In this issue:
Meow,
BYE BYE SUMMER SOLSTICE
Yep, yesterday, June 21st, was Summer Solstice. The sun was at its most
northern position making it the longest day (and the shortest night) of the year
in the Northern Hemisphere.
The word solstice is derived from Latin and means the sun standing still.
When the sun reaches its most northern point, it is like a pendulum at the apex
of its swing, halting briefly before reversing direction.
No worries though, plenty of long days of summer ahead. A few healthy
reminders for summer!
ADDING BERRIES TO YOUR SUMMER BASKETS
Keep adding berries to your shopping baskets and to your meals. Blackberries,
blueberries and raspberries contain scads of antioxidants, with blueberries
getting the best rating compared with 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables (go
blueberries!).
Ellagic Acid, a naturally-occurring phenolic compound found in many plants,
is plentiful in fresh red raspberries (and to a lesser extent in strawberries).
Ellagic acid has been shown to exhibit anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic and
antioxidant activity.
Fast factoid: Did you know that 1 cup (150 grams) of fresh red raspberries --
offering the equivalent of 40 milligrams of Ellagic Acid -- resulted in
circulating levels of Ellagic Acid in serum a scant one hour after ingestion!
EXERCISE ACTIVATES ANTIOXIDANTS?!
I know. You know. However, approximately 25 percent of U.S. adults are not
active at all! Exercise is good for you!
Betcha didn’t know that antioxidant activity is enhanced with resistance
exercise training.
Click here for more information.
TOO MUCH SUN MAY BE DAMAGING, BUT TOO LITTLE MAY ALSO BE DEADLY!
I know, the studies say “protect your skin with sunscreen” or face increased
risk of cancer. And, yet, new research points out that too little sun is also
associated with increased cancer risk. Check out these recent articles:
This recent research is highlighting the value of vitamin D synthesis from
sun exposure. Vitamin D, as it turns out, seems to have a protective role when
it comes to cancer cells. And, humans can make plenty of vitamin D in just a few
minutes (5-15 minutes a few times a week usually does wonders).
However, ultraviolet rays do produce free radicals and can damage your skin,
so the lighter your skin, the less exposure you need to generate vitamin D. I
know that a little encouragement around being out in the sun could lead to
overdoing it.
So, let’s not forget that ozone layer depletion is a reality and increases
the intensity of ultraviolet rays reaching the earth’s surface. Ozone depletion
thus increases the risk of sun damage during peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so
consider getting in your rounds of golf and boating a bit earlier or later in
the day! ^..^
Regardless, if you’re out in the sun much this summer, you’ll want to add
antioxidants to your diet. Oxidative damage to the human body’s cells is linked
to many diseases and illnesses. To help your body make repairs, don’t forget to
up your intake of antioxidants (yes, berries are aces, but think also about
cooked tomatoes and watermelon for lycopene, green tea for a rich source of
flavonoids, red wine for resveratrol, etc.).
Our Sam’s
Antioxidant Formula (and nifty
“Plus D" Formula)
has a good start on the basics, including: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E,
selenium, zinc, echinacea and white willow bark.
THE SKUNK SAGA FINALE
Oh yes, Cindy is only too happy to forget about this little story, but
members keep inquiring about the “mama skunk saga.”
Here’s the deal. Cindy and her husband Steve had to move out of their home
for a few days, only to find some of their clothes imbued with that unmistakable
skunky scent. Cindy’s sense of humor was at a low point, I must say.
Referred by State Farm, a team of technicians descended on the house from an
outfit called ServiceMaster, armed with two industrial-strength ozone generating
machines to the rescue.
All living things had to be removed from the premises, including two very
spoiled Siamese cats, who had never been to a kennel before, and a wide range of
plants. The plants had to weather some low temperatures outside for a few days,
while the ozone machines destabilized the oxygen molecules in the house (the
technicians described the process as like having a lightening storm pass through
the house for 48 hours).
The house was much improved, but the crawl space was still a bit skunky. The
technicians offered to put the ozone machines in the basement crawl space, if
only they could get them to fit down the opening to the crawl space.
Cindy was only too ready to hand them an ax to take out some steps to the
crawl space ladder. With two rungs removed (with a garden-variety hammer), the
machine went down easily and remained for another day (or was it two)?
The ServiceMaster team, thus, easily earned their way into Cindy’s heart.
Meanwhile, Cindy could smell skunky smells wafting up from the now-empty
skunk burrow by the front door, so she tried an Internet remedy (pouring Chlorox
bleach down the old skunk burrow).
The ServiceMaster guys were impressed and said they would add that little
trick to their online database.
Steve poured a box of mothballs down the burrow, which was major overkill for
Cindy’s sniffer (good grief, some folks are fussy). Cindy painstakingly
retrieved the majority of the mothballs from the burrow, leaving a couple down
there as an unwelcome sign to any would-be nesters. Stuffing rocks into the
burrow was the last step.
All went reasonably well with the “remediation” effort. However, the
scamsters who promised to trap (and release) the skunk family were fast running
up bills with zero results, so they were told to scram.
Hmmm. What else? Oh yes, the “you could call it a draw” finale.
While hosting Steve’s sister and brother-in-law and two-year-old niece for
dinner, Cindy looked out across the backyard to see a little creature prancing
energetically across the grass, under the fence, and toward the stream. What
kind of little creature? Why, a very healthy black and white striped skunk with
energy to spare.
Yep. I would call this one a draw, as most things in nature ultimately end up
being.
It’s just never dull, is it, gang?!
Still purringly yours,
Guido ^..^
Guido Housemouser
Chief Kat and Community Manager
Our Health Co-op
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