Lifelong Learning – Page 6 – garyskitchen.net

July 4, 2023July 4, 2023

Happy 4th of July (2023 iron edition)

Nearly 40% of girls and young women in the U.S. may have iron deficiency, which can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of many health problems, according to a new study.The study was published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association and included 12 years of data for a total of nearly 3,500 girls and women ages 12 to 21 years old.The Cleveland Clinic says the most common causes of iron-deficiency anemia are those that involve blood loss, including heavy menstrual periods. The body gets iron from food, and not getting enough iron from food, such as due to eating a vegan or vegetarian diet, can also lead to deficiency.
Young Girls, Women Are at High Risk of Iron Deficiency: Study – Medscape – Jun 29, 2023 — https://www.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/993864?src=rss

There are two forms of dietary iron: heme and nonheme. Heme iron is derived from hemoglobin. It is found in animal foods that originally contained hemoglobin, such as red meats, fish, and poultry (meat, poultry, and seafood contain both heme and non-heme iron). Your body absorbs the most iron from heme sources. Most nonheme iron is from plant sources.
Iron-Rich Foods – https://www.webmd.com/diet/iron-rich-foods

The Boss went for a walk while I stayed back with my caffeine. I let her walk by herself because I’m getting so darned slow. This way she gets her heart rate up a bit and I get my caffeine RDA. Win win.

We decided to invite the Old Guy across the street over for a burger tonight. This morning the grill got cleaned. Easily >90% of the cleaning was done by The Boss. I’ve been to three different grocery stores picking up stuff for what potentially could be a total of four eaters. I also get to do the cooking. Win win again.

Trouble in Paradise Update. I bought a six pack.

Burgers, baked beans (vegetarian), Rocky Top Coleslaw – 2020 Update, watermelon, and ice cream. Make sure you get some iron today.

But DO NOT EAT (crickets for iron).

July 4, 2023

DO NOT EAT (crickets for iron)

Iron absorption from house crickets and fortified maize porridge with crickets is low, which may be explained by the presence of chitin and other inhibitors in the cricket biomass.
Absorption of iron from edible house crickets: a randomized crossover stable-isotope study in humans — The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 116, Issue 4, October 2022, Pages 1146–1156, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac223

Always remember to eat a well balanced diet.

And find other dietary sources for iron besides crickets.

May 31, 2023

More Sugar More Fat Please

Food Addiction?

The study, published online Wednesday in the journal Cell Metabolism, found eating a snack high in fat and sugar every day alters the reward circuits in human brains to create lasting preferences.
Fatty and sugary foods train your brain to hate healthier options: Yale study — New York Post, March 22, 2023

HT to Sally Feltner for the original post. Link to the original post is provided above. I’ve also credited the New York Post because I’m not sure who wrote the sentence I’ve quoted.

What I am sure about is my cerebral reward circuits still function very well if I have to choose between a piece of fruit or a cup of ice cream. Or a piece of pizza versus a salad. Or french fries rather than a plain baked potato.

April 23, 2023June 19, 2023

Cranberries

A global study looking at the benefits of cranberry products published in Cochrane Reviews has determined cranberry juice, and its supplements, reduce the risk of repeat symptomatic UTIs in women by more than a quarter, in children by more than half, and in people susceptible to UTI following medical interventions by about 53%.
Flinders University. “A myth no more: Cranberry products can prevent urinary tract infections for women: New medical evidence shows consuming cranberry products is an effective way to prevent a UTI.” ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230420080722.htm (accessed April 23, 2023).

Journal Reference – Gabrielle Williams, Deirdre Hahn, Jacqueline H Stephens, Jonathan C Craig, Elisabeth M Hodson. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023; 2023 (4) DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub

UTI is short for urinary tract infection but if you are prone to these infections you already knew that.

April 15, 2023

Scary Chart for Old People

Aging may be the greatest threat to your freedom and independence you’ll ever know, only because of what it does to your muscles.
Sean Hyson. How Old Is Too Old to Start Strength Training? – Medscape – Apr 14, 2023 — https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/990794?src=rss#vp_1

April 9, 2023

Eat Broccoli, Protect Your Gut

Broccoli is known to be beneficial to our health. For example, research has shown that increased consumption of the cruciferous vegetable decreases incidence of cancer and type 2 diabetes. In a recent study, researchers found that broccoli contains certain molecules that bind to a receptor within mice and help to protect the lining of the small intestine, thereby inhibiting the development of disease. The findings lend support to the idea that broccoli truly is a ‘superfood.’
Penn State. “Broccoli consumption protects gut lining, reduces disease, in mice: Researchers discover that a certain molecule in broccoli interacts with a receptor in mice to promote gut health.” ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230406152639.htm (accessed April 9, 2023).

March 26, 2023

Chicken Thigh Week – Sunday, The End

Another short post today. There’s too much bracketball to watch today.

Breakfast – Roasted chickpeas and veggies

Lunch – Ampaipitakwong Fried Rice (aka Pete’s), egg roll (yes, it does resemble last night’s dinner)

Dinner – Chicken fajitas

I enjoyed tracking my meals this week and learned a lot.

I no longer need to track consumption like I have in the past. The habit and behavioral changes have stuck around.

My snack last night was grapes and crackers. They found my mouth after I posted.

The very ripe spotted bananas seemed to ripen faster when residing in the same bowl as the once rock hard green avocados that are now ripe enough to eat hence fajitas for dinner tonight.

I made Whole Wheat Banana Muffins (updated). See above.

Snack – muffin?

For the week 1/3 of my meals were meat based. Time to rename The 90% Solution The Nearly 70% Solution.

Still not a vegan.

March 22, 2023

Five healthy habits net more healthy years — Malheur County Health Department

Are healthy habits worth cultivating? One recent study and a previous similar study suggest healthy habits may help people tack on years of life and sidestep serious illnesses, such as diabetes and cancer. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that five low-risk lifestyle habits are critical for a longer life expectancy. The more of […]
Five healthy habits net more healthy years — Malheur County Health Department

February 20, 2023

How to Thrive in Retirement

1. Do not smoke or, if you do, quit.
2. Maintain a healthy body weight to avoid diabetes, hypertension,and elevated lipids.
3. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of vegetables, minimize red meat,and drink lots of water.
4. Participate in aerobic exercise for an hour several times a week.
5. Use body weight and functional exercises to maintain muscle mass.
6. Stretch and do functional movement exercises or yoga to maintain flexibility.
7. Develop an anti-stress regimen such as meditation or “forest bathing.”
8. Maintain social connections.
9. Optimize cognition through lifelong reading and learning.
10. Get adequate sleep and practice good oral hygiene.
Functional Longevity: What Use Is Retirement If You Can’t Move and Think? — https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/functional-longevity-in-retirement/

When people think about retirement the first thing that typically comes to mind is the financial aspect. This list is a reminder to focus on the non-financial aspects of retirement as essential elements of your plans too. I plan on using this list as a personal report card, a regular and routine check up of how I’m doing and what needs improvement. I’ve given myself passing grades for 9/10.

#4 – improvement needed.