Omega-3 New Information

We've known for years that omega-3 fatty acids are good for the heart. These healthy fats down-regulate inflammation, and may help reduce the risk and symptoms of disorders influenced by inflammation, including heart attack, stroke and several forms of cancer. Now researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have found another action of omega-3s that may help explain why they offer benefits for the heart. The investigators found that the more omega-3 consumed by patients with coronary heart disease, the slower the structures called telomeres at the ends of chromosomes shrank. (Telomeres have been likened to the caps on the ends of shoelaces that prevent the laces from unraveling. In cells, telomeres prevent chromosomes from fusing with one another or rearranging - undesirable changes that could lead to serious diseases.) The more times a cell divides, the shorter telomeres become, a change that makes them a marker of biological age. The California investigators followed about 600 patients with coronary artery disease and measured their blood levels of omega-3s and telomere length at the beginning of the study and again five years later. They found that the higher the blood levels of omega-3s, the slower telomeres shortened, suggesting that the rate of biological aging - as mirrored by telomeres - decreased.



My take? This is a fascinating area of research and may give us new insight into how omega-3 fatty acids benefit health. It only reinforces the need to get plenty of omega-3s through your diet or supplements. My longstanding recommendation has been to consume two to three servings of fish per week or to take a fish oil supplement if you don't like fish. I eat fish often and also take 2-3 grams of supplemental fish oil a day.

What's your secret for a long happy life?

Oil on Canvas ~ Paul Tijerio

 

A woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch. "I couldn't help noticing how happy you look," she said. "What's your secret for a long happy life?"

"I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day," he said. "I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty foods, and never exercise."
"That's amazing," the woman said. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-six," he said.

New Brain Scan May Predict Alzheimer's

Study Shows Diffusion Tensor Imaging May Help Identify Early Alzheimer's Disease

In a study published in the Jan. 19 issue of Neurology, Carlesimo and colleagues found that DTI scanning predicted declines in memory performance with more accuracy than traditional MRI.

"This type of brain scan appears to be a better way to measure how healthy the brain is in people who are experiencing memory loss," Carlesimo says in a news release. "This might help doctors when trying to differentiate between normal aging and diseases like Alzheimer's."

Click link by the arrow to see full article from WebMd.

Top 20 Wise Sayings For Life

1. A man’s health can be judged by which he takes two at a time – pills or stairs


2. An ounce of prevention is better than a ton of cure.

3. If you want your dreams to come true, don't oversleep.

4. The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.

5. Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

6. The best vitamin for making friends....B1.

7. The 10 commandments are not multiple choices.

8. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

9. Minds are like parachutes...they function only when open.

10. Ideas won't work unless YOU do.

11. One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.

12. One who lacks the courage to start has already finished.

13. The heaviest thing to carry is a grudge.

14. Don't learn safety rules by accident.

15. We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.

16. Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.

17. A turtle makes progress when it sticks its head out.

18. One thing you can give and still keep ...is your word.

19. A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.

20. The pursuit of happiness is: the chase of a lifetime

An addition to our top 20..From Cheryl's mom  as:
 #21.."It's better to burp and bear the shame, than not to burp and bear the pain."

Thanks Cheryl

March is National Nutrition Month

Nutritional Tip

Did you drop potatoes from your menu back when they became the carbohydrate villains of the low-carb diet fad? That's really a shame, because when you prepare them properly, they're very good for you. Potatoes are good for your health because they contain fiber, vitamins B6 and C, lots of potassium, plus phytochemicals that help keep your blood pressure normal. Potatoes are also low in calories.

Visit Potato Goodness from the US Potato Board for lots of tips and recipe ideas to help you add this healthy vegetable back into your diet.

Heart Health - Potatoes and Potassium


http://www.potatogoodness.com/




Potatoes rank the highest for potassium content among the top 20 most frequently consumed raw vegetables and the top 20 most frequently consumed raw fruits.


One medium potato with skin contains at least 18% of your daily requirement of potassium - more than a banana!


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that diets containing foods high in potassium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.


In addition to being a great source of potassium, potatoes are also sodium and fat-free and contain just 110 - 150 calories per serving.


A serving of potatoes is just 25 cents - one of the most cost effective ways of meeting your daily potassium quota.