The MIND diet: 10 foods that fight Alzheimer's (and 5 to avoid)

A great article I just read the other day and thought I would share.


http://www.cbsnews.com/media/mind-diet-foods-avoid-alzheimers-boost-brain-health/


Doctors have been saying for years that what you eat can affect the health of your heart. Now there's growing evidence that the same is true for your brain.
A new study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago shows a diet plan they developed -- appropriately called the MIND diet -- may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by as much as 53 percent.
Even those who didn't stick to the diet perfectly but followed it "moderately well" reduced their risk of Alzheimer's by about a third.
Diet appears to be just one of "many factors that play into who gets the disease," said nutritional epidemiologist Martha Clare Morris, PhD, the lead author of the MIND diet study. Genetics and other factors like smoking, exercise and education also play a role. But the MIND diet helped slow the rate of cognitive decline and protect against Alzheimer's regardless of other risk factors.
The study, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, looked at more than 900 people between the ages of 58 and 98 who filled out food questionnaires and underwent repeated neurological testing. It found participants whose diets most closely followed the MIND recommendations had a level of cognitive function the equivalent of a person 7.5 years younger.
The MIND diet breaks its recommendations down into 10 "brain healthy food groups" a person should eat and five "unhealthy food groups" to avoid.
It combines many elements of two other popular nutrition plans which have been proven to benefit heart health: the Mediterranean diet and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. (MIND stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.)
But the MIND diet also differs from those plans in a few significant ways and proved more effective than either of them at reducing the risk of Alzheimer's.
Click through to see which foods to eat -- and which ones to avoid -- for optimal brain health.





Warm regards and love,
Erin

Baby It's Cold Outside....

While we are experiencing the season's coldest temperatures to date. Here is a great article I found from MentalFloss to keep you warm and toasty this winter. 

Remember; It is only 42 days until Spring!!

12 Toasty Tips for Staying Warm in Cold Weather

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Amanda Green

Image credit: 

istock

Using these tips, you can stay warm no matter how frightful the weather outside gets.

1. Warm yourself first. 

It's easier to change your body temperature than room temperature, not to mention more eco-friendly. Instead of turning up the heat, put on another layer of clothing.

2. Wear a hat. 

Your mom may have said that you lose 80 percent of your body heat through your head, but that's not actually true. If you're otherwise clothed, you'll lose heat from any surface that's exposed. So put on your hat, even if you're inside.

3. Turn on the ceiling fan.

Warm air rises to the ceiling. Run your fan on its lowest setting in a clockwise direction to push the warm air back down to where you can feel it.

4. Switch between hot and cold water in the shower.

Hot showers immediately warm you up, but cold showers improve blood circulation between your skin and organs. Cold showers are also correlated with a stronger immune system.

5. Block drafts with a pool noodle. 

Pinterest

Keep heat in and cold out by cutting a pool noodle in half lengthwise, wrapping it in fabric, and sliding it under your door. It'll stay put all winter, and you can re-use it at the pool come summer. (But we recommend you spring for a new one.)

6. Two words: Programmable thermostat.

Another two words: Obvious, right? Stay toasty on schedule, so you never go home to a living room that's colder than outside. You can even do it with your smartphone.

7. Trick a locked thermostat.

Not everyone has access to adjust the thermostat in their apartment or office building. If that's the case, you may need to outsmart the device by making it "think" the room is colder than it actually is. Putting ice near it  often does the trick.

8. Dress your windows up in warmer clothes.

If you're not wearing a tank top or going sleeveless, your windows shouldn't, either.  Replace thin curtains with heavier wool or fleece drapes in the winter. But be sure to open them on sunny days for free heat.

9. Go ahead, bake all day. 

Using your oven heats up the whole house. You'll feel even cozier if you invite friends—and all their body heat—over to eat four dozen cookies.

10. Start composting. 

If you're already interested in composting, here's another reason to do it: The microbial breakdown of organic material produces heat. Some people use it to warm up showers and greenhouses, but even small-timers in studio apartments can feel a difference.

11. Layer your covers with the thinnest, densest ones on top.

It's intuitive, but fluffy blankets should be closer to your skin. Thin, dense blankets should be on top to prevent convective heat loss. Bonus tip: Don't put your bed directly against an exterior wall. You'll be warmer if you leave a little space.

12.  Stuff your coat pockets with DIY hand warmers.

You could just buy hand warmers, but you'll radiate pride and self-sufficiency if you make them yourself. All it takes is two Ziploc bags, water, and calcium chloride ice melt pellets from the hardware store.



Warm regards and love,
Erin



* by Amanda Green
**Image credit: istock
http://mentalfloss.com/article/60076/12-toasty-tips-staying-warm-cold-weather

Happy New Year!

Beauty..
Freshness..
Dreams..
Truth..
Imagination..
Feeling..
Faith..
Trust..
Love..
This is the beginning of a new year! 

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Wishing all the best in love and life for the new year! 


Warm regards and love,
Erin

Holiday or Any Day Stove Top Potpourri Mix

Here are a few recipes/ideas for “make your own potpourri” to simmer on the stove top.

Combine one whole orange or just the orange peel ( the peel is where all of the essential oils are! )
1/2 cup cranberries
1 Tbsp. whole cloves
3 sticks of cinnamon or a small handful of small pieces of cinnamon
a bit of grated nutmeg if desired

Quarter the orange.  Put all the ingredients into a saucepan.  Fill pan with water.  Place on the stove on the smallest burner, on the lowest setting. Do not boil. Refill water as needed.

Your house will soon smell of the holiday season, warm and cozy scents will abound.

Here are a few more great scent combinations :

-Lemon and rosemary

-Grapefruit, rosemary, and vanilla

-Apple, cloves, and cinnamon

-Lavender ( oil or flowers )

-Mint and dried cilantro

Place all or one in a small saucepan filled with water and simmer on lowest setting. Refill water as needed. Never leave unattended!

If you are using fragrance oils or essential oils make sure this pot is NEVER used for cooking again. Keep it separate for simmering scents only.

Happy Holidays and enjoy!

Erin