Biking 101

This is my new bike..the Roadmaster ladies mountain bike. I have not had a bike since middle school. I used to have a Huffy bike that I loved. I used to ride it all the time. One day I noticed that my bike was missing from the garage when I was in high school. I looked all around, outside, the garage and the storage shed. I asked my mother were my bike was and if she had seen it. She had. She sold it to one of the neighbors. She decided that she wanted to clean out the garage and she got rid of my bike. I was crushed and very hurt. I had planned to use that bike in college since I had no car. I had planned to use it to get around campus.

She did not even ask or tell me. It was just gone. Cruel. But that was the norm. I put up a brave front and did not say anything about it. But it really bothered me inside that she did that. I have not had a bike since then. I love the one I just got. I have not even tested it out yet. Ido need to buy a bike helmet as I do not have one of those. I also need to get some sort of bike carrier for the car.

I was keeping my eye on a Schwinn that I really wanted, but it never went on sale. The Roadmaster was 10% off when I got it, so Roadmaster it is! I just hope I can remember how to ride it!

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Lent and the "Giving Up."

Lent. Lent. Lent. It comes and I try to give up stuff. Lent is supposed to be about soul searching and sacrifice and in many ways a renewal. This year I decided to give up chocolate. I was doing well until my child bought home fnudraiser candy. World's finest chocolate. Why? Just to torture me. I held off for as long as I could and then ate one. Then the next day I had another. I just had another today. Three in about a week and a half's time. That is also $3.00 that I now owe her.

But no more. As punishment I just went out and bought a mini trampuline. I need to jump away those calories from those candy bars. I have my eye on a regular bike. I have not had one since I was a child. Lent in the biblical sense refers to fasting. Now aways I do not think most people really fast. We just try to eliminate a few luxury things out of our diet. A little background on that:

• Similarly, Jesus told us that when we fast (not if) we are not to make a show of it, like hypocrites do. A fast is different from a hunger strike: a fast is a personal act of devotion to God, while a hunger strike is a public act most often used to shine a spotlight on injustice. A fast is also different from anorexia nervosa: it is disciplined diet, not total abstention from food. During a religious fast, you still eat, you just abstain from certain foodstuffs. Traditionally, people have fasted by eliminating luxury items from their diets, such as meats. You could have a fast that consists of eating whatever you want, but drinking only water. Orthodox Christians recognize five levels of fasting:
• Abstaining from meat
• Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, and cheese
• Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, and fish
• Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, fish, oil, and wine
• Abstaining from all foods and beverages except bread, water, juices, honey, and nuts.
• Note that the fifth and strictest level comes close to describing John the Baptist’s diet, and it is may very well have been the fast that Jesus undertook for forty days in the wilderness—except for the bread. (Christians reenact this retreat during Lent.)
• To fast, just omit an item or two from your diet—something that you would normally eat during the course of the day. Every time you get an appetite for those items, you will be reminded of your fast and that will remind you of the reason for your fast, and you can pray instead of eating. This can have immense spiritual benefit. You are simply using your belly as a spiritual snooze-alarm.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Can Beer Cure Cancer?

A compound found in hops and the main product they are used in — beer — is gaining interest as a micronutrient that might help prevent types of cancer.

Researchers at Oregon State University first discovered the cancer-related properties of this flavonoid compound called xanthohumol about 10 years ago.

Xanthohumol was first discovered in 1913, but for decades the only people who showed any interest in it were brewers, who wanted to learn more about the compound in the hope of imparting more flavor in their beers. In the 1990s Oregon State University researchers began to study the compound of its anti-cancer properties. The compound appears to have several mechanisms that relate to cancer prevention.

In the future it's possible, scientists say, that hops might be produced or genetically engineered to have higher levels of xanthohumol, in order to take advantage of the anti-cancer properties. Some beers today are already higher in the compounds, such as porter, stout and ale brews. However, most of the beers commonly sold in the United States, such as pilsners and lagers, have fairly low levels of these compounds.

Green Tea: Is it REALLY Beneficial?

The Food and Drug Administration recently ruled that "it is highly unlikely that green tea reduces the risk of breast cancer" after looking at several studies conducted on patients who had cancer. Soon after the FDA's take on tea a new study claimed green tea reduced the risk of Alzheimer's and slows the aging process.

The journal Neuroscience says that an antioxidant is found in green tea and may prevent the buildup of plaque in the brain that is linked to Alzheimer's. In a study on mice, the rodents were given injections of the same antioxidant and were found to have 54 percent fewer of the proteins that are the plaque that block memory in the brain. Herbalists have long believed in the health benefits of drinking teas.

And studies on other types of teas are reporting positive effects. A study conducted by Dr. Joseph Vita at Boston School of Medicine found positive effects of tea drinking. The study, conducted on 66 men who drank four cups of tea per day or took a placebo found that drinking black tea can help reverse abnormally functioning blood vessels that can contribute to heart attacks or strokes.

Jane Higdon, a research associate for the Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University says tea research is still relatively new, and it will probably be a while before the positive effects of drinking tea can be confirmed. "Although numerous observational studies have examined the relationships between tea consumption and the risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer, there is no conclusive evidence that high intakes of black or green tea are protective in humans," she said.

Slowing the Affects of Aging

 

According the Discovery Health Web site, if you want to be a lively 80 or 90 year old some day — then you need to start following an anti-aging program. Here are some of the recommendations:

• Follow a low-fat, high complex carbohydrate diet. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables and three servings of whole grains every day. Drink five to eight glasses of water per day. Derive only 30 percent to 35 percent of your diet from fat — 20 percent of which should be unsaturated (examples are 1 percent milk, canola and olive oil.) Fifteen percent of your diet should be protein, with the rest having an emphasis on complex carbohydrates (examples are wild rice, whole wheat bread and oatmeal).

• Develop and follow a regular exercise routine. Regular aerobic exercise will help slow down the aging process, experts say. Strength building is also important. Consult a health professional to adopt a routine that will be right for you. Good exercise programs should help prevent the loss of stamina, strength, balance and bone density.

Surviving a Heart Attack When Alone

Heart Attack Procedure:

Let's say it is 6:15 PM and you're driving home (alone of course), after
an unusually hard day on the job. You're tired, upset and frustrated.

Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to
radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five
miles from the hospital nearest your home.

Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far.
You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not
tell you how to perform it on yourself.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help,
the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel
faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.
However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very
vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the
cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep
inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without
let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating
normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the
heart and keep the blood circulating.

The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm.
In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.


When alone Everyone should also know that not every heart attack symptom
is going to be the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first
chest pain during the course of a heart attack.

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who
have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

The pain in the jaw happened to me and woke me from a sound sleep.

It's pain unlike anything you've ever experienced before.

It's much easier to have a baby.

Let's be careful and be aware.

Soybean Magic

Yesterday I went to the organic food store near me and I got some sushi for lunch.  The world is a great place when I can have sushi  and green tea.  The Fresh Market has a japanese chef, I guess, always there preparing fresh sushi.  I remember about a month ago I was there and they had all sorts of sushi packaged but not the kind I wanted. She actually made me some sushi to my liking on the spot.  I did not even have to ask.  I was just looking and was about to walk away since I did not see what I wanted and she asked me if what I was looking for was there. I told her no and she said she would make it for me.  That was great customer service.  I was just going to get a sandwich from the deli or a salad. 

 

Well, back to yesterday.  I got my plate of sushi for about $8.75.  It certainly is not cheap.  But oh sooooo good!  Next to it,  in little bags were beans.  I did not really look at the type of bean.  I assumed they were sugar peas.  They were labled:  "Boiled!  Eat beans just like boiled peanuts."  I got them also.  Now, you think boiled and I think tender.  Sugar peas are.  You eat the whole thing.    I popped a bean with 2 bumps inside in my mouth.  It was hairy and tough and I chewed and chewed.  Can we say begin to choke when when I tried to swallow a little bit.  I quickly spit that out.

 

I read the package again.  "Soybeans.  Boiled!  Eat beans just like boiled peanuts."  Well soybeans are a different matter all together.  Eat like boiled peanuts.  Why didn't that ring a bell?  You do not eat the peanut shell with boiled peanuts.  Well, I cracked open the soybean shell and then I had a delicacy fit for any king.  Boiled soybeans.  Wow!  Great!  They are  just like eating boiled peanuts.  Soybeans are very good for you so, I did not feel bad about eating the whole bag.  The bag was about 1/2 of a glad sandwich bag.  Maybe  two thirds of a cup of soybeans were in there.  They were about $2.49.  I may just have to get some for lunch again today.  They were good. 

 

They were so good in fact that I think I will have to buy some fresh soybeans and boil them myself.  Hopefully they will be cheaper that way.  It will be a great snack for my family as well.  One that I can feel good about.  Candy?  Soybeans?  Candy?  Soybeans?  I pick soybeans anyday! Yeap!  That was a little bit of soybean magic.                    

So Very Tired

I have been so physically tired this last week and into this one I can hardly think. Some nights I just have not been able to sleep. I don't know why. I just can't. The days are long and draggy. I ate two candy bars today. World's Finest Chocolate. They are the best. I think it is a PMS thing. I have resisted the urge to have any chocolate for quite some time now.

I have been going to see a chiropractor for the past three weeks. I was very leery at first. They tend to have the stigma of "quack" associated with that name. I go to Chiropractic USA. They have been helping my neck and back feel better. I go there just for wellness. Too much time at the computer.

Well. Off to bed. Got to get some sleep tonight.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~