Good-bye for now, Strawberries!

I miss my strawberries! I wanted to find just one last sweet and juicy strawberry in my backyard today, but there were none.  I won’t miss the battle with the birds and bugs over the strawberries, but my brain will miss the antioxidants that strawberries provide.

I’m sure you’ve read or heard about antioxidants before, but did you know you need about 3,500 ORAC units a day for optimal brain protection? First, you might be wondering, “What’s an ORAC?” ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity, is a score used by nutritional scientists.  According to Dr. Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan on page 96 in their book, The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program, “(ORAC) score provides a general  indication of how effective a particular food is at protecting brain cells from the damaging bombardment of free radicals.” A strawberry’s antioxidant potency in ORAC units per 3.5 ounces is 4,300.  So, by eating about half a cup (which is easy to do!)  you are well on your way to fighting off oxidative free radicals and lowering your risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Is your brain intrigued? Check out the book I mentioned earlier, The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program, for a complete list of fruits’ antioxidant/ORAC scores. I was surprised to see cranberries at the top of the list! But I do love my organic strawberries best of all (despite their being 8th on the list in comparison).

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Museums on the Brain

What was the most fascinating museum exhibit you’ve previewed lately? I will never forget when my mom and I, many years ago, went to a Monet exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. The paintings dazzled my visual cortex.  When I returned home, my Monet water lily poster paled in comparison to the original, but served as a happy reminder of my emotional experience.

Did you know September 28, 201o3 is Museum Day Live? This Saturday is your chance to take a friend to check out something intriguing for free! Maybe you’ve been wanting to check out the Aerospace Museum of California? Or the Wisconsin Maritime Museum?  Take advantage of this offer and do something special for your brain.  You won’t regret it!

Here’s the info from Smithsonian.com:

In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket… for free.

Find out more information on their website.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/

I wish I could go check out Monet’s sunflower picture! Let me know where you decide to go!

Long Live Grapes!

Have you ever eaten grapes right off the vine? Grapes contain a healthy brain compound called resveratrol.  They can be such a sweet organic treat! However, if you find them too sour, there are pills that contain resveratrol.  The effectiveness of these pills is still being researched.

Check out the book, “The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program,” by Gary Small, M.D., and Gigi Vorgan. I will blog more about their book later because it contains information on resveratrol and many ways to keep your brain happy and healthy!

Looking for a chance to up your resveratrol intake with wine? Check out the information below from an email from Cal Poly SLOCAVORE:

Stop by the Cal Poly SLOCAVORE booth at Sunset Savor the Central Coast September 28-29 to taste Cal Poly wine, cheese and sausage.  Participate in our survey on SLOCAVORE topics and you’ll also be entered in a drawing to win a gift certificate for $500 in accommodations from the City of San Luis Obispo and passes into a SLOCAVORE workshop. Drawing will take place after the event and winner notified by email.

Link here for more information about Cal Poly SLOCAVORE.  We look forward to seeing you this weekend at Savor and at a SLOCAVORE workshop beginning in 2014!

Keep me posted if you attend! Cheers to resveratrol!

Email Re: Don’t Miss: Art of Healthy Aging Fall 2013

Bowers Museum, located in Santa Ana, Ca, is offering an amazing lecture series. If you love art and you love your brain, you should check it out! The visit may even make your brain healthier.

Below is information from an email sent by Bowers Museum about the series:

SUNDAY | September 29

Why Creativity Matters: Art in the Brain, the Brain in Art

Presenters: Dr. William R. Shankle, M.D. with Junko Hara, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor, OCVBAP.

Fun brain exercise included.

SUNDAY | October 27

Seeing Life Through the Lens

Presenter: John M. Stephens, Lifetime Achievement award-winning cinematographer, Director of Photography, with over 50 years experience on over 100 films including classic racing film Grand Prix, Titanic, E.T., and more.

Hands-on workshop follows.

SUNDAY | November 24

Exploring the Chuck Jones Side of the Brain

Presenters: Marian Jones, Craig Kausen, Linda Jones-Clough. A glimpse into the genius mind of Chuck Jones, presented by the family.

Hands-on drawing workshop follows.

Check out their website for more information.
http://www.bowers.org/index.php/learn/events_details/2207

If you go, let me know how it was!

*Featured artwork by E.D., age 6

I Love My Brain!

Lately, I’ve been appreciating God’s design of the human brain.  The science of neuroplasticity has proven that the brain can change at any age. Pretty awesome!  I just love my brain! Thanks, God!

Artwork by E.D., age 6