This and That

Lots of “this and that” on this very chilly South Florida morning…

Watching Dr. Rosenfeld on Sunday morning House Calls, (yesterday on my dvr),  he gave a great reminder to anyone on a blood thinner, which was to be careful combining it with over the counter herbs and supplements as they may alter the effect of the thinner.  He also tried to clarify to question about when woman should get mammograms.  He said, in no uncertain terms, if you ask someone who is looking to save money (like your insurance company), they will suggest that a woman wait till 50 and get one every other year but if you ask someone that has the patient’s best interest at heart, they will say start at 40 and get one EVERY year as mammograms are a proven tool to find breast cancer early.  Additionally, he recommends MRIs for anyone that has already had breast cancer, or has the BRCA 1 or 2 gene, or a strong family history.  Personally, with very cystic breasts, I have gotten mammograms since I was in my 30s and have had an ultra sound down when anything has been suspicious.

The news is reporting the fantastic benefits of taking an old-fashioned, old as dirt, aspirin, every day.  My student and wine tasting pro, Neil, who has spent his working life in the lab, studying things such as aspirin, told me this years ago.  Clearly it hurts Big Pharma if something like a cheap aspirin can have so many positive health benefits but apparently it does, and the news is leaking.  Not only is it a great blood thinner, but it has also proven, in quite a few different studies, to reduce the risk of several types of cancer including the dreaded lung cancer.  Since we know that inflammation sets our bodies up for all sorts of illnesses, reducing inflammation would make sense to avoid them.  Aspirin’s anti-inflammatory effects seems to do the trick!  This is definitely something to think about, read about and/or discuss with your physician.  We do increase our risk of stomach bleeding from too much aspirin, so we have to know our bodies and weigh the risk vs. benefits.  I can’t help but mention that one of the benefits of a plant-based diet is reducing inflammation.  We definitelyknow from many studies that dairy products, especially, add to internal inflammation.  I can honestly say that since leaning so heavily into a plant-based diet, my entire body feels LESS pain.

Skimming through the newest edition of Men’s Journal, I am happy to see the number one most nutritious vegetable according to Drew Ramsey, M.D. and Tyler Graham, authors of The Happiness Diet, is…the sweet potato.  I am ALWAYS happy to see the word potato and good/healthy/desirable/nutritous in the same sentence because I have always been a huge potato fan.  Loaded with beta-carotene which is crucial for hair, eyes, skin and immune function, don’t forget to eat the skin which is rich in folate, a nutrient that protects against most cancers.  The following 9 veggies on the list were, in order from 2-10, brussel sprouts, kale, onions, chili peppers, pumpkin, beets and red beans.  YUM.

Tonight will be the last episode of Biggest Loser before next week’s finale.  We will see the remaining 4 go home tonight and my heart is already breaking for Ada.  As one of my students said, she should go ANYWHERE but home.  Hopefully, her experience at the ranch, not only taught her healthy eating and exercise, but also that she is NOT responsible for her brother’s death.  Very sad story.  I believe she has the potential to win the whole thing, but somehow I feel she would end up giving the money to her family… I am holding fast to my original, week one pick–Frado, but Patrick can surely take the whole thing, as could Ada.  If Elizabeth should win, I have to rethink the entire game.  She has been the weakest link since week one.

Off to start the work/work-out day.  Running in 40 degree weather is always different for we Floridians, but I’ll be dragging Jane out to do just that.  It will feel nice to have rosey red cheeks, something we Floridians usually only get from the sun and very, very rarely the cold air.  Tonight I will be at TFC with some new music for the 6pm class and some very mellow stretching at 7pm.  See you here, there or somewhere!  Thanks for stopping in for some peaceandfitness.