This pretty much summarizes it -
Go watch me!!!!!!!
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
It's a Tear Jerker :o(```
I read the below Rick Reilly creation this morning before work. It is one of those stories that gives you the same kind of feeling you get when you watch "Extreme Home Make Over". I'm not going to lie - I shed a tear or two this morning. It is a happy/sad story that really makes you want to be a good guy. It makes you want to examine what is really important in you life. Enjoy!
The Strongest Dad in the World:
I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay
for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.
But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he’s pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in
marathons. Eight times he’s not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a
wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars — all in the same day.
Dick’s also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back
mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much — except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick
was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him
brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
“He’ll be a vegetable the rest of his life,” Dick says doctors told
him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. “Put him in an
institution.”
But the Hoyts weren’t buying it. They noticed the way Rick’s eyes
followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the
engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was
anything to help the boy communicate. “No way,” Dick says he was told. “There’s nothing going on in his brain.”
“Tell him a joke,” Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain.
Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by
touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to
communicate. First words? “Go Bruins!” And after a high school
classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a
charity run for him, Rick pecked out, “Dad, I want to do that.”
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described “porker” who never ran
more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still,
he tried. “Then it was me who was handicapped,” Dick says. “I was sore for two weeks.”
That day changed Rick’s life. “Dad,” he typed, “when we were running,
it felt like I wasn’t disabled anymore!”
And that sentence changed Dick’s life. He became obsessed with giving
Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly
shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
“No way,” Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren’t quite a
single runner, and they weren’t quite a wheelchair competitor. For a
few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway,
then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they
ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston
the following year.
Then somebody said, “Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?”
How’s a guy who never learned to swim and hadn’t ridden a bike since
he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.
Now they’ve done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour
Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud
getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don’t you think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you’d do on your own? “No way,” he says.
Dick does it purely for “the awesome feeling” he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992 — only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don’t keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.
“No question about it,” Rick types. “My dad is the Father of the Century.”
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had
a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his
arteries was 95% clogged. “If you hadn’t been in such great shape,”
one doctor told him, “you probably would’ve died 15 years ago.”
So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other’s life.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in
Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland,
Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the
country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father’s Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really
wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
“The thing I’d most like,” Rick types, “is that my dad sit in the
chair and I push him once.”
The Strongest Dad in the World:
I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay
for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.
But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he’s pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in
marathons. Eight times he’s not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a
wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars — all in the same day.
Dick’s also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back
mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much — except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick
was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him
brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
“He’ll be a vegetable the rest of his life,” Dick says doctors told
him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. “Put him in an
institution.”
But the Hoyts weren’t buying it. They noticed the way Rick’s eyes
followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the
engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was
anything to help the boy communicate. “No way,” Dick says he was told. “There’s nothing going on in his brain.”
“Tell him a joke,” Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain.
Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by
touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to
communicate. First words? “Go Bruins!” And after a high school
classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a
charity run for him, Rick pecked out, “Dad, I want to do that.”
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described “porker” who never ran
more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still,
he tried. “Then it was me who was handicapped,” Dick says. “I was sore for two weeks.”
That day changed Rick’s life. “Dad,” he typed, “when we were running,
it felt like I wasn’t disabled anymore!”
And that sentence changed Dick’s life. He became obsessed with giving
Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly
shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
“No way,” Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren’t quite a
single runner, and they weren’t quite a wheelchair competitor. For a
few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway,
then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they
ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston
the following year.
Then somebody said, “Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?”
How’s a guy who never learned to swim and hadn’t ridden a bike since
he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.
Now they’ve done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour
Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud
getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don’t you think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you’d do on your own? “No way,” he says.
Dick does it purely for “the awesome feeling” he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992 — only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don’t keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.
“No question about it,” Rick types. “My dad is the Father of the Century.”
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had
a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his
arteries was 95% clogged. “If you hadn’t been in such great shape,”
one doctor told him, “you probably would’ve died 15 years ago.”
So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other’s life.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in
Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland,
Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the
country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father’s Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really
wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
“The thing I’d most like,” Rick types, “is that my dad sit in the
chair and I push him once.”
Check on the youtube piece on these two -
& another
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It's a good one, huh?
If you like this story you may want to consider purchasing "Hate Mail from Cheerleaders". It is a compilation of 100 of Rick Reilly's writtings. There are a lot of like this. He has a unique way of telling a story and he is very skilled at his craft.
rr
If you like this story you may want to consider purchasing "Hate Mail from Cheerleaders". It is a compilation of 100 of Rick Reilly's writtings. There are a lot of like this. He has a unique way of telling a story and he is very skilled at his craft.
rr
This blog was brought to you by the Reading Rainbow~
Friday, April 25, 2008
A Vacation from Life
I notice how the place where I live is changing. Everyday green turns into gray. Fields and trees into a metropolis arm of greater Dallas. Irony - a beautiful piece of land which leads people to move to this area to take in all it has to offer, but as a result the land is stripped and transfigured from what is cherished to that which maintains those who cherished. …Changed from nature to cars, concrete, and complication.
I love going on road trips gradually watching the traffic, people, and cityscape turn into clouds, trees, and landscape. As you reach your destination in another city then you descend back in to what you left. It is as if taking an airplane ride. All the hustle & bustle of the airport and city is left behind as you are taken into creation. In the same way it is relaxing to drive in between our creations and lives and take in the beauty of what was here before we were. A vacation on your way to a vacation. I need one of those.
A prime example of progress is behind my house. The field there with the cows has the cows no more. This past Monday two cowboys were out there wragling them up. They took them all away. Hopefully they will build a gas station or a nuclear power plant there. People would rather ride on greenbacks than horseback.
I love going on road trips gradually watching the traffic, people, and cityscape turn into clouds, trees, and landscape. As you reach your destination in another city then you descend back in to what you left. It is as if taking an airplane ride. All the hustle & bustle of the airport and city is left behind as you are taken into creation. In the same way it is relaxing to drive in between our creations and lives and take in the beauty of what was here before we were. A vacation on your way to a vacation. I need one of those.
A prime example of progress is behind my house. The field there with the cows has the cows no more. This past Monday two cowboys were out there wragling them up. They took them all away. Hopefully they will build a gas station or a nuclear power plant there. People would rather ride on greenbacks than horseback.
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Tradition of the Aggie Ring
If you know anything about Texas A&M then you know that it is deeply steeped in tradition. These traditions all have a history. It is interesting to see where traditions are born. Below is info describing the symbolism of the Aggie Ring.
The Crown
The base or “Crown” of the Ring: Shield at the top of Ring: Illustrates protection of the good reputation of the alma mater.
13 Stripes in shield: Symbolizes the 13 original states and the intense patriotism of graduates and undergraduates of A&M.
5 stars in shield: Refers to the phases of development of the student: mind or intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise, and integrity of character.
Eagle: Connotes agility and power, and ability to reach great heights and ambitions.
13 Stripes in shield: Symbolizes the 13 original states and the intense patriotism of graduates and undergraduates of A&M.
5 stars in shield: Refers to the phases of development of the student: mind or intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise, and integrity of character.
Eagle: Connotes agility and power, and ability to reach great heights and ambitions.
Right Shank
Star: Represents the Seal of the State of Texas, authorized by the constitution of 1845.
Olive and Laurel branch that encircles star: Signifies achievement and a desire for peace.
Live Oak leaves surrounding star: Means strength to fight.
Ribbon that joins the Olive and Live-Oak leaves: Shows the necessity of joining these two traits to accomplish one's ambition to serve.
Star: Represents the Seal of the State of Texas, authorized by the constitution of 1845.
Olive and Laurel branch that encircles star: Signifies achievement and a desire for peace.
Live Oak leaves surrounding star: Means strength to fight.
Ribbon that joins the Olive and Live-Oak leaves: Shows the necessity of joining these two traits to accomplish one's ambition to serve.
Left Shank
Ancient cannon, saber, and rifle: Symbolizes that the citizens of Texas fought for their land and are determined to defend their homeland.
Saber: Also signifies valor and confidence.
Rifle and cannon: Also illustrates preparedness and defense.
Crossed flags of the United States and Texas: Reminders of the dual allegiance to nation and state.
Saber: Also signifies valor and confidence.
Rifle and cannon: Also illustrates preparedness and defense.
Crossed flags of the United States and Texas: Reminders of the dual allegiance to nation and state.
For me info on the traditions of the Aggie Ring Visit:
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Anti-Oxidants, an overview -
An informative article on Anti-Oxidants ~
Hardly a week goes by without news of antioxidants' health-promoting benefits. Experts believe these nutritional substances may help prevent heart disease, fight certain cancers, ward off dementia, and even slow certain aging processes.
Understanding the benefits of the different things we eat is crucial to maintaining a balaned diet.
There are thousands of antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, meats, poultry, and fish. Even foods once not known for being especially healthful, such as chocolate, coffee, and red wine, are now recognized as potent delivery systems for beneficial antioxidants.
However, the growing number of antioxidants being discovered (so far, there are more than 4,000 known flavonoids, and that's only one class of antioxidant) and the continual discoveries of new antioxidant food sources cloud understanding of these substances.
"Most people know that calcium is good for bone health, for example, but they don't know specifically what antioxidants do or how these chemicals benefit human health," says Milton Stokes, R.D,. a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
Read on as we simplify the latest science to answer those questions for you.
Antioxidants 101
We need oxygen to live. It travels from the lungs to every corner of the body, helping cells metabolize food into energy. But oxygen has a downside. Normally, the molecules in our cells have a full set of electrons, which keep them stable (think of them as a fortress surrounding a castle). But when these molecules come into contact with oxygen (i.e., they are "oxidized") they lose an electron, converting to an unstable type of molecule known as a free radical.
"Free radicals, if left unchecked, assault whatever cell constituents are nearby, including proteins, fats, and DNA," says Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton. "Once those molecules are attacked, their structure and function are changed and they don't work as well."
Ingeniously, Mother Nature created an instant free-radical fix. Antioxidants disable free radicals by donating electrons to replace those lost during oxidation. Some antioxidants can be manufactured by your body; others must be obtained from food. Dietary antioxidants fall into two groups. The first is made up of certain familiar vitamins and minerals, like vitamins C and E, selenium, and zinc, that have antioxidant capabilities. The second consists of the thousands of organic compounds found in plant foods that have functions like giving grapes their purple skins or cabbages their slightly sulfurous odor. They have names like anthocyanidins, catechins, lutein, quercetin, and resveratrol.
Preventing oxidation may have earned antioxidants their name, but we now know these substances do more than disable free radicals. Antioxidants also help reduce inflammation, keep arteries flexible, and preserve the genetic material every cell contains to prevent mutation. Each antioxidant also offers unique perks. For example, flavonoids in berries may help improve artery health, while lutein in spinach may help prevent macular degeneration.
Sorting out food sources
To measure a food's antioxidant content, scientists test it in a lab, where they usually measure equal quantities of each food they test. However, that amount may not be close to the serving size we usually eat. Realizing this, many-but not all-researchers convert their findings to common portion sizes before publishing the results of their work. That's one reason why Monday's health news may place blueberries on top of the antioxidant heap, while Thursday's may claim broccoli contains the highest levels of the compounds. Cooking Light: USDA's rankings of food antioxidant content
Also, several kinds of tests are used to measure a food's antioxidant power, another reason for the multiplicity of findings. The most popular test is Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). ORAC measures an antioxidant's ability to protect against the most common free radical in human plasma, the peroxyl radical.
ORAC is a helpful starting point to guide consumers to foods that are rich in antioxidants as part of a diet that contains many different antioxidant-rich foods, especially since new antioxidants are being discovered all the time. But most nutrition researchers view antioxidant-counting surveys critically. How a food behaves in a test tube is one thing; how it behaves in our bodies is another.
"We don't know as much about what happens during digestion, absorption, and metabolism," says Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D., a research chemist with the USDA's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center. "Some of these compounds may be absorbed well and others not as well." Anthocyanidin-rich blueberries are a good example. They may be antioxidant powerhouses in a test tube, but we don't absorb their antioxidants well and their effectiveness in our bodies is short lived. To gain the full benefit, you'd likely need to eat more of them than foods with a lower ORAC score that contain more readily absorbable antioxidants, such as kiwifruit or grapes.
What's more, antioxidant levels vary among different samples of the same food. For example, all apples don't have the same amount of quercetin and all lettuces don't provide the same dose of lutein. "The variability has to do with the climate, the nutrients in the soil, and storage conditions," Vinson says.
Eating for optimal nutrition
When it comes to dietary antioxidants, variety and timing are the key points.
Experts agree-while there's no formal recommendation for the amount of antioxidants we need-the best way to obtain them is from a varied diet. The reason? Antioxidants work synergistically and may provide a greater benefit together than they do individually. Consider a recent European Journal of Clinical Nutrition study that found the total antioxidants in a person's diet had a more substantial impact on plasma beta-carotene levels than the amount of beta-carotene in a person's diet. Researchers surmise other antioxidants pitch in to "spare" beta-carotene so it can work harder when it's needed. The same is true for other antioxidant vitamins. By consuming antioxidant-rich foods, you end up protecting or recycling compounds like vitamins C and E, increasing their levels so they're more available to function.
Unlike many other nutrients, you can't store antioxidants, so you have to keep replenishing the supply. "The important thing is getting antioxidants throughout the day and keeping levels high because they go down very quickly," Vinson says. Even small amounts can provide significant benefits. When German researchers recently looked at the impact of small amounts of polyphenols in dark chocolate on blood pressure, they found that just 0.2 ounces of dark chocolate shaved three systolic points and two diastolic points off hypertensive subjects' blood pressure.
As for supplements? Experts aren't as enthusiastic. Supplements are not substitutes for a healthy diet. "People tend to focus on a single nutrient because that's what research may be highlighting," says Jeffery Blumberg, Ph.D., director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University. "But the benefits of eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can't be overemphasized. You need to have diversity in your diet, and there is no pill that provides it all."
The unknowns about antioxidants provide another reason to focus on food sources. "Because the science of nutrition is still evolving, we have to accept that everything there is to know isn't known," Stokes says. "Until then, just eat healthful whole foods." Cooking Light: Nine nutritional authorities share their perfect foods
The ABCs of antioxidants
Although scientists speculate that many antioxidants are as yet undiscovered, others are increasingly well known. Below are antioxidants you may have read about; they're categorized by family of associated compounds and listed with some of their most common food sources. Cooking Light: Why different colored foods are important
Carotenoids
Beta-carotene: Orange/yellow fruits and vegetables (carrots, cantaloupe); dark leafy greens (spinach, kale)
Lycopene: Red-fleshed fruits and vegetables (watermelon, tomato)
Lutein/Zeaxanthin: Romaine lettuce, dark leafy greens, citrus fruits, corn, egg yolks
Flavonoids
Anthocyanidins: Berries, grapes, wine
Catechins: Tea, cocoa
Flavonols: Tea, cocoa, coffee, berries, grapes, apples, wine
Flavonones: Citrus fruits
Isoflavones/Phytoestrogens (daidzein, equol, enterolactone, genistein): Soybeans, whole wheat, flaxseed
Quercetin: Apples, tea, capers, citrus fruits
Organosulfurs: Cabbages, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower
Selenium: Brazil nuts, red meat, tuna
Sulfides: Onions, garlic, leeks, chives
Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, kiwifruit
Vitamin E (tocopherols): Wheat germ, mono-unsaturated oils (sunflower oil, safflower oil), tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts), peanuts
Vetting antioxidant tests
Many over-the-counter tests claim to evaluate a person's free radical levels by measuring by-products of free radical metabolism via a urine sample. However, assessing antioxidant status isn't that simple. No single test will provide the total picture of what antioxidants may be busy doing inside your body. "What you want to measure is antioxidant concentration in a localized part of the body, like the surface of your arteries where antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which accelerate atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries]," Vinson says.
A simpler insurance policy? Following U.S. Dietary Guidelines, which recommend a minimum of four-and-a-half cups of produce and three ounces of whole grains each day. "If you're eating a varied diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, you're getting enough," Vinson says.
Understanding the benefits of the different things we eat is crucial to maintaining a balaned diet.
There are thousands of antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, meats, poultry, and fish. Even foods once not known for being especially healthful, such as chocolate, coffee, and red wine, are now recognized as potent delivery systems for beneficial antioxidants.
However, the growing number of antioxidants being discovered (so far, there are more than 4,000 known flavonoids, and that's only one class of antioxidant) and the continual discoveries of new antioxidant food sources cloud understanding of these substances.
"Most people know that calcium is good for bone health, for example, but they don't know specifically what antioxidants do or how these chemicals benefit human health," says Milton Stokes, R.D,. a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
Read on as we simplify the latest science to answer those questions for you.
Antioxidants 101
We need oxygen to live. It travels from the lungs to every corner of the body, helping cells metabolize food into energy. But oxygen has a downside. Normally, the molecules in our cells have a full set of electrons, which keep them stable (think of them as a fortress surrounding a castle). But when these molecules come into contact with oxygen (i.e., they are "oxidized") they lose an electron, converting to an unstable type of molecule known as a free radical.
"Free radicals, if left unchecked, assault whatever cell constituents are nearby, including proteins, fats, and DNA," says Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton. "Once those molecules are attacked, their structure and function are changed and they don't work as well."
Ingeniously, Mother Nature created an instant free-radical fix. Antioxidants disable free radicals by donating electrons to replace those lost during oxidation. Some antioxidants can be manufactured by your body; others must be obtained from food. Dietary antioxidants fall into two groups. The first is made up of certain familiar vitamins and minerals, like vitamins C and E, selenium, and zinc, that have antioxidant capabilities. The second consists of the thousands of organic compounds found in plant foods that have functions like giving grapes their purple skins or cabbages their slightly sulfurous odor. They have names like anthocyanidins, catechins, lutein, quercetin, and resveratrol.
Preventing oxidation may have earned antioxidants their name, but we now know these substances do more than disable free radicals. Antioxidants also help reduce inflammation, keep arteries flexible, and preserve the genetic material every cell contains to prevent mutation. Each antioxidant also offers unique perks. For example, flavonoids in berries may help improve artery health, while lutein in spinach may help prevent macular degeneration.
Sorting out food sources
To measure a food's antioxidant content, scientists test it in a lab, where they usually measure equal quantities of each food they test. However, that amount may not be close to the serving size we usually eat. Realizing this, many-but not all-researchers convert their findings to common portion sizes before publishing the results of their work. That's one reason why Monday's health news may place blueberries on top of the antioxidant heap, while Thursday's may claim broccoli contains the highest levels of the compounds. Cooking Light: USDA's rankings of food antioxidant content
Also, several kinds of tests are used to measure a food's antioxidant power, another reason for the multiplicity of findings. The most popular test is Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). ORAC measures an antioxidant's ability to protect against the most common free radical in human plasma, the peroxyl radical.
ORAC is a helpful starting point to guide consumers to foods that are rich in antioxidants as part of a diet that contains many different antioxidant-rich foods, especially since new antioxidants are being discovered all the time. But most nutrition researchers view antioxidant-counting surveys critically. How a food behaves in a test tube is one thing; how it behaves in our bodies is another.
"We don't know as much about what happens during digestion, absorption, and metabolism," says Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D., a research chemist with the USDA's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center. "Some of these compounds may be absorbed well and others not as well." Anthocyanidin-rich blueberries are a good example. They may be antioxidant powerhouses in a test tube, but we don't absorb their antioxidants well and their effectiveness in our bodies is short lived. To gain the full benefit, you'd likely need to eat more of them than foods with a lower ORAC score that contain more readily absorbable antioxidants, such as kiwifruit or grapes.
What's more, antioxidant levels vary among different samples of the same food. For example, all apples don't have the same amount of quercetin and all lettuces don't provide the same dose of lutein. "The variability has to do with the climate, the nutrients in the soil, and storage conditions," Vinson says.
Eating for optimal nutrition
When it comes to dietary antioxidants, variety and timing are the key points.
Experts agree-while there's no formal recommendation for the amount of antioxidants we need-the best way to obtain them is from a varied diet. The reason? Antioxidants work synergistically and may provide a greater benefit together than they do individually. Consider a recent European Journal of Clinical Nutrition study that found the total antioxidants in a person's diet had a more substantial impact on plasma beta-carotene levels than the amount of beta-carotene in a person's diet. Researchers surmise other antioxidants pitch in to "spare" beta-carotene so it can work harder when it's needed. The same is true for other antioxidant vitamins. By consuming antioxidant-rich foods, you end up protecting or recycling compounds like vitamins C and E, increasing their levels so they're more available to function.
Unlike many other nutrients, you can't store antioxidants, so you have to keep replenishing the supply. "The important thing is getting antioxidants throughout the day and keeping levels high because they go down very quickly," Vinson says. Even small amounts can provide significant benefits. When German researchers recently looked at the impact of small amounts of polyphenols in dark chocolate on blood pressure, they found that just 0.2 ounces of dark chocolate shaved three systolic points and two diastolic points off hypertensive subjects' blood pressure.
As for supplements? Experts aren't as enthusiastic. Supplements are not substitutes for a healthy diet. "People tend to focus on a single nutrient because that's what research may be highlighting," says Jeffery Blumberg, Ph.D., director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University. "But the benefits of eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can't be overemphasized. You need to have diversity in your diet, and there is no pill that provides it all."
The unknowns about antioxidants provide another reason to focus on food sources. "Because the science of nutrition is still evolving, we have to accept that everything there is to know isn't known," Stokes says. "Until then, just eat healthful whole foods." Cooking Light: Nine nutritional authorities share their perfect foods
The ABCs of antioxidants
Although scientists speculate that many antioxidants are as yet undiscovered, others are increasingly well known. Below are antioxidants you may have read about; they're categorized by family of associated compounds and listed with some of their most common food sources. Cooking Light: Why different colored foods are important
Carotenoids
Beta-carotene: Orange/yellow fruits and vegetables (carrots, cantaloupe); dark leafy greens (spinach, kale)
Lycopene: Red-fleshed fruits and vegetables (watermelon, tomato)
Lutein/Zeaxanthin: Romaine lettuce, dark leafy greens, citrus fruits, corn, egg yolks
Flavonoids
Anthocyanidins: Berries, grapes, wine
Catechins: Tea, cocoa
Flavonols: Tea, cocoa, coffee, berries, grapes, apples, wine
Flavonones: Citrus fruits
Isoflavones/Phytoestrogens (daidzein, equol, enterolactone, genistein): Soybeans, whole wheat, flaxseed
Quercetin: Apples, tea, capers, citrus fruits
Organosulfurs: Cabbages, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower
Selenium: Brazil nuts, red meat, tuna
Sulfides: Onions, garlic, leeks, chives
Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, kiwifruit
Vitamin E (tocopherols): Wheat germ, mono-unsaturated oils (sunflower oil, safflower oil), tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts), peanuts
Vetting antioxidant tests
Many over-the-counter tests claim to evaluate a person's free radical levels by measuring by-products of free radical metabolism via a urine sample. However, assessing antioxidant status isn't that simple. No single test will provide the total picture of what antioxidants may be busy doing inside your body. "What you want to measure is antioxidant concentration in a localized part of the body, like the surface of your arteries where antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which accelerate atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries]," Vinson says.
A simpler insurance policy? Following U.S. Dietary Guidelines, which recommend a minimum of four-and-a-half cups of produce and three ounces of whole grains each day. "If you're eating a varied diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, you're getting enough," Vinson says.
Monday, April 14, 2008
The SMFL
The SMFL. What is that you might ask? Sometimes I don’t even know and I am deeply involved in it.
Where was the SMFL born? How was it formed? Who were the forefathers? Lore actually tells us there were 5 fathers but that is neither here not there. I am unsure if the SMFL ever had a beginning. It was and well, one day it was discovered, or better said it was realized. Some of the ancient SMFL Sherpas believe the SMFL is more a state of mind or experience than a place or an organization.
Many moons ago a small group of men were called. They were called to gather for the purpose of fellowship and camaraderie. A pig skin was incorporated into the meetings along the way. The season, I believe, is actually based upon the moon cycles and lasts from 5 to 6 months or maybe longer. It might truly be aligned with the beginning of football season and come to a close when golf season is in full swing.
Due to the secrecy of this sect each member is not known by his birth name but by the name given to them when brought into the brotherhood. From the following list of names you will see the participant’s secrecy is guaranteed.
From the Commish him self, "we are not a "secret sect"... the use of nicknames is not for identity protective purposes but more for team bonding/camaraderie purposes. Using a nickname invokes the presence of a history/bond or relationship with the individuals to the league. Also, the "idea of the Commish" is not to protect the identity of the League founder/leader/organizer but merely to represent that the League is run by all members of the League... and "The Commish" is the voice for the majority of the league.
Farve
The Commish (We believe he is not only one who regulates and sees that the league runs as intended, but rumors circulate that he is also a player by another name)
Magic Patin
The Blank/Dr. Who – formerly known as the Zephyr
R1-L2-RB
Pappi
T-Dar
Jagt
General
View here to see an in depth description of some of the players. The player descriptions are scattered throughout the expanse of this page so you might have to look for some of them.
The list goes on but we do not have the time or the space to complete it.
The age range of players has a spread from the lower twenties up in the nineties. We had a man who was 93 years old come out and play a few consecutive weeks. His name was Herschel. I speak the truth when I say this. His age is up for debate however, but there is no doubt it is beween 67 and 109. If he is as old as the speculated 109 then he woudl be the only SMFL player to ever have been alive in the 1800's the 1900's and the 2000's. I can’t say that he is spoken highly of… he is however spoken of. Only God know the whereabouts of the Herschel.
Before the weekly events begin time is spent in gathering for the purpose of reflection and learning. One of the members takes time to share from The Word/The Book/Bible. After the discourse a prayer follows then the games begin. It is brief but allows us to all realize what it is really about.
Not only does the SMFL foster biblical growth it also promotes physical and social growth.
To understand the full depth of what the SMFL is about you must view the distant cousin of the blog you are currently reading, http://www.thesmfl.blogspot.com/ . Examine it. Take in all it has to offer. Is there more to life than the SMFL? Well yeah there is a lot more. It is something we do to enjoy life and friendship. I would say it is a life enhancement tool similar to the wheel or possibly the internet.
There is a statement that summarizes its purpose:
“Committed to developing relationships where we can be used as instruments in encouraging biblical life change.”
Initiation involves only a request to the Commish at the above SMFL blog.
Semper Fi soliders, Semper Fi (sɛm pər fаɪ)
rr
Where was the SMFL born? How was it formed? Who were the forefathers? Lore actually tells us there were 5 fathers but that is neither here not there. I am unsure if the SMFL ever had a beginning. It was and well, one day it was discovered, or better said it was realized. Some of the ancient SMFL Sherpas believe the SMFL is more a state of mind or experience than a place or an organization.
Many moons ago a small group of men were called. They were called to gather for the purpose of fellowship and camaraderie. A pig skin was incorporated into the meetings along the way. The season, I believe, is actually based upon the moon cycles and lasts from 5 to 6 months or maybe longer. It might truly be aligned with the beginning of football season and come to a close when golf season is in full swing.
Due to the secrecy of this sect each member is not known by his birth name but by the name given to them when brought into the brotherhood. From the following list of names you will see the participant’s secrecy is guaranteed.
From the Commish him self, "we are not a "secret sect"... the use of nicknames is not for identity protective purposes but more for team bonding/camaraderie purposes. Using a nickname invokes the presence of a history/bond or relationship with the individuals to the league. Also, the "idea of the Commish" is not to protect the identity of the League founder/leader/organizer but merely to represent that the League is run by all members of the League... and "The Commish" is the voice for the majority of the league.
Farve
The Commish (We believe he is not only one who regulates and sees that the league runs as intended, but rumors circulate that he is also a player by another name)
Magic Patin
The Blank/Dr. Who – formerly known as the Zephyr
R1-L2-RB
Pappi
T-Dar
Jagt
General
View here to see an in depth description of some of the players. The player descriptions are scattered throughout the expanse of this page so you might have to look for some of them.
The list goes on but we do not have the time or the space to complete it.
The age range of players has a spread from the lower twenties up in the nineties. We had a man who was 93 years old come out and play a few consecutive weeks. His name was Herschel. I speak the truth when I say this. His age is up for debate however, but there is no doubt it is beween 67 and 109. If he is as old as the speculated 109 then he woudl be the only SMFL player to ever have been alive in the 1800's the 1900's and the 2000's. I can’t say that he is spoken highly of… he is however spoken of. Only God know the whereabouts of the Herschel.
Before the weekly events begin time is spent in gathering for the purpose of reflection and learning. One of the members takes time to share from The Word/The Book/Bible. After the discourse a prayer follows then the games begin. It is brief but allows us to all realize what it is really about.
Not only does the SMFL foster biblical growth it also promotes physical and social growth.
To understand the full depth of what the SMFL is about you must view the distant cousin of the blog you are currently reading, http://www.thesmfl.blogspot.com/ . Examine it. Take in all it has to offer. Is there more to life than the SMFL? Well yeah there is a lot more. It is something we do to enjoy life and friendship. I would say it is a life enhancement tool similar to the wheel or possibly the internet.
There is a statement that summarizes its purpose:
“Committed to developing relationships where we can be used as instruments in encouraging biblical life change.”
Initiation involves only a request to the Commish at the above SMFL blog.
Semper Fi soliders, Semper Fi (sɛm pər fаɪ)
rr
Friday, April 11, 2008
The Dive Revisted
This is a follow up on the Dive. See a few posts below as there was a Pre-Dive post.
From what I could tell it was successful, I was satiated spiritually and my entertainment stomach was full as well. There were probably ~1000 people there. The message, Re-Engage with Your Singleness, was great. And the music was out of this world. If you have never heard of Cary Pierce of Jackopierce go check him and his music out on the internet somewhere. He’s got a great story and he is one of those singer story tellers that really catches your attention. One moment you are trying to figure out what this guy is about then the next you are waiting to hear the next story or song. Before I knew it I was moving to his music and interested in the story of his life.
The message was entertaining and edumicating (ed-U-mik`at-ing)(that is my George Bush word for educational). To summarize- From what I can remember:
First I would recommend that you read 1 Corinthians 7 before and after you look over this. It will catch you up with where Todd, our speaker is basing his information.
-God Doesn’t Care If you are Married or Single:
Life is not about being married. All of life’s problems are not solved suddenly when you are married. As our speaker noted in 1 Cor. 7:28 Paul says, “But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.” Earlier he states that being married is not a sin, neither is being single. Paul is not denouncing marriage as wrong, but he is warning those that marry to beware that troubles can and will occur. To summarize this paragraph – Your life is supposed to be Christ centered and not self-centered. Get to know God as much as you can when you are single. How? Read the Word. Spend time with people who do. Meditate on this same Word/pray.
-Be Fruitful and Multiply:
This not only and not always speaks to biological procreation. Multiply the kingdom of God. Spend time planting seeds. Nourish and give attention to what you have planted so that when that which you have planted is grown they will be equipped to do the same. And of course when you are married – make babies.
-Remain a Eunuch:
I really don’t know where to go with this one. But I believe the gist of this was to be patient where you are and to do your job well (live you life well) where ever you are. If right now you are called to be single then live biblically as a single person should. Eunuchs were men chosen to watch over the king’s harem. So these men…cough, would serve at their posts faithfully, as that was their job. As it was told these men were emasculated. That somewhat helped them do their jobs effectively.
I am sorry I am unable to squeeze anything understandable from the small sponge of my brian in regards to this topic. I understood it when he was speaking about it, but I can't seem to remember the details...
-Enjoy your singleness. Do what you can while you are single. Read a book. Give to others. Travel. Play video games. Play sports. There are many things you will not be able to do when you are yoked with another. When you are married much of the time spent doing what you like will be time doing what Y’all like. What you (plural) like may not be the same as what you (singular) like. Or at least you will not have as much you time as you had when you were single. Todd (speaker) mentioned that he was able to give of himself more freely when he was single. He was able to pour more time into putting bricks into the house of God. He was able to be fruitful and multiply for the kingdom. He was able to learn and take time for his edumication and entertainment. Now more of his time is given to his family. If he would have spent his time worrying about who he was supposed to be with rather than making the most of his time then what he has now might not be had but rather wished it was had. Or to say more simply – he didn’t waste his free time worrying, but spent it in growing himself and others. Today he reaps rewards because of time well spent.
Do not marry anyone who has not previously been married. Or to say another way – marry only one who has been married to Christ. This statement is in regards to marrying someone who has similar beliefs. If you who are strong in faith enter into marriage with someone who does not have a foundation on Christ then man its gonna be tough(er).
-Men respect the ladies – treat older women as though they were your mothers and younger women as if they were you sister.
-Ladies respect yourselves.
There is a lot more that was covered but I either cannot remember it or am not learned enough to try to explain it effectively.
Over all it was a great message – I hope that some of the greatness was able to seap past my inability to write. This is from me: God wants to make each of us into the people we are supposed to be. Being single may be a way for us to focus on him. As C.S. Lewis said - 'we often forget about God until we need him.' So not having what we want may bring us back to the One who wants us to have what He knows we need.
I think the next Dive event is in June, so get ready.
Disclaimer:
Please be advised that the above information was from what I remember. There is no intent to mislead or misconstrue the message and or music that was witnessed the night of said Dive. Any misinformation, misunderstanding, or erroneous statements above have been made accidentally. Also, in no way were any animals or babies harmed in the production of this blog.
From what I could tell it was successful, I was satiated spiritually and my entertainment stomach was full as well. There were probably ~1000 people there. The message, Re-Engage with Your Singleness, was great. And the music was out of this world. If you have never heard of Cary Pierce of Jackopierce go check him and his music out on the internet somewhere. He’s got a great story and he is one of those singer story tellers that really catches your attention. One moment you are trying to figure out what this guy is about then the next you are waiting to hear the next story or song. Before I knew it I was moving to his music and interested in the story of his life.
The message was entertaining and edumicating (ed-U-mik`at-ing)(that is my George Bush word for educational). To summarize- From what I can remember:
First I would recommend that you read 1 Corinthians 7 before and after you look over this. It will catch you up with where Todd, our speaker is basing his information.
-God Doesn’t Care If you are Married or Single:
Life is not about being married. All of life’s problems are not solved suddenly when you are married. As our speaker noted in 1 Cor. 7:28 Paul says, “But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.” Earlier he states that being married is not a sin, neither is being single. Paul is not denouncing marriage as wrong, but he is warning those that marry to beware that troubles can and will occur. To summarize this paragraph – Your life is supposed to be Christ centered and not self-centered. Get to know God as much as you can when you are single. How? Read the Word. Spend time with people who do. Meditate on this same Word/pray.
-Be Fruitful and Multiply:
This not only and not always speaks to biological procreation. Multiply the kingdom of God. Spend time planting seeds. Nourish and give attention to what you have planted so that when that which you have planted is grown they will be equipped to do the same. And of course when you are married – make babies.
-Remain a Eunuch:
I really don’t know where to go with this one. But I believe the gist of this was to be patient where you are and to do your job well (live you life well) where ever you are. If right now you are called to be single then live biblically as a single person should. Eunuchs were men chosen to watch over the king’s harem. So these men…cough, would serve at their posts faithfully, as that was their job. As it was told these men were emasculated. That somewhat helped them do their jobs effectively.
I am sorry I am unable to squeeze anything understandable from the small sponge of my brian in regards to this topic. I understood it when he was speaking about it, but I can't seem to remember the details...
-Enjoy your singleness. Do what you can while you are single. Read a book. Give to others. Travel. Play video games. Play sports. There are many things you will not be able to do when you are yoked with another. When you are married much of the time spent doing what you like will be time doing what Y’all like. What you (plural) like may not be the same as what you (singular) like. Or at least you will not have as much you time as you had when you were single. Todd (speaker) mentioned that he was able to give of himself more freely when he was single. He was able to pour more time into putting bricks into the house of God. He was able to be fruitful and multiply for the kingdom. He was able to learn and take time for his edumication and entertainment. Now more of his time is given to his family. If he would have spent his time worrying about who he was supposed to be with rather than making the most of his time then what he has now might not be had but rather wished it was had. Or to say more simply – he didn’t waste his free time worrying, but spent it in growing himself and others. Today he reaps rewards because of time well spent.
Do not marry anyone who has not previously been married. Or to say another way – marry only one who has been married to Christ. This statement is in regards to marrying someone who has similar beliefs. If you who are strong in faith enter into marriage with someone who does not have a foundation on Christ then man its gonna be tough(er).
-Men respect the ladies – treat older women as though they were your mothers and younger women as if they were you sister.
-Ladies respect yourselves.
There is a lot more that was covered but I either cannot remember it or am not learned enough to try to explain it effectively.
Over all it was a great message – I hope that some of the greatness was able to seap past my inability to write. This is from me: God wants to make each of us into the people we are supposed to be. Being single may be a way for us to focus on him. As C.S. Lewis said - 'we often forget about God until we need him.' So not having what we want may bring us back to the One who wants us to have what He knows we need.
I think the next Dive event is in June, so get ready.
Disclaimer:
Please be advised that the above information was from what I remember. There is no intent to mislead or misconstrue the message and or music that was witnessed the night of said Dive. Any misinformation, misunderstanding, or erroneous statements above have been made accidentally. Also, in no way were any animals or babies harmed in the production of this blog.
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