Terre Pruitt's Blog

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Posts Tagged ‘WebMD’

Negative Stuff At The Beach Is Positive

Posted by terrepruitt on August 29, 2016

My last post having something to do with the beach was in April, when my hubby and I had a little get-away.  While many people go to the beach much more often, it is pretty good for me to have gotten to the beach again only four and a half months later.  I was going with a friend to take a Nia class over the hill.  After the class we were going to go have breakfast then go to the ocean.  We always figure if we drive over the hill we might as well go to the ocean.  Turns out, the Nia class wasn’t being held but we decided to go over the hill anyway.  First we had breakfast at a place not too far from the ocean.  Then we sat there, at the breakfast place, talking for about an hour.  It was kind of overcast and we had no plans so we weren’t in a hurry.  But we finally did make it to the beach.  It was awesome.  Just a handful of people and a nice little cloud cover.  First we walked one way on the beach, then back the other way.  Then we decided to sit down.  The weather was perfect!  The sun actually came out around noon.  We just talked and enjoyed the ocean. We were immersing ourselves in the negative ions.

I had heard this a long time ago, but never looked into it until now.  And I barely glanced into it.  But I can tell you that what I am seeing out there in the way of information is that the air is full of invisible particles called ions.  Sometimes these ions can be positively charged or negatively charged.  Oddly enough, it is the negatively charged or “negative ions” that can possibly have a positive effect on us.

According to an article on WebMD:

The director of research at the Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, N.C. is quoted as saying, “Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy.”

The article further states:

Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy.

When I heard of negative ions long ago, I had only heard of the ocean as being a place to experience them.  Or if other places were mentioned I only remember the ocean.  But the WebMD article mentions mountains, waterfalls, and even the shower.  So there might be more to it than just feeling good when you are in these places because you are not at work.  It could be because of the negative ions in the air.

Unfortunately watching the video or playing it on your computer or device will not give you the same effects.  No negative ions via video, but I thought I would share it anyway.  Along with some pictures.

 

My friend and I sure enjoyed our breakfast and our ocean time.

Would you rather go to the mountains or the ocean?

 

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Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, PiYo, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, PiYo, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, PiYo, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, PiYo, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, PiYo, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Funny Name For Tea With Oregano

Posted by terrepruitt on October 23, 2014

I was looking around WordPress one day to see what other blogs I could read – besides Nia blogs – in the areas that I am interested in.  To me the way to peek around and search for other blogs used to be much easier.  I used to be able to go to a WordPress home page and the page would come up with options to search.  Now when I go to that URL it takes me to one of my admin pages.  I imagine that if I signed out I might end up at a page I could search, but the whole reason I am searching WordPress blogs is because there has to be ones I would be interested in and when I am signed in it is so easy to comment.  I have to go to a URL that I have bookmarked because it is not one that is easily remembered just to get a search field.  Anyway . . . I was looking at different blogs and I came across a post with a title that caught my eye and made me laugh so I clicked on the blog to check it out.  The post was about tea with oregano in it.  That got me thinking about the benefits of oregano.

First, the title that caught my eye was Sick People Tea.  Ha, ha, ha.  I thought that was very funny.  Sounds pretty accurate to me.  It is tea people drink when they are sick.  Still makes me laugh.  The recipe consists of lemon slices, fresh ginger, fresh or dried oregano, and water.  The instructions are found on Ali Does It Herself (click here).

I have not tried the tea.  I am not a fan of oregano.  But more importantly I have not been sick since I discovered the recipe a few days ago.  If I can remember (one reason I post things) when I do feel under-the-weather I will give this a try.  Even though I don’t really think of oregano as an herb I like.  I like its relation; sweet marjoram.

Oregano contains very high concentration of antioxidants – according to an article published in the Journal of Nutrition about the assessment of “the contribution of culinary and medicinal herbs to the total intake of dietary antioxidants”.  As a reminder, antioxidants help keep other molecules from oxidation (which can produce free radicals).  Further reminder from WebMD: “Free radicals” is a term often used to describe damaged cells that can be problematic.  Because oregano is an antioxidant it can help boost your immune system.

Many sources state the oregano is a good source of Vitamin K (needed for blood and bone health).

WebMD states that Oregano might possibly help lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol).  The site states there was clinical research that showed this occurred after taking oregano after each meal for three months.  The same page states that oregano oil killed parasites in the intestines after taking it for six weeks.

Many sites claim that oregano is helpful in the treatment of  asthma, allergies, bronchitis, colds and flus, coughing, acne, dandruff, toothaches, bloating, indigestion, menstrual cramps, arthritis, headaches, among other things, but more research is needed to prove treatment with oregano and/or its oil is effective.

There are so many variable when using herbs and things, I think it could help for some people for some issues and not others.

You may have seen the “life-hack” that states oregano oil will help deter insects.  I have haven’t tried it but it sounds great if it works.

Do you like oregano?  Do you think of Italian Food when you think of oregano?  Do you cook with oregano?  Doesn’t the Sick People Tea sound interesting?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Friends With Benefits

Posted by terrepruitt on June 12, 2014

Ahhhh . . . recently I have been feeling . . . I don’t know . . . if I had to label it, I would say “depleted”.  I think the time has come when I am starting to miss my mom.  Ya know at first, I was busy and the last couple of years she was too tired to talk much so we didn’t talk that much . . . it could be a couple of weeks between phone calls.  She had also had limits on us visiting her.  Since she was not someone I see or talk to everyday it just seemed like a long time “in between” conversations.  Now, two months later . . . it is starting to affect me.  And I realized I felt a little depleted.  I hadn’t talked to my mom or seen my friends in a bit so I figured I needed a visit with a friend.  It just so happened I lucked out this week.  One of my friends/students has been away for a month and yesterday she showed up at Nia.  She came to class and it happened that she didn’t have an appointment or another class to rush off to.  So we sat and visited.  Then as we were visiting another friend showed up . . . which was really out of the norm.  It was obvious to me that this was all meant to be.  So I was able to get a little refilled.  Ya know the kind of replenishing that you get from visit with friends?  Then today after my Nia class I met with a friend for a quick visit, but we hadn’t seen each other in so long it turned out longer than we had thought.  It was a good visit.  A replenishment.  I want to post some information about how good relationships help us in life.

I was going through some papers and I found a little blurb that was printed many years ago that said having a deep conversation with a good friend might reduce anxiety in woman.  The theory was because it increased levels of progesterone.  So I went looking for the information on the internet and what I found actually distracted me from my original search (NO!  That NEVER happens to ANYONE EVER!!!!!).  Well, first let me quote from the article I found online at Michigan News

“Why does dishing with a girlfriend do wonders for a woman’s mood?

A University of Michigan study has identified a likely reason: feeling emotionally close to a friend increases levels of the hormone progesterone, helping to boost well-being and reduce anxiety and stress.”

So while we might not have known the biological reason why having close friends is good or makes us feel good we have heard enough information that we know research has shown friendships add to our lives.  But what I found took it a little further reminded me of how not only do GOOD friendships help make you feel better and give you health benefits they have been show to improve your health when you are ill.

Again, looking at information from years ago . . . WebMD’s article “Good Friends Are Good for You” states:

“One such study, reported in the journal Cancer, followed 61 women with advanced ovarian cancer. Those with ample social support had much lower levels of a protein linked to more aggressive types of cancer. Lower levels of the protein, known as interleukin 6, or IL-6, also boosted the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Women with weak social support had levels of IL-6 that were 70% higher in general, and two-and-a-half times higher in the area around the tumor.”

Also according to the article women with breast cancer in a support group had less pain and that “strong social support helps people cope with stress.”  Well, I know, for a fact that this is true for me.  I don’t need a study to tell me that I am less stressed after a visit with a close friend.

The article mentions that having a lot of friends may even reduce your chances of getting a cold.  Well, I don’t believe that quantity of friends is what supplies the benefit, I think it is the quality.  If you are able to vent to your friends and receive support and hear their stories and give them support back . . . that is what supplies us with stress relief.  We are getting things off our chest and getting support in return.  We are connecting with real people that have real problems and getting a sense of not being the only one whose life it not TV perfect.  And I believe relieving stress and making that connection supports our immune system which in turn helps protect us from catching colds.

So, my advice . . . if you are feeling blue or overwhelmed or perhaps not really certain what you are feeling, a little out of sorts, visit with a friend.  See if that helps cheer you up.  Might not take away all of the blue, but perhaps it will help ground you a bit so that you can do the rest.

Do you know what I am talking about?  Have you ever felt that wonderful fullness after a visit with friends? Do you believe that a good social network can help support medical treatment?  What else have you got on your mind?

 

If this post sounds familiar . . . .you could have read Friends For Life, which is pretty similar.  🙂

 

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Some Like It Hot

Posted by terrepruitt on May 13, 2014

The average body temperature of a healthy, resting adult human being is stated to be at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius.  I say average because some people have a slightly higher temperature that is normal for them and some have a slightly lower temperature that is normal for them.  So 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius is average.  I like what Wiki says:  ” Despite what many schoolchildren are taught, there is no single number that represents a normal or healthy temperature for all people under all circumstances using any place of measurement.”  Information gleaned from several sources remind us that changes in hormone levels can change the body temperature. Also that the different ways temperature is taken can indicate a different reading.  Oral is where you get the average “normal” of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius, where an ear or rectal measure could be higher, and an armpit measure lower.  Our weather is too hot for me right now, so I was thinking of body temperature and just thought I note some information.  It is interesting to me.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaWhen my mom was first in the hospital a couple of years ago when she had a lobe of her lung removed I first saw the forehead swipe thermometer.  I was amazed.  I said to the nurse, “What did you just do?  Are you kidding me?”  I had never seen that before.  She picked it up and was done with it before I fully comprehended what she did.  I thought that was super cool.  Then not too long after I took my cat to the vet and they had an ear thermometer . . . which is GREAT for an animal.  Taking an animal’s temperature is the second thing (they weigh them first) that happens at a doctor visit and normally it does not set the right mood.  So the ear thermometer is great.

Body temperature can change throughout the day, changing almost a full degree F.  It can also change according to its needs, if it is hungry or sleepy its temperature can change.  There can also be slight differences from day-to-day.  Outside variables also affect body temperature . . . if it is cold or hot outside the body could reflect that.  Each body has a “normal” range for it.

I find the difference in heat tolerance to be interesting.  I do not like heat . . . at all.  To me it is too hot when the temperature is over 75°, but that also depends on if there is not wind.  This past weekend the car thermometer said 72° F but there was a wind and it was perfect to me.  I loved it.  I wish I would have gone outside.  My husband likes the temperature warmer.  Many people like the sun and heat.  Many do not.  I find the differences interesting.   I often wonder if it has to do with sweating.  If I am slightly warm I am sweaty and I don’t like to sweat unless I am working out, like doing Nia.  And I know many people who don’t sweat.  So they are fine when it is 80° whereas I am too hot and sweaty in that heat.  I don’t think my temperature runs high, but I don’t know.  I cannot remember the last time I had my temperature taken.  And normally I don’t take it unless I think I have a fever so that doesn’t help know what my “normal”.

This is the first day of our “hot spell”.  I hope it cools down by the weekend.  As they say it will.

So do you know if your body’s temperature is a little higher than the “average”?  Is it lower?  Do you like hot weather?  What do you consider hot?

*Some information was from WebMD.com

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Why, Yes, It is GOOD Fat

Posted by terrepruitt on November 1, 2012

Don’t you just love avocados?  I know so many people who do.  Some people I know could just eat an avocado plain.  Cut it in half, pull it apart, and use a spoon to scoop out the mushy flesh inside.  Ewwww.  Not my thing.  I am not a fan of avocado at all.  I usually get as far as cutting it in half and scoop out a portion, then it starts to get on my hands and under my nails and I am done.  I end up putting it on a dish with a spoon or a knife — depending on the ripeness — and telling my husband he has to deal with it.  I lean towards the idea that they taste like dirt.  But I can’t actually remember the last time I tasted one.  But the idea of it tasting like dirt is stuck in my head.  People are often amazed that I don’t like avocado because most people LOVE them.  They say, “Oh, but you must like guacamole?”  And I don’t.  But there are many smoothie recipes that have avocado in them.  There is also a recipe that came with my blender for tortilla soup recipe that has a bit of avocado in it.  I do like that, but it has a very small bit of avocado.  I think that if you mix avocado with enough other stuff the taste can be disguised.  After looking up nutrient information on them I am going to try to add it to more recipes.  It seems the fat in avocados is unique and has the potential for many health benefits.

According to WH Foods about 85% of an avocado’s calories is from fat.  But as you probably have heard it is a “good” fat.  The properties in the fat contained in avocados have anti-inflammatory benefits.  And you might have heard that more and more research is proving that chronic inflammation in the body is being linked to many illnesses and diseases.

The information I am seeing is that avocados are thought to help lower blood cholesterol levels.   Also since they contain oleic acid it is believed they might help lowering risks of heart disease. These are some of the things that are meant by avocados contain “good” fat.

World’s Healthiest Foods nutrient information on Avocados:

1.00 cup (146.00 grams) = 233.60 calories

fiber 9.78 g   /  39.1% of the DVDance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba
vitamin K 30.66 mcg / 38.3% of the DV
folate 118.26 mcg / 29.6% of the DV
vitamin C 14.60 mg / 24.3% of the DV
vitamin B5 2.03 mg /20.3% of the DV
potassium 708.10 mg / 20.2% of the DV
vitamin B6 0.38 mg  /19.0% of the DV

WebMD states:

“Avocados are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins C, K, folate, and B6. Half an avocado has 160 calories, 15 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fat, and only 2 grams saturated fat. One globe contains more than one-third daily value of vitamin C, and more than half the day’s requirements of vitamin K.”

According to Wiki, avocados originated in Mexico.  Wiki further states “The avocado is a climacteric fruit (the banana is another), which means it matures on the tree, but ripens off the tree.”  I didn’t know that.  I always thought they were picked too soon, but apparently they ripen off the tree.

So do you like avocados?  How do you eat them?  Do you have any recipes that you put them in?

Posted in Food | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Baby Bok Choy – Oh Joy!

Posted by terrepruitt on September 17, 2011

I am in love. I first mentioned bok choy on my blog when I was talking about foods that Dr. Oz thinks will help prevent cancer.  When I first mentioned it I thought I had never had it, but some commentors pointed out that I more than likely had it in Chinese food. Yeah, they, of course, were correct.  I really like baby bok choy in my soup.  I thought it would make a good substitution for green garlic. I thought it was more like an onion.  The other day I decided to buy some and add it to a chicken dish I had made. Oh my.

The baby bok choy added such a great flavor I wondered if I would like it sautéed by itself. So I cooked some up last night. I had faith I would like it. So much faith that I made my hubby collard greens, which he loves, so I wouldn’t have to share my baby bok choy. Oh my. It taste like butter. As I was eating it I kept thinking “butter”. So I wanted to verify that. So I sacrificed a bite to hubby. I said, “Does that taste like butter?” He agreed. I told him I didn’t put any butter in it and he said if he didn’t know better he would have said I was lying.

To cook it, I cut the ends off the top green portion and chopped them up, then after they are cooked tender I throw in the chopped green portion and cook them a bit. My cooking method is to saute it in garlic olive oil, with some onions and garlic salt – yeah, my norm.

I am convinced that boy choy does not taste the same although I have not tried it I just have experienced baby versions of veggies are different than “adult” versions. So I am sticking to the baby bok choy.

I forgot it was considered a cabbage.  I was just reminded that I had heard that because I wrote it in my Dr. Oz post.  But I don’t understand the classifications of fruits and veggies, so I am not surprised that I didn’t know it was considered a cabbage and then forgot it was considered a cabbage shortly after I learned it.   I do not think of cabbage as “stalky”.  I think of cabbage as a round head.  But . . . bok choy is considered a cabbage.  According to The Cook’s Thesaurus:

“bok choy = Chinese chard = Chinese white cabbage = Chinese cabbage = Chinese
mustard cabbage = pak choy = pak choi = baak choi = white mustard cabbage =
white celery mustard = taisai = bai cai”  and “bok choy sum = Canton bok choy”

I could not find specific nutrition information on BABY bok choy but WebMD said:

Per 1 cup:  Bok Choy Cooked

Calories                   20
Fiber                         3
Vitamin A              62%
Vitamin B-2           10%
Vitamin B-6           22%
Vitamin C               59%
Folic Acid               17%
Magnesium              6%
Potassium              18%
Omega-3s         100 mg

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It is a cruciferous vegetable.  Which family “takes its alternate name (Cruciferae, New Latin for “cross-bearing”) from the shape of their flowers, whose four petals resemble a cross,” according to Wiki.  Cruciferous vegetables have a lot of phytochemicals which are thought to have anti-cancer properties.  Could be that they also contain a lot of vitamins and minerals and are not short on delivering dietary fiber.  All of which I think contribute to health.

I really believe that baby bok choy is a vegetable that people who do not like vegetables could use as a “gateway vegetable”.  🙂  They could eat it allowing them to get used to the idea of vegetables and it could help start them on the path of eating vegetables.

What about you, do you like bok choy?  Have you tried baby bok choy?  I have a feeling that you will see more post about baby bok choy as I experiment with cooking it and eating it.

Posted in Food, Vegetables | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »