozen berries, which are available year round, also are excellent sources of polyphenolics, he added.
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Chemical Society, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓Where / Now? > Afu Ra▓▓▓▓▓
Time tells tales of soldiers that disappear in the struggle.
|||||Mixtape: Lunchbox Theory Presents – Africa Africa Africa Pt.2
Africa Africa Africa pt. 1 took us into the continent, pt. 2 takes us into the future. The Globes very own, DJ Underdog, has shut it down again. Brought to you by Lunchbox Theory, this mix-tape gives you a little taste of what goes down at the sensational Afro-Beat for Ya Soul party. Africa Africa Africa pt. 2 features 10 afro-futuristic tracks from Fela Kuti’s body thumping “Zombie” to Die Vögel’s “Empire”. This rhythmic compilation is a bit darker than the usual sounds Lunchbox Theory shares, providing a modern take on the Afro-beat sound.
on sinéad o'connor/universal links
The mystique and diversity of artist, songwriter and activist Sinéad O'Connor has garnered her fans since her debut album, The Lion and The Cobra dropped in the late 80's. In the early 90's, there was the beautiful single Nothing Compares To You and then there was This Infamous SNL Performance.
From the start, her music has explored global themes such as pain, war, love, religion, spirituality, addiction & poverty. In a 1997 article, she was quoted: "I'm not a Buddhist. As I say, if anything, I'm a Rasta. I study many religions. I've always been religious and into religions," she said. "But I hate the term 'ism' being attached to anything."
In former years, she'd been very public about her dis-ease, diagnosed as bi-polar disorder. In 2003, she announced her retirement from 'pop music'. She retreated from the media and spent some time in Jamaica. She re-emerged in late 2005 after recovering from a bout with fibromyalgia with the all reggae covers album Throw Down Your Arms. It was released on October fourth, forty-two years after the speech of Haile Selassie to the United Nations, on the day of the annual solar eclipse. She credited and exalts Jah and the Rasta community for her healing from bi-polar disorder and fibromyalgia; donating a percentage of the proceeds from the release to the elders of the community. My favorite song from the album is her version of Peter Tosh's Downpressor Man. She goes in... .
the album titles' really, really good inspiration
interesting cover art
While searching for the SNL pic, I stumbled across this blog that links Bob Marley & Sinéad astrally. I'm not familiar with the science but, perhaps you are.
PEACE!
Who were you in your last life? ? ?
My past life diagnosis was:
I don't know how you feel about it, but you were female in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere in the territory of modern Brazil around the year 1125. Your profession was that of a digger, undertaker.
Your brief psychological profile in your past life:
Person with huge energy, good in planning and supervising. If you were just garbage-man, you were chief garbage-man.
The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:
You are bound to solve problems of pollution of environment, recycling, misuse of raw materials, elimination of radioactivity by all means including psychological methods.
Do you remember now?
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Quenepa
I was at the Berkeley Bowl grocery store , the best ive been to EVER.... and my jaw dropped when i saw these tiny, slimy, tangy, little fruits of goodness !!! In Puerto Rico we had our very own tree to get them from and i would spend all summer in the backyard picking and eating them ! So to find them out here in CA was awesome.
Heres a couple things I found about them ....
"Virgin Islanders sometimes eat genip or kenip fruit to alleviate diarrhea,4 and Haitians sometimes consume powdered roasted genip seed syrup or tea for the same purpose.3 Virgin Islanders have also been known to take a decoction of genip leaves and stems orally for coughs and fever.4 In Haiti, the macerated juice of genip leaves is gargled to relieve sore throat, thrush, and tonsillitis.3 A decoction of genip leaves is also drunk in the Bahamas to lower blood pressure.5
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