The More We Know

Saw Eat, Pray, Love yesterday and it might have been even better than the book.  The messages about love, life and balance are fabulous.  If you read the book, or if you didn’t, I highly recommend this film.  I also recommend the follow up book, Committed and I thank my friend, Christine for basically forcing me to read both and for coming to see the film with me.  Ironically, while I loved India in the book, Christine loved Italy–Yet when we saw the film we both agreed Bali had it all over both of those other places.  Talk about some peace!

Prior to the movie, I watched Sunday House Calls with Dr. Rosenfeld. Amongst many other topics, he discussed the correlation between calcium supplements and heart disease in older women.  While one would wonder what the correlation could possibly be, the good doctor explained how the supplements don’t break down as well as the real thing, possibly causing them to build up in the system.  In fact, googling this just this morning, one study showed a 31% increase in heart attacks in the group of woman taking the supplement (vs. the placebo).  I am finding the best place to get calcium that is readily absorbed into our bones is the leafy greens.  This is why I made rapini (broccoli rabe) with dinner last night.  This can be bitter, so I tried a recipe that called for it to be tossed with olive oil and baked in the oven at 350 for 35-40 minutes.  It was ok.  The little broccoli heads were soft and sweet, but the leaves were a bit stringy and hard to chew.  Next time, I would take off more of the leaves BUT not all–I am guessing much of the calcium and other nutrients are in those leaves.  Those other nutrients, by the way, include Vitamins A and C, folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and fiber.  As it is part of the crucifer family, it is also a cancer-fighter!  NO WAY we are getting all that from ANY supplement!

Here in Broward County, Florida it is BACK TO SCHOOL DAY.  Good luck to all my educator friends as well as the many in my life who return to school this week.  From my little boyfriend, Nate, who starts a new year of pre-school to Nicole, Derek and his friends and my friend’s kids, some in the throws of getting degrees, some just returning after years of hiatus and some just dabbling, the education road is a great road to be on!

Congratulations to Sylna on another wonderful book club get together this past Saturday.  It is always wonderful to hear how much fun you all have and how bonded you have become!  Brain fitness is every bit as important as body fitness.  Book club, however, is so much more than JUST brain fitness!  I’ll look forward to hearing more about this at SilverSneakers class, later this morning.  Sylna, YOU rock, my friend!

It’s time for me to get ready for work, but in closing I encourage you all to keep reading and keep learning.  Be it about life, love,  health, history or algebra, one thing remains the same.  The more we know, the more we grow.