Archive for July, 2014
Posted by terrepruitt on July 31, 2014
One of Nia’s 52 Moves is Head and Eye Movement. Yes, we intentionally and specifically move our head and our eyes in Nia. A long time ago when I first started teaching I had a student who had come to about three classes and after the third class she said something to affect of since starting Nia she actually moves her head to look around while driving. So my first thought was, “Yay! Nia helps make people better drivers.” If people are not moving their heads and then start doing so after Nia – YAY! – especially while driving. Nia really is about full body health and movement. So we don’t do just a cardio workout that works your heart. We don’t do just a dance exercise that moves your legs. We don’t do just some choreography that involves our hands. We involve the whole body. As you may have surmised from the post on Creepy Crawlers. It is very important for people to move their heads.
I see a lot of people with very stiff necks who in fact do not move their heads. There are a lot of reasons. I know some reasons include stiff muscles. They can’t move their head without pain because their muscles are not used to moving or are holding too much stress. I know some people who can’t move their head because it causes them dizziness. I also know some people who rid themselves of stiff necks and dizziness by moving their head. Moving one’s head will not solve everyone’s issues of stiff necks or dizziness, but I do know some people who were helped by it.
In Nia we move our head a lot. We engage our eyes a lot. But as with all of the 52 Moves of Nia there is a specific way to do it. In just practicing Head and Eye Movements you look all around and move your head to match your gaze. Letting the action of your head follow the intent of your eyes.
Just like with Catching Flies, this move requires looking BEFORE moving. So LOOK and then move the head so you are facing the direction you are looking. As I said look in all directions. Look up, then move your head so you are facing up. Look down, then move your head so your chin is at your chest. Look left, then turn your head left. Look right, then turn your head to the right. Look in a different direction then move your head so you are facing that direction. After looking around nod your head “yes”, shake it “no”, roll the head around both directions. Vary the speed at which you do all of this. Be aware of any sensations that come up. Also, if you are not accustomed to moving your head be careful that you don’t get dizzy or too dizzy.
As I mentioned some people get dizzy from lack of moving their head. It is not because of any condition, it is just lack of practice. So, be cautious when you first practice Nia’s Head and Eye Movement. Now, go, look around, move your head.
How do you feel when you move your head? Do you move your head around? Do you have a stiff neck? Do you get dizzy when you move your head?
Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: action follows intent, cardio dance, cardio workout, dance exercise, ease neck pain, ease neck tension, Head and Eye Movement, health and movement, Nia, Nia choreography, Nia class, Nia student, Nia Teacher, Nia's 52 Moves, San Jose Group Ex class, teaching Nia, whole body workout Creepy Crawlers | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 29, 2014
I really wanted to melt white chocolate properly. So I thought I would give it another try. This time I looked up HOW to do it. I thought I knew how when I tried it last time, but the way it came out — or did not come out — made me realize I needed some instructions. CLICK HERE for instructions on how to properly melt white chocolate. I laughed the entire way through reading it. I think I did EVERYTHING WRONG. That is why the candy I melted, seized. The first thing I learned is that white “chocolate” can burn easier than actually chocolate, so I needed to melt is slowly. I had thought that was part of the problem before . . . but funny enough, as I already mentioned I did a lot more to mess it up.
The instructions state the best way to melt white “chocolate” is a double boiler. I had thought that and so I made one instead of getting mine out of the cupboard. When that didn’t work, I got mine out of the cupboard. You can “make” a double boiler. You just put a heat safe bowl in a sauce pan. The edges of the bowl should hold the bowl ABOVE the water. See? That is the part I got wrong on both my makeshift one and the real one. I put both the bowl in the boiling water AND the pan. And that is why my white chocolate started going south so fast.
When it started to go bad I turned up the heat even higher thinking it needed MORE heat to get melty. The instructions go on to say not to allow any liquid into the “chocolate”. They say that if you need to add something it must be warm or at least room temperature. Any chill to the “chocolate” will make it seize. I don’t often melt chocolate and the one time I did I remember adding butter. So when my “chocolate” started to seize I grabbed some butter and added that . . . . cold . . . right out of the refrigerator. As I was reading the instructions and as I am typing this, I am picturing what happened when I did this. The mess of a “chocolate” I had turned to balls. I was reminded of Dipping Dots. I remembering say, “Honey! I have Dipping Dots in here! Ahhhh!”
So, I attempted to make the white chocolate strawberries again. I had forgotten to purchase the champagne. Since the melting instructions had said that any liquid, cold liquid, added to the melting/melted “chocolate” would make is seize, I decided to forget the champagne and let the strawberries dry well. Of course, I forgot this when I went to make them at 10:00 pm. So they didn’t dry as much as I had wanted. And it is very difficult to dip the strawberries and deal with each one as well as keep the “chocolate” from hardening. I did a better job this time than last time with melting the candy, but the strawberries were not as pretty. It actually worked last time to use the gooey “chocolate” and mold it around it strawberry. They looked better.
Well, I am determined to do this well. So I will be doing it again. I am lucky that strawberries and chocolate are something people really like and they overlook the not-so-prettiness of my creations. I’ll get better. I will do the “chocolate” better next time with the tips I learned.
–don’t let the water touch the bottom of the bowl/pan
–low temperature, slow melt
–no liquid
–if you need to add anything (liquid or butter) make sure it is room temperature to warm
I’ll know I will forget by the time we go somewhere else that I want to make these. Thankfully I have a blog where I can keep my notes. And, in addition to notes for myself, perhaps help someone else. But I kind of get the feeling I am the only one that doesn’t know how to melt chocolate.
Do you know how to melt WHITE chocolate? What about regular chocolate? What is your preferred method?
Posted in Food | Tagged: champagne strawberries, double boilder, melting candy, Melting chocolate, melting instructions, white chocolate, WikiHow | 10 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 26, 2014
We do! Today in the group exercise class I was subbing, I did a Nia class. Our focus was the knee, with the intent of bringing awareness to the main muscles that help move the knee. So with that intent we were thinking about the quadriceps and the hamstrings. There are other muscles involved in the knee’s movement and stability, but we were keeping it simple and just focusing on those two sets of muscles. There are four muscles that make up the quadriceps and three that make up the hamstrings. The quadriceps are on the “front” of the thigh and the hamstrings are on the back of the thigh. To see my brief post on the Quadriceps click here. To see my brief post on the Hamstrings click here. The muscles of the quadriceps help straighten the leg. So they extends it. They pull the lower leg forward. The muscles of the hamstrings pull the lower leg back, what we call bending the knee. The knee gets straightened and bent a lot in a Nia dance exercise class, but there might not always be awareness of the muscles that are doing it. Today we brought awareness to the knee bending and straightening muscles.
Bringing awareness to muscles can be done in many ways. Often time the choreography of a Nia Routine has us doing specific steps and arm movements. In the first few songs of the routine I am doing I did not have the class do any touching of our legs. I just suggested that the class think about their legs, while, in the first song we moved our chest down and lowered our hips. Everyone moves to their own depth so not all of us were in a bend with chest on our thighs, but we were still able to bring awareness to our thighs with knees bent. The next few songs have us aware of our knees as we sink a bit to activate hips and move with front, back, and diagonal steps.
When we were at a song that is a free dance we wiggled our knees, we knocked them, we straightened them. We touched the front of our thighs while we moved our legs, opening and closing the knee joint. We kicked forward and back. While we danced we touched the back of our thighs. The act of touching allows us to sense the muscles as it moves the leg, extending and flexing. The act of touching helps us bring awareness to the muscles as we use them.
While we do a punching and blocking sequence we are aware of the stability we have in the wide stance with the knees slightly bent. This pose allows the opportunity for awareness of the full thigh activation. Even while standing still we are sensing the dance of strength and stability.
I love that Nia incorporates a focus and an intent as one of the workout cycles. This gives us a chance to focus on many things. In this case the movement of the knee. This is a great way to keep both the body and mind active while bringing awareness of how the body moves into our dance exercise class.
Do YOU think about your knees? Do you think about how your leg bends?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: Awareness, dance exercise class, focus and intent, group exercise class, Hamstrings, knee movement, knee's movement and stability, knees, Nia class, Nia dance exercise class, Nia routine, punching and blocking, Quadriceps, thighs and knees, Workout cycles | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 24, 2014
Recently someone asked me about the Nia Belt system. I pointed him to my original post on Nia’s Belt System. The one where I mentioned having seen many articles back then (in 2009) talking about the belt levels as if people had to progress through them in order to participate in Nia. That is not the case. Nia is a dance exercise. It is a workout. You can go to a Nia class just like you can go to a Zumba Fitness Class, a Jazzercize class, a UJAM class, a Hip-Hop class, a yoga class or any other class where you just walk in and do it. You can just walk in and do Nia. No strings (or belts — tee hee!) attached. Just move your body to the music and enjoy the sensation. Get a workout. Get some exercise in. Dance. The belts are for people who want to learn more.
Nia has a “self discovery” program. I don’t want to say self-improvement because some people might think, “I don’t need improving.” and you would be right. The intensives are workshops of about 50 hours that show you how to experience movement in your body, show you how to relate to things. The intensives show you many different things. Each intensive is labeled with a belt color to help distinguish it from the others. I also pointed him to my website which has the belt colors and the focuses of each belt. But I was reminded that the information on my site, from 2012, is not the current information. Nia is always updated herself. She is like the co-creator, Debbie Rosas, she like to be current. Below is the information from 2012. I want to make record of it. Plus I wanted to keep it available in case anyone was interested in remember it and/or comparing it to the newly worded focuses. You can go to my site at Nia Belt Levels and Focuses to see the newly worded focuses and intents for each belt.
In 2012 when I put the information on my site there was a White Belt, a Blue Belt, a Brown Belt, and a Black Belt available to anyone. There is now a 1st Degree Black Belt. There is a Green Belt for people who are teaching and have a Nia Livelihood Membership.
“Each of the four belts mentioned has a separate set of principles. There are 13 principles for each belt, each belt also has a focus.
The focus for a White Belt is physical sensation. (Terre earned her White Belt in December 2008.)
The focus for a Blue Belt is communication, relationship and intimacy. (Terre earned her Blue Belt in November 2012.)
The focus for Brown Belt is sensing and perceiving energy.
The focus for Black Belt is unlimited creativity.
As I said, there is an intensive, Green Belt, that is just for Nia teachers, the focus for a Green Belt is the craft of teaching Nia. This is an optional intensive.” **
When I originally took my White Belt in 2012, the Green Belt was just being created and the original thought was Nia was going to have White Belts that are teaching take it next, before blue. But by the time I had enough money saved up to take my next belt (yes, it took FOUR years) they had relaxed that requirement and now allow people to take the Green Belt when and if they want. I want to take it. However there was a Blue Belt Intensive that was closer and did not require air travel and hotel expenses. So I took the Blue Belt Training prior to the Green Belt Training.
Except for the Green Belt there is no testing as in a martial arts type of setting. And the Green Belt test is written. There IS 50+ hours of movement, lectures, thinking, sensing, learning, agreeing, disagreeing, discovering, connecting dots, ah-has, oh-nos, and ooo-ahs. It is incredible and intense. The training that Nia delivers is excellent.
My posts about the principles of the White Belt and the Blue Belt can help give you a better idea of what we study in the intensives (at least those two), but it is really something one has to experience for oneself.
I hope you click over to my site to see the new verbiage for the focuses and the added intents.
**The belt information was taken from the Nia Now website on November 14, 2012.
Posted in Nia | Tagged: a Hip-Hop class, a Jazzercize class, a UJAM class, a yoga class, dance, dance exercise, Dance Workout, Debbie Rosas, Nia, Nia 1st Degree Black Belt, Nia Belt system, Nia Black Belt, Nia Blue Belt, Nia Brown Belt, Nia class, Nia Green Belt, Nia Intensive, Nia Music, Nia White Belt, self discovery program, self-improvement program, Zumba Fitness Class | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 22, 2014
When a body moves it expends energy. The bigger the movements the more energy expended. The faster the movements the more energy expended. The longer the body is in motion the more energy it expends. I teach Nia. It is not a boot camp where the higher ranked officer is yelling at you to move more, to more bigger to move longer. It is a cardio dance workout where you get to move your body in your own body’s way. You move to your level of movement. You move to the level you want to move at the time you are in the class. The more you move, the more energy you will use up. For some of us, the more we move the more we sweat. Honestly, if you don’t move you will not sweat. A lot of people equate a “good workout” with sweat. Not everyone sweats, but most people do sweat when they move. In Nia we don’t yell at participants to run faster, to reach higher, to go lower, to do more. We use words to help you move in a way that you want to move. Some people cannot move their bodies without being told exactly how to move. Some people just need the time and space and they either know exactly what to do OR they are able to just let go and let their bodies move. I have experienced the type of person that tells me they don’t sweat in Nia and the type that does.
One time, after teaching a class, I was walking out and mopping my face and neck with a towel. I was dripping wet. And a woman approached me and said, “You don’t sweat in Nia, do you?” I just looked at her and said, “No, YOU don’t.” She was the one that stood behind me the entire class and I never saw her body. I never saw her limbs and I never saw her. Now, I am not the smallest of people so it is perfectly feasible that she could hide behind me and me not see her. But it is NOT feasible to MOVE and not be seen standing behind me. If she would have lifted her arm once, I would have seen it. If she would have lifted her leg once, I would have seen it. If she would have MOVED, her body MIGHT have produced some sweat. I cannot tell you why she didn’t move her body except to stand behind me, but I can tell you since she did not she did not get a “good workout.”
Once a woman walked by me and a student talking after Nia class and she asked where the pool was. We were confused. Then we realized we were so wet with sweat we looked as if we had been swimming.
Then more recently, I experienced at participant in a class who, when we were done said, “Wow! I got sweaty.” And I said, “Yes, yes you did.” And that was because she moved. She participated. While she was not standing behind me, I did see her move in her own body’s way to the suggestions such as “dancing big”, “drumming the sky”, “body drum”. She moved in her own way to all of the suggestions even though she had no idea what Nia was when she entered the dance studio. But it was obvious she was there to get a “good workout” so she participated. She moved. She expended energy. She got sweaty.
In Nia, as with ALL workouts, you get out of it what you put in. If you don’t move, you are not going to expend energy. If you don’t expend energy, you probably are not going to sweat. You need to MOVE to get a workout. It is not accurate to say that Nia is not a “good workout” when you do move. If you don’t actually try it you can’t actually say whether it is good or not.
This is what I experience a lot. Remember I am a substitute for other classes besides Nia. So they are not always looking for something new and different. Some are excellent sports and try it. Some are not and so they don’t participate. Again . . . . they get out of of it what they put in.
Have you noticed that you get less of a workout when you move less? Do you agree that you get out of it what you put into it?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: body drum, Boot Camp, cardio dance, cardio workout, dance exercise, dance studio, Dance Workout, expending energy, good workout, Nia, Nia class, sweaty workout | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 19, 2014
One of Nia’s 52 Moves is a nice move. It can be done easily, it can be used in almost any dance, and it has numerous benefits, but the name is one I get crawly skin saying. I don’t like to say it. It is worse than Creepy Crawlers. When we do this move I often start out using the actual Nia name, but then explain how I would rather not and I would rather do something else. The move is fantastic though because it has many uses, but the name. I mean, what do you feel when I say, “Catching Flies“? I prefer not to.
But the move itself is a great move and very important to keep our hands, arms, eyes, and brain active. When we “Catch Flies” in Nia we open the hands then we make a loose fist to “catch” and hold the “flies. Ewwww. Just thinking about it . . . I mean . . . really thinking about it grosses me out. Thank God, I don’t think too much about it when I am teaching. I do think enough to change it. There is one routine I teach where I change it to “catching your dreams”. It goes along with the whole sequence of moves before and after. So I will often start out with “catching flies” then change it to “catch your dreams”.
Part of the move is to LOOK before you grab. So we are not just randomly grabbing in the air. We are looking as if we really were going to catch a fly. Since most of us are not like cats — do you know what I mean? Have you ever been playing with a toy with a cat and they won’t even be looking and they just reach out their arm and snatch the toy out of thin air? (Crazy!) Most of us are not like that, we need to look. So we LOOK before we grab at the “flies”. We engage our eyes and our brain — THEN we grab. We are also engaging our neck and spine because we are catching FLIES after all. See, the image makes sense. It is a “good” one, but an icky one. But since it is good and it makes sense, I will start out saying “catching flies” so people get the idea. Then I can change it if I want.
I think I got catching fairies from another Nia class. A Nia teacher said it and I was thrilled, so I use that one. Sometimes I say catching joy. Or perhaps grabbing some energy. There are many things to say after the initial move is understood and the Nia name is announced.
The Nia Technique book explains the benefits very well:
Practicing Catching Flies increases brain activity. This move neurologically connects your hands, your head, and your eyes, and engenders manual dexterity and speed. Emotionally, you can use the is move to express aggression, determination, anger, frustrations, playfulness, and achievement.
I am sure you can use it to express a lot more emotions. When we practice this move we add variety. There can be fast flies, slow flies, they can be flying high, they can be flying low, they can be flying right in front of us, they can be flying behind us, you get the idea. The flies can be all over so it can be quite and active move.
It is like the Locust pose in yoga — GREAT MOVE, not so great name.
What do you think? Do you want to catch flies? Would you rather catch fairies? Would you rather catch joy? Can you understand what a great move it is?
Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: cat reflexes, Catching flies, Creepy Crawlers, increases brain activity, neurologically connects, Nia class, Nia Dance, Nia routine, Nia teachers, Nia's 52 Moves | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 17, 2014
When I was first hired on with the Parks and Recreation Department with the City of San Jose, I was a substitute Group Ex Instructor. I didn’t have a class of my own. And we use that term “my class” loosely because we know it is not guaranteed to be a permanent thing and we can be replaced or things can change. But for the sake of simplicity we call them our classes when we are asked to teach a weekly (or more) class at a specific time on a specific day. I didn’t have a class at first. So I was able to fill in as a substitute wherever I could. I was also really happy to fill in with Nia because I wanted to introduce the community centers in San Jose to Nia. So I would step up to teach when someone had a cardio class that needed subbing. There are five different community centers that participate in the Group Exercise program. Each center has at least two rooms where they might have a cardio class. Not all rooms have mirrors — and many exercise classes use mirrors. So when I first saw the portable mirrors at a community center I was so excited. These “mirrors” are awesome. It is not like a mirror image it is like a space age image!
Have you ever seen these portable mirrors? They are not really mirrors. I don’t know what they are. The material reminds me of the package that toner used to come in. I am not sure how many of you have worked in an office where you had a big copier or printer that used the cartridges that were sealed in the shiny packages. But THAT is what this stuff is like. It is kind of like Mylar. It is REALLY thin. And VERY easily torn. But the reflection when they are new and clean is amazing.
The first time I taught in front of one of these portable mirror things I kept expecting to dance right through to another dimension. Now that might sound odd to some of you, but my husband is a science fiction buff and we watch a lot of science fiction so that is what I felt like because it seem clearer and cleaner and more crisp than a regular reflection. It was more like something otherworldly. It was rather funny because it was so amazing I was distracted a few times.
Since these mirrors are not glass they are really lightweight and super easy to move. They are really great for community centers I think. Except I really wish they should come with some sort of handle. There is NO WHERE to hold them without touching the reflective surface. One could get down and use the “feet” to roll them but that is not very efficient nor a good way to be moving (the body). I am always surprised that the city doesn’t simply add something to use to roll them around. It would be so easy to add a strap or SOMETHING so people are not putting their fingers on them or THROUGH them.
The reflective surface really is very thin and sadly I have seen many “mirrors” with tears. I just did a quick search and some sites are saying their mirrors ARE Mylar, while others are saying they are not. Either way, they are great lightweight mirrors, but unfortunately they tear easy and I have yet to see any with handles. But when they are not torn and they are clean, they are really fun to dance in front of because it is almost as if you are dancing with a partner instead of your reflection!
Have you seen these cool portable mirrors? If you have, do you think they are more clear and crisp than a mirror?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: City of San Jose, exercise class, Group Ex substitute, Group Exercise program, Mylar, mylar mirrors, Nia class, Nia exercise, Nia San Jose, Park and Rec. Department, portable mirrors, San Jose Group Ex Instructor, San Jose Nia, science fiction, space age | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 15, 2014
I teach Nia at Community Centers in San Jose. One of the things about community centers is they are for the community. During the summer that means that they are kid central. It is amazing all of the programs they have for kids during the summer. It is so great to see the centers doing so much to keep the kids learning and active during the summer. What a full community center sometimes translates to is regularly scheduled classes get shuffled around. I was given about six months notice for this summer’s shuffle. So our Nia class was prepared. I had been telling them since January. Then I put up a notice in June. So we were aware. It is a huge blessing that we just get moved to another room and not to a different time or cancelled altogether. I am grateful that we still get to have a class while all these summer camps and kid fun is going on. It is working out to be one week a month. Last month the room we were moved to had the portable mirrors in the closet so we were able to roll them out and use them. Today the closet was full of tables and chairs. The mirrors were nowhere to be found. The center is on what used to be a high school campus. So it is very large and spread out. I wasn’t certain that 25 minutes would be enough time to let someone know about the situation, find the mirrors, and move them all the way across the campus. So we did Nia without mirrors today, using the opportunity to focus inward.
I have done Nia without mirrors before. In fact I posted about it in my post Nia In The Mirror when I was teaching in San Carlos. That is one reason when I started working at the San Jose Community Centers I was so impressed with their portable mirrors. In fact I thought I did a post about them because they are sooooo cool. (Well, I don’t see one, so that will probably be my next post!)
In a Nia class the teacher stands with her/his back to the students. One way we connect with our students is eye contact in the mirror. A Nia teacher can turn and face the students. In fact, it is recommended at times to do so to change things up and to connect in another way to the students. We even practiced it in the Blue Belt Intensive. So it is up to the teacher to teach facing whichever way s/he wants. Generally though we face away from the students.
Facing away makes it easier for some people to follow since we are moving the same side of the body and going in the same direction as opposed to the mirror image as was (and possibly still is) done in Jazzercise. What I find is that I learn the routine SAYING it as if I am teaching with my back towards the students so for me to turn around I would be saying go left as I move left and we would not be dancing in mirror image. So to turn and face the students while we are doing a dance that moves front or back or laterally is a challenge for me. Especially when it is a new routine. And right now, I am somewhat learning a routine. In a routine there is usually a song or two where we are not moving left or right so we often face each other than. I was able to do that today, but some I did with my back to them.
I think dancing without a mirror every once in a while is a good thing. It helps the students dance with themselves. The moment I found out we didn’t have mirrors I knew our intent and focus. I set the focus to be the Conscious Personal Trainer, with the intent of being fully aware of and sensing your own body’s movements. Without the mirror to distract us I thought it would be a great opportunity to focus more on one’s own body. Without the mirror we don’t see ourselves nor the other people. Without a mirror the possibility to draw ones attention in and keep it in seems better.
So, of course, I was very happy when one of my students said that dancing without the mirrors made it different. It did allow her to focus more on her movements. She said she was less distracted with the other students. Yay! I like that it worked for her. I like that we were able to do it different, but we still danced and had fun. I am very blessed to have such great students that can just go with the flow and DO Nia! It is nice to have “no mirrors” give us the opportunity for something different.
When you take a lead-follow exercise class do you prefer the instructor FACE your or face away from you?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: Conscious Personal Trainer, dance exercise, Dance Workout, focus and intent, Jazzercise, kids camps, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia dancing, Nia in San Jose, Nia students, Nia Teacher, portable mirrors, San Jose City Community Centers, San Jose Nia, summer camps | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 12, 2014
I recently came across some information I thought was interesting. I had heard it before, in fact I mentioned it in my post Turmeric – Flavor With Benefits, but this time I decided to look into a bit to see what is being said. One of the compounds found in turmeric is curcumin. Turmeric is a product of a ground root of the Curcuma longa plant. It is a relative of ginger. The curcumin is what gives turmeric it’s yellow color. So basically it is the stuff in turmeric that stains everything it touches. While in the middle of typing this I needed to make dinner. I used some turmeric. This spice has been used in other cultures as a spice to flavor foods, and a medicinal spice. It has been used as a dye. It is a subject of study and research as it is thought to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. There is information that has been published regarding using curcumin as a possible prevention and treatment for Alzheimer’s. The National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine’s website has information regarding a paper disclosing such information. The UCLA Alzheimer Translation Center website also has information regarding how it might help prevent Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is thought to begin with inflammation. So, as I have stated often in my post, I believe that chronic inflammation in the body is a disease catalyst. It is as if the body is so busy fighting the inflammation, other things go wrong. Chronic inflammation is being viewed as a serious health problem. So again, as I have stated before, things, foods, that can reduce inflammation can be good to add to our diets.
The NCBI article states that the idea that curcumin might help with Alzheimer’s comes from the fact that it is less common in India where they eat a lot of food with curry with turmeric. This idea was supported by a study in which macrophages (A type of white blood cell that ingests foreign material) was treated with curcumin. The white blood cells treated with the curcumin were able to clear the type of plague that is thought to contribute to Alzheimer’s. The article also indicates that since curcumin can pass through the blood brain barrier it can help at the neurological level. Also, neurotoxicity caused by cadmium and lead was prevented. Additionally, curcumin might help lower cholesterol.
The bioavailability of the curcumin is not very high. So eating enough and getting enough could be an issue . . . especially at this point there might not be enough information to know what amount “enough” is.
Another post on The National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine’s website claims that three patients with Alzheimer’s showed significant signs of behavioral and psychological improvement after being treated with turmeric powder capsules. A change was seen after just 12 weeks, but a large improvement of recognizing family members was seen after a year.
There is always risks with anything if one is to use it as a treatment for a specific condition, so before you go out and purchase curcumin capsules please do some research and seek professional advice. I do think that my adding it to my food would not be a problem. I know in my post about turmeric I said I would, but I really dislike that it turns my dishes yellow. But I really think the possible benefits outweigh that. I prefer to try to use food, herbs, spices, and movement to provide nutrition and health benefits so that I can keep it healthy and hopefully not need medication.
Do you like curry dishes? What type of curry dishes do you make? What do you add turmeric to? Do you have a trick to keeping it from turning things yellow?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Alzheimer's, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, chronic inflammation, Curcuma longa plant, curcumin, curry, ginger, medicinal spice, memory loss, NCBI, prevention and treatment for Alzheimer's, The National Center for Biotechnology, Turmeric – Flavor With Benefits, U.S. National Library of Medicine's, UCLA Alzheimer Translation Center | 6 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 10, 2014
Thanks, God. I had a good time. Those last few days were rough and my mama feels really bad, but they are over now. Hopefully she can forgive herself. I know that was one of the lessons I was there to help her learn. Forgiveness. I think I did ok, not that she got it, but I was good at it, right, God? I didn’t hold a grudge like I hear a lot of cats do. When my parents came home after being gone I would try to do the “catly” thing and give them an attitude. I would be at the door waiting, then when I got picked up I would strain to get away, but I just couldn’t keep it up for more than a minute. I was always so excited they came back. And when I got scolded for doing something I just couldn’t help myself from doing, I would often be the one to go get my mama after a short while. I did ok, right? I do have to say, I love my wings, but I kinda miss that short tail you gave me. I never quite understood my mom’s fascination with my paws though. She used to hold them and stare at them. She would squeal, “Pink toes! Pink toes! Pink toes!” And sometimes hold my feet saying, “Your paws are so TINY!!!” I guess I was smaller than a lot of cats. But I was a fierce protector of my house, my yard, and my people! So really I wasn’t all that small.
I really had no idea what I was in for when you asked for volunteers. I understand that being an angel is forever and forever is a long time, so I figured an assignment would be interesting. I had heard that it could be risky because once one volunteers it is up to you, God, to place us and sometimes the placement might be really difficult. I know that not all angels get good homes and loving families. So I really, really appreciate you sending me to my family. I know I was sent to teach them and like I said, I think I did a good job. I hope you agree. I know they loved me with all of their hearts. I know my mama thought I was the best kitty in the universe because she told me every single day. And I heard her thank you for me all the time. I heard her say I was a gift from you. I know I was special because they treated me that way.
But, God, I am afraid I didn’t teach her all she needs to learn. I think I left too early. I know they were hoping I would be around for longer. I know she still needs me. She always gave me hugs, but lately she would give me hugs when she was sad and missed her mama. Who is she gonna hug now, God? Are you sure she will be ok?
I might be back to my angel form now, God, but I still have some of that cat stubbornness inside. I want to see my mama. I want to make sure her and my poppie are ok. Can I see them, God, please?
Well, it is really hard to see them cry. Can’t I let them know I am ok?
Oh, I do see that even though I am not there, my mom is still learning. Through my death she is learning to be a little bit more compassionate. My poppie didn’t need to learn the same stuff my mom did.
God, one more thing — for now — will they recognize me when they get here even though I don’t have my tiny paws or short tail. Will they know it’s me? I sure would love more belly rubs from my poppie. I loved all the kisses my mom gave me. Even though she gave me hundreds and hundreds every day . . . . it really doesn’t seem like enough now. If I walk around her in a circle she might get the clue that it is me. Then she can give my head more kisses. Is that how it works, God?
My not being there seems to make her more sad about the deaths that have happened in her family this year. (Sigh.) Ok, God, thanks. I am done looking now. I will just trust you and your plan. I do miss ’em though. Thanks, again. I love them as much as they loved me.
Posted in Cats, Spot | Tagged: angels, Angels on assignment, Cats, Conversation with God, family deaths, learning lessons, lessons pets teach us, pets, Spot, Spot the cat | 23 Comments »
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