01.01.70

A. There are dozens of causes of dementia and steps for prevention are different for each one. We have no proven preventive strategies for Alzheimer’s. The decision to monitor people at risk is made on a case by case basis, but I don’t usually recommend any monitoring until someone is about five years within the age their relative developed it; or they note changes in their memory. My top strategies to keep your brain healthy are listed below.

1. Vascular risks: Minimize your risk for strokes, heart disease and diabetes (keep your body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar in normal range). Studies find strong links between vascular risks and Alzheimer’s.

2. Exercise regularly: Regular aerobic activities, such as walking, may reduce risk for dementia by keeping the brain’s blood vessels healthy, boosting nerve growth chemicals and slowing age-related brain shrinkage.

Source: New York Times

by jtozer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For a sense of what’s ahead for combat rations, check out offerings at one of the many sit-down chain restaurants that have sprung up like mushrooms around the country and outside many military bases.

Food scientists at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center near Boston look to Applebee’s, TGI Friday’s and other popular chain eateries for inspiration in their quest to provide warfighters the kind of food they’d seek out at home if they weren’t deployed, explained Jeremy Whitsitt, technology integration analyst for the center’s Department of Defense combat feeding directorate.

So “Meals, Ready to Eat” and other combat rations the Natick center develops for all the services are a blend of comfort foods such as the ever-popular beef stew, old standbys such as spaghetti and meat sauce and an increasing number of ethnic selections, particularly Italian, Mexican and Oriental dishes, he said.

A Southwest beef and black bean dish introduced in 2010 is “quickly becoming a favorite,” Whitsitt said, along with a Mediterranean-inspired chicken with tomato and feta cheese course also added that year. Ratatouille and Santa Fe rice and beans entrees made their debut in 2011. This year, Asian pepper steak and Mexican chicken stew went into production....

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by elle

Hi friends!  My busiest semester of grad school is DONE!  Let the holidays begin,

and let them begin with candied orange peels!  These were the product of an afternoon spent avoiding studying.  Now that every assignment has been completed and every test has been taken, I can say making these was a wise and tasty choice.

I had a bag of organic oranges that were disappointingly less than delicious, which led me to the idea of making something with the peel.

So, I Googled “things to do with orange peel at Christmas” and crossed my fingers… Candied orange peels was one of the first things to pop up!  I felt good that my oranges were organic (no pesticides lingering in the peel) so I decided to give it a shot.  I did a little more searching and found a highly rated recipe from the Food Network .  Brilliant.  There were only 3 ingredients required: sugar, water and orange peel.  It was meant to be.  I had about 5 pounds of sugar in the pantry and final exam time is a great time to have candy around the house to keep my brain fed.

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