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Thinkfood – Brain Healthy Foodie Cookbook

Kathleen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:17:02 +0000

Being quite fond of cooking (and eating) you can imagine how excited I was when I learned of Thinkfood, a Food Blogger cookbook project collaborated with Posit Science.

The Thinkfood cookbook features 50 delicious, original, brain-healthy recipes, each created by a different food blogger. In addition, what is even more exciting is anyone can sign up for the Recipe of the Week program. With this, you receive and preview a tasty new recipe from the cookbook, delivered to your inbox every week…. Imagine getting fifty brain healthy recipes free! Included is information about the foodie blogger who created the recipe, exclusive cooking tips, and the science behind the brain healthy foods and nutrients in the recipe.

photo - Carrots 'N' Cake: carrotsncake.com

The first week ThinkFood shared with me this awesome Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie by Tina Haupert and this week the recipe is a main course dish, Garlic Salmon over Spinach by Kristen, author of Dine & Dish.

The ThinkFood area of Posit Science has a whole host of information is offered regarding brain healthy foods in addition to the weekly recipe. Below is as excerpt from the ThinkFood glossary:

“Sage – Sage has long been thought to have medicinal properties, and current science has borne that out. Administration of sage or sage extracts has been shown to improve memory, attention, and mood in healthy young adults, and may improve outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease. Reference: 23

23. An extract of Salvia (sage) with anticholinesterase properties improves memory and attention in healthy older volunteers. http://bit.ly/ThinkFoodSage1

The pharmacological effects of Salvia species on the central nervous system. http://bit.ly/ThinkFoodSage2

Effects of Salvia officinalis L. (sage) leaves on memory retention and its interaction with the cholinergic system in rats. http://bit.ly/ThinkFoodSage3

Medicinal plants and Alzheimer’s disease: Integrating ethnobotanical and contemporary scientific evidence. http://bit.ly/ThinkFoodSage4

Salvia lavandulaefolia (Spanish sage) enhances memory in healthy young volunteers. http://bit.ly/ThinkFoodSage5

Positive modulation of mood and cognitive performance following administration of acute doses of Salvia lavandulaefolia essential oil to healthy young volunteers. http://bit.ly/ThinkFoodSage6 ”

I thought it interesting to learn that Sage may improve the memory. This is a helpful tip for those approaching middle age. Being a bit beyond that, I have noticed that my memory is not what it used to be. Perhaps I should load up on the Sage?

Kathleen

Hey, there I'm Kathleen. My friends call me Kathy; to my kids I'm Momia. Life has afforded me many hats: Mom, wife, sister, friend, business owner... and most recently a midlife blogger. From college to marriage and babies, in the midst of business and wealthy boomers, midlife retrospection validates this extraordinary journey called life.

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Weight Loss Super Foods

Kathleen — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:58:41 +0000

Eat more of these foods and weigh less, sounds somewhat crazy. According to Self magazine, the right foods aid in dropping pounds by accelerating calorie burning and curbing cravings.

The top twenty weight loss super foods listed include steak, eggs, kale, oats, lentils, Goji berries, wild salmon, apples, buckwheat pasta, blueberries, almond butter, pomegranates, chilies, yogurt, quinoa, sardines, tarragon, Parmesan, avocado, and olive oil. Plenty of high fiber and high protein foods included however, the list is rather surprising to me. A first glance the list appeared to be foods that supported weight gain not loss.

Avocado is one that stood out the most. I always thought they were high in calories and fat. Turns out the fat in an avocado is mono saturated or a “heart healthy” fat and the filling factor from an avocado creates a productive weight loss aide.

As for the chilies, oh boy I so adore chilies. In fact, spicy foods in general are my favorite. The article claims that chilies boost the metabolism and burn extra calories for twenty minutes after being eaten.

Eating lentils helps to stop insulin spikes. When insulin spikes the body creates excess fat cells whose target area is the abdomen. Additionally, lentils are a superb source of fiber and extremely satisfying.

Dieting is a very tough venture to partake. My hubby lost over fifty pounds in the last ten months. This article is a rather impressive list of weight loss super foods with significant supporting facts in my opinion. Go to self.com in the food and diet section, keyword super food to read this and numerous other super food articles.

I am a firm believer that healthy foods and exercise are the way to loose weight. Many others believe supplements like Lipofuze work. What do you believe is the proper weight loss plan?

Kathleen

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Multivitamins and your skin care

Kathleen — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:54:13 +0000

Are multivitamins effective as part of a skin care regiment? Is the condition of your skin a major concern for you as far as the signs of aging go? Consider the following facts:

The best Anti aging Vitamins to choose are ones that contain the antioxidants Vitamin C, A, B6 and B12, and most importantly, Vitamin E. Vitamin E has been shown to be the most effective “Anti aging vitamin” to date; it prevents many common diseases and reverses wrinkling skin that occurs from sun exposure. Taking 400mg of vitamin E a day has been shown effective enough to reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity and texture.

Vitamin A – According to Dr. Eugene S. Bereston “the beneficial use of Vitamin A began almost with the discovery of the vitamin.” The doctor also noted that the first asset of vitamin A is its ability to stimulate growth. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that vitamin A is vital to the health of the skin and eyes. They recommend a daily dose of vitamin A. Vitamin A enriched foods include citrus fruits, carrots, tomatoes, yellow squash, and pumpkin. Vitamin A applied to the skin topically with creams can promote cell growth.
Vitamin B - Inflammation of the skin is one sign of B6 deficiency according to The Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institute of Health. Clinical signs of vitamin B6 deficiency are rarely seen in the United States. Alcoholics and aging adults are at the highest risk for B6 deficiencies due to poor dietary habits.
Vitamins C and E – The American Academy of Dermatology recommends daily oral dosages of vitamins C and E to protect the body and for its antioxidant properties that are important for healthy skin.
Zinc - A study conducted at Duke University provides evidence that Zinc is an important antioxidant supporting healthy skin. The finding concluded, “Zinc protects against UV radiation, enhances wound healing, contributes to immune and neuropsychiatric functions, and decreases the relative risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.” In addition to the antioxidant assistance that zinc offers the skin, it is also important for the suitable functioning of the immune system.

Taking a multivitamin rich in antioxidants is clearly a high quality way to thwart the aging of the skin.

Kathleen

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