For a guy with a Nobel Peace Prize on his mantle, President Obama sure likes to fight. That is, as long as he's battling those nasty conservatives at home. The president's party was just hammered in midterm elections; now he's back with his pen, his phone, and an abundance of defiance.
The coming showdown involves amnesty for millions of illegal aliens. Fox News has obtained details of a 10-point White House plan that will enable as many as 4.5 million immigrants to stay in the USA legally. The president's executive action could come as early as next week, giving Americans something to chew on - in addition to turkey and stuffing - over Thanksgiving dinner.
Wait until you see what one of Roy’s Folks has cooked up for Halloween this year.
Last Halloween, the flying ghost took some trick-or-treaters by surprise.
“I flew toward them and they parted like the Red Sea,” Monty Mendenhall said.
That's right, coffee beans are actually the pits of berries. The coffee berries, sometimes called coffee cherries, are an edible fruit that have coffee beans inside. They are only called 'beans' because of their resemblance to beans.
Did you know you were actually drinking fruit when you were throwing back those lattes? It explains why the Brazilian acai berry shares so many properties with the coffee 'bean'.
#2 Hawaii is the Only U.S. State That Commercially Grows Coffee
Coffee tends to grow better at equatorial climates, so you can't really grow coffee in the contiguous United States. Hawaii, however, has an optimal climate for harvesting java beans.
Hawaii is known for their Kona coffee which is widely exported and popular around the world. As if people in Hawaii didn't have it good enough, they have some of the world's most beautiful beaches and some of the world's best coffee!
#3 It used to be custom in Turkey that if a husband did not provide his wife with coffee, it was grounds for divorce
"Until death or lack of quality coffee beans do you part?" This is an odd requirement, no doubt, but it sort of makes sense, and we bet the required coffee drinking makes for a much happier marriage, anyway!
Thankfully this custom isn't practiced anymore today. Now we live in a world of equality where husbands and wives alike should do the right thing and make coffee for their spouse. Ever made a single cup of coffee for yourself while your significant other was home? Then you've probably also suffered the consequences.
#4 Despite what most people think, an espresso has 1/3 the caffeine of a cup of coffee due to serving sizes
Consider throwing a double- or triple-shot into your favorite beverage, because just one might not cut it for the more hardcore caffeine addicts. Or you could make a Red Eye- a shot of espresso inside a cup of coffee, or as we like to call it, beanception.
Some people actually prefer drinking espresso to drip-coffee or French press for that very reason: you can actually control your own caffeine consumption. So if you're reaching for that late night cup of coffee, try an Americana with 1 shot instead of a whole cup of coffee, you'll sleep much sounder.
#5 Brazil is the world's biggest producer of coffee by a wide margin, followed by Vietnam and Colombia
In fact, in 2011 Brazil produced nearly twice as much as Vietnam and Colombia combined and a third of all of the coffee produced in the entire world. This statistic has remained fairly constant for the last 150 years!
Brazil is also one of the only countries on earth that grows both Arabica and Robusta beans. It should come as no surprise that Brazil is the number one exporter of coffee in the world, and coffee makes up a decent chunk of Brazil's whole economy.
#6 It would take around 100 cups of coffee for a lethal dose of caffeine
Unimaginable. We get the jitters after just two or three cups, so what would cup 90 feel like? Would we be able to fly and fight crime? Probably not, and we definitely don't recommend trying it out!
Most cases of coffee overdose do not come from conventional coffee drinking, but from more, erm, creative ways of consuming coffee, such as coffee enemas. Having that much caffeine in your system could lead to a heart attack or seizure.
#7 There Are Two Kinds of Beans
The two kinds of beans are Arabica and Robusta. The have different tastes and different caffeine content; Arabica beans are more popular around the world. In fact, 70% of coffee drank on earth is Arabica.
Robusta beans grow in different climates and are found largely in Africa and Indonesia. Although most people prefer the taste of Arabica, Robusta has it's fans, and Robusta beans have twice as much caffeine as Arabica!
#8 The drink "Americano"comes from when American GIs in WWII would order their espresso with water because it was too strong
Sort of funny when you think about how tough soldiers are supposed to be: Asking for your hosts to water down their coffee because it's too strong for you definitely isn't the most rugged of requests!
When preparing an Americano, you always pour the hot water on top of the espresso in the glass. If you are instead pouring espresso over hot water you are making a different drink, commonly referred to as a long black. #9 New York drinks about 7 times as much coffee as the rest of the world
Well, they DO call it the city that never sleeps....maybe this is why? You know, New Yorkers, we've heard it helps if you don't drink any coffee after sunset. Just a tip.
There's some speculation as to why the Big Apple drinks so much coffee; a lot of it might have to do with population density. Since it is such a packed city, there are literally coffee shops everywhere. It also doesn't hurt that coffee is such a large part of the American culture. #10 Legend has it that coffee was discovered by Ethiopian shepherds who discovered their goats dancing around after eating the beans
How exactly do goats dance? In any case, we're forever grateful for the contribution of these anonymous, possibly-fictional 9th century goat herders; without them, restless New Yorkers would have no way to wake up in the morning!
Bless you dancing goats, for giving us a discovery that's literally better than every other discovery in the history of the world. Every day when you drink your daily cup (or five) of coffee, make sure to get on your knees and thank the goat gods that brought us coffee.
JEROME DAVIS PBR INVITATIONAL ARCHDALE NORTH CAROLINA
When: Aug. 29 & 30 (Labor Day Weekend) Where: Davis Ranch Arena, Archdale North Carolina Address: 5667 Elmer Beeson Road, Archdale NC, 27263 Time: 8:00 p.m. (gates will open at 6:00 p.m.) Kids (5-11) Tickets: $5 on Friday, $10 on Saturday. Adult Tickets; $15 in Advance or $20 at the gate. ( THERE WILL BE TICKETS AT THE GATE ) Online here or at: Davis Feed in Randleman – Barn Loft Western Store in Thomasville – Tractor Supply in Asheboro – K & L Western Store in Asheboro.Online at:JEROMEDAVIS.COM
I've always been an admirer of U2 band since the early 80's and have the utmost respect for Bono. I've always loved most of U2 music. Bono said, "We pray to the risen Jesus" U2's Bono on his faith in Jesus Christ. Opening up about his religious views, the singer, 53, revealed that he and wife Ali Hewson, and four children Eve, Jordan, Elijah and John Hewson, hold impromptu prayer sessions in honor of sick members of the family and those generally struggling in life. In an interview with Ireland's RTE One, the rock star said: 'I pray to get to know the will of God, because then the prayers have more chance of coming true, I mean, that’s the thing about prayer,' Bono told interviewer Gay Byrne. He added: 'We don't do it in a very lofty way in our family. It’s just a bunch of us on the bed, usually, we’ve a very big bed in our house. We pray with all our kids, we read the Scriptures, we pray.' When asked who he prays to and for what, Bono replied: 'The risen Jesus.'
He said: '[Jesus] went around saying he was the Messiah. That’s why he was crucified. He was crucified because he said he was the Son of God. 'So, he either, in my view, was the Son of God or he was nuts... And I find it hard to accept that whole millions and millions of lives, half the Earth, for 2,000 years have been touched, have felt their lives touched and inspired by some nutter. I just, I don’t believe it.' U2 frontman Bono talks about his faith and answers the question "Who is Jesus?" in the video below. Click play to watch.
The Myrtle Beach area – then known as Long Bay – was inhabited by the Waccamaw Indians before the Europeans arrived in the late 18th century. In 1899, Burroughs and Collins received a charter to build the Conway and Seashore Railroad, which began service in 1900. Railroad workers spent their downtime at the beach, becoming the area’s first tourists. The beach area was then called “New Town” in contrast to the “Old Town” of Conway. In 1900, a contest was held to rename the town. In homage to the wax myrtle bushes that are so prominent here, Addie Burroughs, widow of Franklin G. Burroughs, offered the name Myrtle Beach. The name stuck, and Myrtle Beach became an official town in 1938. It became a city in 1957. The town grew gradually from a farming community into a beach destination. John T. Woodside’s construction of a golf course and the grand Ocean Forest Hotel were instrumental in developing the area’s tourism culture. The Ocean Forest Hotel was built in 1930 and covered 13 acres of oceanfront land, offering the first upscale accommodations in the Myrtle Beach area. From one hotel to hundreds of accommodations choices today, the Myrtle Beach area remains a tourist destination, attracting more than 14 million visitors each year.
The Myrtle Beach Pavilion was an historic pay-per-ride park, no parking fee 11-acre amusement park that was located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at the corner of 9th Avenue and Ocean Boulevard, which is just a few blocks down from another Myrtle Beach amusement park the Family Kingdom Amusement Park both in the "heart" of Myrtle Beach. "The Pavilion” had well over 40 different attractions from kids to thrill-seekers alike, and included the wooden rollercoaster Hurricane: Category 5. Despite all the best efforts made by citizens to save the park it was lost to redevelopment in 2007. The actual history of the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park goes back long before the park ever came in existence. There have been several Pavilions were built in the decades prior to the Pavilion being built and all which were a product of Burroughs and Chapin who were one of the main companies responsible for the development of the Myrtle Beach area. Each of the Pavilions were built with a different architectural style and were even built of different materials, but all served a place where the community could gather for interaction and entertainment.
The first Pavilion that was built in 1908 was a one-story building that was part of Myrtle Beach's first hotel, the now long gone Seaside Inn. It was destroyed in 1920 by a fire, though the bricks from that site were later used in nearby Conway. The Pavilion was later rebuilt in 1925 as a two-story complex which was hit with another fire in 1943 which burned the building to the ground. It was rebuilt for a third time in 1948 and this Pavilion was built out of concrete and steel and had a large wooden dance floor which was located on the second floor along with a stage and grandstands.
The amusement park itself began development on the west side of Ocean Boulevard, across the street from the new Pavilion building in 1948. A traveling carnival that had stopped in Conway, SC for the annual Tobacco Festival, but soon found a permanent home across the street from the Pavilion and after the carnival signed an agreement with Burroughs and Chapin the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park was born. Numerous acts such as ice skaters, bear acts, and talent shows were immediately brought in to supplement the carnival and also to help boost interest in the new “park.”
In 1950, just two years after its opening, Burroughs and Chapin bought out the Central Amusement Company the owners of the park at the time and added 14 new rides to the park and also added new concessions to the park. Over the years, the park will add as well as and exchange numerous carnival-style flat rides, as well as suffering and fighting through several hurricanes.
Among its significant historical attractions were the Herschell-Sillman Carousel as well as the Baden Band Organ. The Carousel itself dates back to 1912, and include numerous types of animals such as: frogs, lions, ostriches, zebras, giraffes, and even dragons instead of using the classical horses. The only horse found on the carousel is the “lead horse." which was decorated in great detail and was located on the outside row of the ride. Even though the area has unfriendly weather and climatic condition near the beach, the carousel has been maintained well over the year and it still continues to operate to this day at Pavilion Nostalgia at Broadway At The Beach and is one of only 15 working Herschell-Spillman carousels in the country.
Baden Band Organ
The Baden Band Organ one of the parks other historical features was originally hand-built, decorated and crafted by Ruth and Sohn in Waldkirch Baden, Germany for display at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris. After the World Exposition the organ traveled all around Europe on a wagon and eventually landed at "The Pavilion." It had over 400 pipes, 98 keys, and was 20 feet wide, 11 feet high and 7 feet deep, making it a giant organ that also weighed two tons.
Beside the numerous carnival-style Flat rides and a variety of Kiddie rides normally found at Carnivals, fairs or amusement parks, there was a a log flume ride called Hydro: SURGE, which was a famous Haunted Hotel dark ride, and, more importantly, it was the home to six roller coasters during the Pavilions nearly 60 year life. The first rollercoaster was received in 1951 and was called Comet Jr, which was a pint sized wooden coaster that was built by National Amusement Devices Company that remained at the park until the late 1960s. The park also had a S.D.C. Galaxi model roller coaster at one point, which was simply called Galaxi that was removed from the park in 1997. One the smaller coaster front the park had a train-themed Mack family coaster called the Little Eagle that opened in in 1986. The Arrow Dynamics’ Mad Mouse wild mouse coaster opened in 1998 which replaced the Galaxi that was removed from the park a year earlier. After the closure of the park, both of these small coasters where moved to the NASCAR Speedpark in Myrtle Beach, SC.
In 1978, the park added its first major coaster, which was the steel looping Corkscrew, also built by Arrow Development, that had been relocated to The Pavilion from the Magic Harbor. The coaster featured a 70 foot drop, as well as double corkscrews along the rides 1,250 foot long course.
Mad Mouse and Hurricane
After it was in operation for 31 years at the park it was closed and relocated to the Salitre Magico park in Columbia in order to make way for the parks new signature coaster, Hurricane: Category 5 (known as “Hurricane” for short) that was built by Custom Coasters International (CCI) at a total cost of $6 million. The “Hurricane” was a 3,800-foot long, hybrid-structure coaster that featured an out-and-back style layout that included 14 turns and double helices at each, a 100 foot drop, and a top speed of 55 mph. At the time of the parks closing in 2006, the "Hurricane" was scrapped, but the Gerstlauer trains ride was purchased by Kings Island to use on their modified Son of Beast coaster.
Just shortly before the start of the 2006 operation season, Burroughs and Chapin the owner of the Pavilion announced that the 2006 would be the park's final operating season. The park officially held its last public operating day on September 24, 2006, but held a special special “Last Ride” event for select participants on September 30. The announcement of the closure of the park lead to the park to see record profits as well as attendance, but there was no hope to try to save the park due to what the parks owners called to “financial instability.”
While both the Haunted Hotel and Hurricane roller coaster were demolished following closure of the parks, not all of The Pavilion was lost. The parks carousel along with the Baden Band Organ, and several other small parks were relocated to “mini-park,” called the Pavilion Nostalgia Park that is located at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC that opened in 2007. Even though the area where the Pavilion used to be still sits vacant, and several nearby business have been devastated by the loss, both the Pavilion Nostalgia Park and a commemorative historical marker will not allow The Pavilion’s memory and history to be lost.
The slogan for the Farewell Season was "One More Ride, One More Thrill, One More Memory, One Last Time.
A week after The Ultimate Warrior delivered an emotional speech on Monday Night Raw, the WWE honored the wrestler that died last Tuesday.
WWE superstars gathered on stage to open the show and fans were given Ultimate warrior masks to wear. After a video montage, the bell was rung 10 times in his memory.
The Ultimate Warrior, one of the biggest stars of wrestling during the 1980s and 1990s, died of heart disease, according to the Maricopa County (Ariz.) medical examiner’s office.
Warrior, 54, collapsed outside a Scottsdale, Ariz., hotel last Tuesday while walking with his wife Dana. He made his first appearance on “Monday Night Raw” in 18 years the night before his death.
Warrior, 54, died of “atherosclerotic/arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease” and of natural causes, which means no drugs or alcohol were directly involved in his death.
Born James Hellwig, he had legally changed his name to Warrior. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
A full autopsy report likely won’t be completed for several months.
ROCK 92AND SMOKIN' HARLEY DAVIDSON ARE GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO WIN A "FAT BOY" FROM A FAT BOY!
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AND IF YOU STILL DON'T GET QUALIFIED, DON'T WORRY! THERE WILL BE LAST CHANCE QUALIFIERS DRAWN THE DAY OF THE GIVEAWAY FROM 11AM-1PM AT SMOKIN' HARLEY DAVIDSON ON SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2014.
"If you are looking for a biblical movie, this is definitely not it," He said. "It's not the story of Noah that I was hoping for. If you are going for that, you will be horribly disappointed." I would love to come and report that the movie was great, but I can't," he said. "It's awful." ~ Glenn Beck See more stories at: http://ow.ly/va26C, http://ow.ly/va2Ra
Mental Attitude: Men are More Forgetful than Women.
Researchers asked 37,504 men and women ages 30 and up nine questions about their memory and found that regardless of age, men tend to be more forgetful than women. The reason for this gender difference is unknown but researchers speculate that health problems that are more prevalent in men, such as high blood pressure and a high body-mass index, may trigger some forms of neurodegeneration.
BMC Psychology, October 2013
Health Alert: You're at Risk if Your Spouse Has Type 2 Diabetes.
A review data on nearly 75,000 couples concludes that spouses of type 2 diabetics have a 26% increased risk for also developing the disease. The increase in risk may be related to lifestyle factors that couples may share such as a poor diet or lack of exercise.
BMC Medicine, January 2014
Diet: Do Omega-3 Fatty Acids Build a Better Brain?
A new study involving rhesus macaque monkeys finds that monkeys that consume a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids over the course of their lives have better developed, more connected brains. The specific omega-3 fatty acid involved in the study was docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is more commonly found in fish and oils derived from fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna.
Journal of Neuroscience, February 2014
Exercise: High-Intensity Strength Training Helps Parkinson's Patients.
According to new research, high-intensity strength training can produce significant improvements in quality of life, mood, and motor function in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Fifteen individuals with moderate Parkinson’s disease participated in high-intensity resistance training and interval training for 16 weeks. Lead author Dr. Marcas Bamman explains that they saw expected improvements such as increased strength, muscle size, and power but also improvements in balance, muscle control, cognition, mood, and a greater sense of well-being.
Journal of Applied Physiology, January 2014
Chiropractic: Recommended for Neck Pain.
A past study comparing manual therapy, physical therapy, and continued care with a general practitioner for the treatment of neck pain came to the conclusion that manual therapy is a favorable treatment option for patients with neck pain compared with physical therapy or care by a general practitioner.
Annals of Internal Medicine, May 2002
Wellness/Prevention: Melatonin May Lower Advanced Prostate Cancer Risk.
Risk for developing advanced prostate cancer. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland during sleep. Individuals who have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, have erratic sleep schedules, or who take sleep medications may have lower melatonin levels.
American Association for Cancer Research, January 2014
Heather Hills was the first place that I ever attempted to play golf. I had bought a mixed set of clubs from my friend Kurt Myers brother in-law Brent Russell. I had know idea what I was doing and had only been to a driving range a few times at Myrtle Beach. So off to the golf course I went with my brother in-law Jim Giles and I think Eric Giles his son. To make a long story short I shot 110 and think I lost 4 or 5 balls that has been around 12 years ago and still trying to play. Heather Hills has had its ups and downs since then and I can say that the new owners have really turned this little Executive Golf Course around.
On a spot of land alongside Ebert Road, the weeds grew tall. In some spots, they were up to a grown man’s waist. Underneath the weeds, the ground was all squish-squash, soaked from rain that settled and never evaporated. Five years’ worth of storms knocked limbs and leaves into the weeds and slop. If you looked at it, you had to wonder: What else was down in that mess?
Golf stories, that’s what. Thirty years of putts that lipped out, chips that hit the stick and fell, a few hole-in-ones, and all other sorts of memories created through the game.
Of course, people who’d been around golf in this city knew what was underneath the mess. They knew that from 1973 to about 2007, Heather Hills was a delightful little course, consisting of all par-4s and par-3s. It was known as an "executive course," one of the few of its kind in the state; not a par-3 course, but not a full-length course, either. The total par was 60. Children learned to play there because it was short enough to mess up.
Top golfers honed their skills there because it was tough enough to challenge them. And seniors finished their careers there because it was simple enough to not hurt old bones.
It was a special place. But in 2007, the owner and founder, Gene Doub, ran into some health problems and couldn’t run the course anymore. So he let it go. For the next four years, those weeds along Ebert Road grew.
David Hagie saw promise. The local businessman bought the small course from Doub and put some people to work. He put his son, Brandon, in charge of the property. Brandon knew he’d need a knowledgable superintendent to turn the grass back into shape.
In early 2012, Brandon Hagie found another Winston-Salem native, Dustin Jennings, who had spent the previous year working for the Washington Nationals’ grounds crew in Washington, D.C. Before that, he’d gone to turf school in Pinehurst and worked at a course there. Needless to say, he knew about grass.
So Jennings went out to the weeds in early 2012 to try and make Heather Hills a golf course again. "When I first saw it … you couldn’t tell where greens used to be and where tee boxes used to be," Jennings says. "It was all just a muddy mess. It looked like the place flooded and then whatever could grow here just grew. It was pretty much a jungle."
The Hagies and Jennings and Calvin Harris, a consultant, hit plenty of problems along the way. They underestimated the damage that had been done in the dormant phase. So they had to replace the irrigation system and totally overhaul the greens. They turned the old bentgrass up and laid down diamond zoysia—a grass much more resistant to heat and moisture. They also redid the clubhouse and renovated the popular tavern.
"There’s really no rhyme or reason to rebuilding a golf course," Jennings says. "You just do what you can. Whatever needed to be done; you chip away at it a little at a time."
Now officially reopened, Heather Hills has retained much of its neighborly vibe. A variety of townhomes and condos scatter along the edges of the course, while the sounds of barking dogs and smells of barbecue grills add to the backyard charm.
There’s a distinct suburban buzz along the front nine, as players tee off next to busy Ebert Road and walk underneath a set of power lines. The scenery is much calmer on the back nine, thanks to the rolling terrain and rushing waters of Salem Creek. The par 60 course now features six par-4 holes and the rest are par-3s with distances ranging from 96 to 323 yards.
All in all, it’s a welcome sight for those living in the area—many of whom purchased houses here because of the proximity to the golf course. When it became overgrown, their values went down. Now, they have hope of a rebound.
"I think it’s very important," Brandon Hagie says of the course’s place in the area. "It gives people a place to go play golf, especially for the elderly and the women, it’s not as long from a distance standpoint.
"But it also helps this community a ton. We get thank yous all the time from people who live around here."
See more pictures of Heather Hills as it was being renovated. Click here
Winter Hours
Opening @ 9:00am
Closing @ 5:00pm
Come & get your gift certificates today!
*We have a Bunny Hop every Sunday. Tee off is at 1:00pm. Please sign up or call no later than 11:00 am on Sunday morning.
*Heather Hill Residents-Show proof of residence and get $2 OFF!
Not everyone make's new year resolutions, but I'm trying to start off the new year on the right direction. I've been doing a lot of reading/research on trying to make myself healthier. After all I owe to not only myself but to my family. I want to be around to see my grandkids grow-up and see their kids too. We all get older and can't always do the things we once did. I consider myself an old school kind of guy.
From as early as I remember (around age 3) I have always been active or as my mom and dad said hyperactive. We lived at the end of a dead end road with nothing but woods and don't think I ever remember being inside except to eat of sleep and watch the Betty Feezor Show with mom.
Some of the old timers might remember or have heard of her. She was TV Homemaker who appeared on local TV channel 2 for close to a quarter of a century, over 5000 shows. The vast majority of her shows are lost because they were broadcast live and apparently WBTV did not make recordings.
Mamma loved to cook and she was still walking around 3 miles a day before she broke her hips. I would run and she would walk. She was in her late 70's then, so I think I inherited most my drive from the Couch side of the family. I was into about everything growing-up. Baseball, Football, Running, Karate, Motorcross Racing, Tennis etc. I can't even remember learning to drive a bicycle. Mom told me onetime that I was riding my brothers bicycle around 4 years old with no training wheels.
But kids and people have changed. Seems like everyones thumbs are getting more exercise, with all the Facebook, Twitter and Texting. We are getting inactive and it can leave to health problems as well as mental issues like depression etc. So here is a few tips that I have been reading up on and wanted to share the info with you. Hope you enjoy reading the tips. And if you like the read please LIKE & SHARE on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/raypublishing
May you and your family, friends have a blessed NEW YEAR! ~Scott @ Ray Publishing
Wellness/Prevention
An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.
Experts in the United Kingdom (UK) estimate that if everyone over the age of 50 simply ate one apple each day, this act alone would prevent about 8,500 vascular-related deaths each year. Previous studies estimate that prescribing statins to all adults over 50 years old could prevent a similar amount of vascular-related deaths annually but the mass prescription of statins in the UK could also result in an extra 10,000 diagnoses of diabetes and an extra thousand cases of muscle disease. The study did not note any potential negative effects from mass apple consumption.
Vitamin D Decreases Pain and Depression in Women with Type 2 Diabetes.
A new study has revealed that vitamin D supplementation can reduce both pain and depression in type 2 diabetic women. The participants in the study took 50,000 IUs of vitamin D2 per week for six months. By the end of the study, researchers noted a significant decrease in depression and a reduction in pain for women who also suffered neuropathic and/or sensory pain.
Sing Your Way to Happiness by Joining a Choir.
A new online survey of 400 people who either sing in a choir, sing alone, or play on a sports team found that mental well-being is higher among those who sing in a choir. Furthermore, choir members in the survey regarded their choir as a more meaningful social group than how athletes viewed their sports team. Study author Dr. Nick Stewart adds, "These findings suggest that the experience of using your voice to make music may be enhanced when you feel part of a cohesive social group." Mental Attitude
Link Found Between Heart Disease and Dementia in Postmenopausal Women.
A German study that included 6,500 elderly women found that those with heart disease were nearly 30% more likely to suffer from cognitive decline. Of the women with heart disease, those who had a heart attack were twice as likely to experience cognitive decline as those who had not had a heart attack. According to lead author Dr. Bernhard Haring, "Women with heart disease -- in particular women who have had a heart attack, bypass surgery, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease or carotid endarterectomy -- should be monitored by their doctors for potential cognitive decline… It is also very important to adequately manage heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes."
Good News Regarding Dementia.
Several recent studies show that the rate of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease is declining due to increased education and improvements in both health care (treatment of key cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol) and lifestyle (regular exercise).
Anxiety Linked to Stroke Risk!
Using 22 years worth of data on over 6,000 people, researchers have linked anxiety to stroke risk. According to the data, people with above average levels of anxiety were 33% more likely to suffer a stroke than their peers with the lowest levels of anxiety. People with high anxiety levels tend to be sedentary and smoke, both of which are risk factors for stroke. Stroke is the number four killer and the leading cause of disability in the United States.
Smartphone Usage Linked to Lower Grades and Higher Anxiety.
Based on data provided by over 500 college students, researchers at Kent State University in Ohio note that students who spend the most time using their smartphones tend to have lower grades and higher anxiety levels than their peers who spend the least time on their mobile devices.
Health Alerts
Don’t Mix Your Drinks!
A growing trend among young adults is mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Research has shown that college students tend to drink more heavily and become more intoxicated on days they consume a combination of energy drinks and alcohol than on days when they only drink alcohol. While the United States no longer permits manufacturers to premix high-caffeine products with alcohol, mixed drinks such as vodka and Red Bulls are becoming more popular. The public health implications include physical risks to individuals from blacking out, alcohol poisoning, and even exposing the community to dangerous situations in which young adults may be "wide awake drunk" after a night of partying.
Sleep Deprivation's Effect on Aging Bodies is Similar to Diabetes.
A new study finds that sleep deprivation affects blood sugar homeostasis in elderly mice in a manner similar to type 2 diabetes. If this finding translates to humans, it provides another reason for aging adults to get adequate rest.
Risks for First-Time Mothers Start at Age 30.
New research suggests that pregnancy risk begins much earlier than once thought. According to the available data, first-time mothers between the ages of 30 and 34 have a higher risk of giving birth to a premature or stillborn baby than younger first-time mothers. Lead study author Dr. Ulla Waldenström adds, "For women individually, the risk is small, but for society at large, there will be a significant number of 'unnecessary' complications with so many women having children just after 30. It would therefore be advisable to inform both women and men, even at schools, of how important age is to childbirth."
Diet
Eating Tomatoes May Help Prevent Breast Cancer!
For postmenopausal women, their risk for developing breast cancer rises as their body mass index (BMI) increases. A 10-week study involving 70 postmenopausal women found that consuming tomatoes and tomato-based products containing at least 25 mg of lycopene each day increased levels of the hormone adiponectin by 9%. Adiponectin helps regulate blood sugar and fat levels, which in turn, could help women achieve and maintain a more healthy BMI score, thus decreasing their risk for breast cancer. According to study author Dr. Adana Llanos, "Eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals such as lycopene, conveys significant benefits. Based on this data, we believe regular consumption of at least the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables would promote breast cancer prevention in an at-risk population."
Eating Fiber Lowers Heart Risk!
After analyzing 22 previous studies, researchers conclude that a diet high in fiber lowers a person's risk for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease with significant risk reduction increases for every 7 grams of fiber consumer per day. Dr. Robert Baron, professor of Medicine at the University of California, adds, "[Eating more fiber] may turn out to be the most important nutrition recommendation of them all."
Compound in Grape Seed Extract Kills Cancer Cells.
Investigators suggest that a naturally occurring compound found in grape seed extract, called B2G2, can kill prostate cancer cells. In a lab setting, B2G2 was observed to induce cancer cell death, known as apoptosis. Study author Dr. Alpna Tyagi writes, "We've shown similar anti-cancer activity in the past with grape seed extract, but now we know B2G2 is its most biologically active ingredient, which can be synthesized in quantities that will allow us to study the detailed death mechanism in cancer cells."
Oral Spray May Aid in Weight Loss.
Peptide YY is a hormone released by the gut after eating that tells the body it's full. Previous studies have found that injecting the hormone into the bloodstream reproduced the fullness effect but led to unwanted side-effects, such as vomiting. Now, researchers at the University of Florida's College of Medicine claim that delivering peptide YY through an oral mouth spray just thirty minutes before a meal helps the body feel satiated without inducing vomit. This could potentially lead to a new tool for helping people eat smaller meals as part of a weight loss plan.
FDA to Phase Out Antibiotics in Livestock.
In an effort to combat growing antibiotic resistance, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced it will take steps to phase out the non-medical use of antibiotics in animals used for food production.
Exercise High-Tech Athletic Shoe Can Improve Performance and Prevent Injury.
Researchers have developed specialized running shoes that use sensors and microelectronics integrated into the sole to measure a runner's biomechanical data. The data can be transmitted to a smartphone to give the runner immediate feedback on training performance while also providing suggestions on improving his/her form and training routine. According to Dr. Andreas Heinig, a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems, "The app could recommend running more slowly, for example, or rolling off the foot differently, suggest seeking a different running surface or stopping if necessary."
Boost Your Energy Naturally.
Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to devote to daily life activities.
Exercise Video Games Can Help Diabetics.
According to a new study, type 2 diabetics who played exercise-focused video games showed greater control of their blood glucose levels compared with diabetics who received routine care. Those who played the video game (Wii Fit Plus, in this case) also lost more weight. Senior study author Dr. Stephan Martin adds, "Given the positive attitudes of the participants and the limited restrictions for gaming at home, exercise games may potentially be used in a home setting as a tool to reduce inactive behavior in people with Type 2 diabetes."
Exercise May Help Pregnant Women Quit Smoking.
A recent study conducted at Western University in Ontario, Canada finds that just 15-20 minutes of walking at a moderate pace is enough to curb tobacco cravings in pregnant smokers by as much as 30%. Participants reported that exercise also decreased restlessness, irritability, tension, and depression. Recent statistics show 19% of Canadian women ages 20-24 smoked while pregnant. According to study author Dr. Harry Prapavessis, "Smoking during pregnancy is common, and quitting at any point during pregnancy can yield benefits to both the fetus and the mother… Once you quit smoking, withdrawal symptoms typically follow and a strong desire to smoke returns. These factors both contribute to a high number of relapses. We believe regular exercise can help reduce the number of relapses."
Confront anxiety with confidence
Although most people are not phobic, almost everyone has to struggle against worry, which is a form of fear. Our age is the era of anxiety. Everyone experiences some anxiety, and it can be a useful emotion when it triggers us to act to avoid danger. But, if it impacts our life seriously, we must take action to overcome it. "Every anxiety sufferer must learn new ways of thinking and develop methods for changing their former thinking patterns".The Bible verifies that this kind of thinking is essential, telling us to "be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:23).
How do we do this? One anxiety-reducing technique is to cleanse your mind at day's end. Evening is "a good time to do a 'mental wash' when you review anxieties that are cluttering your thinking and dump those that are not important".
The Bible confirms that this is sound advice in a passage that tells us what to do at day's end. "Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still" (Psalm 4:4).
Sometimes anxieties relate to meeting our basic needs. Jesus said, "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?'" Jesus also recommended a cure for these worries: ". Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:31, 33, New American Standard Bible). The point is that, when our priorities conform to God's will, we can live in confidence that He will help us meet our other needs.
A relationship with God is fundamental to overcoming our fears. The Bible exhorts: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5), and, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (4:13). The only way we can develop the mind of Christ is to first repent of ignoring God's biblical instructions, then be baptized and receive God's Spirit (Acts 2:38). In doing so we can cleanse our minds and develop new mental habits. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).
The healing power of humor
As simple as it sounds, the ability to laugh is an aid to mental health. Joy is akin to laughter, and it, too, is part of the fruit of God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22). "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance" (Proverbs 15:13), and "a merry heart does good, like medicine" (17:22).
Humor triggers literal physiological and mental changes in your body. Laughter "touches us at a deep emotional and physical level ... By its very nature it changes our perception and invites us to look at things in a different light. It shows us that life can be silly, even crazy at times, but it still can be enjoyable". One doctor notes that "humor, smiles, and laughter are the very best stress-busters" (Herbert Benson, M.D., Timeless Healing, 1996, p. 277).
A relationship with God provides the deepest and most-abiding joy. "The Bible has much to say about the joy, the sheer happiness, of the redeemed ..." ( The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1982, "Humor in the Bible"). In one study of more than 500 men, "significant associations emerged between the participants' religious involvement and their health ... such as less depression" (Kenneth Cooper, M.D., It's Better to Believe, p. 5).
Physical activity such as gardening, walking and other regular exercise can also benefit your mental health.
