A summer "poetry" salon?

In the 17th to the early 20th centuries "salons" were a periodic gathering of people, usually of social or intellectual distinction who met together to exchange ideas of a literary, artistic, or political nature. I have often thought that it would be fun to hold a salon in my living room to share poems we have learned by heart and talk about how they have enriched our lives. The more I share my love of memorizing poetry with someone, the more I find that that acquaintance can dig up the lines of a poem they learned as a young person. One friend told me that her dad had her memorize poems with him when she was a child and she can still recall them. It must be a bittersweet memory for her as her father is no longer around, but what a sweet memory to associate with him.

To learn a poem by heart, instead of just as rote memorization, means that you really understand the poem. To quote the American poet, John Hollander, "We speak of memorizing as getting something 'by heart,' which really means 'by head.' But getting a poem or prose passage 'by heart' implies getting it by mind and memory and understanding and delight." I imagine that when my friend remembers the poems she learned as a child, she also remembers her father with understanding and delight.

Lazy, hazy days are here, enjoy them!

Are you rushing through summer and not taking the time to smell the blossoming efflorescence around us? Do you rush from appointment to appointment never taking in the sights and sounds? Taking just a few minutes to sniff the breeze can take you back to a childhood memory. Summer has so many delightful smells that can transport you away from a stressful day. For instance, walking by a river and catching a whiff of the saturated air you are instantly transported to that firefly filled evening you let go of a rope swing for the first time and experienced the exhilaration of plunging into the icy cold sparkling water.

I hear so many people lament the passing of summer. Why are we always so concerned with what has not happened yet? While it is here, do something different and out of your comfort zone. Pack a picnic lunch and on your lunch break, find a quiet spot to eat away from the bustle of your office. Invite a coworker along or enjoy some solitude before you are swallowed back up by the work day. No reason to hurry the season along, summer is for savoring and sniffing.

What to do if captured by pirates?

I know most of us will probably not be taken captive by Somali pirates. But strange things do happen in this world. While tuned into the radio this morning I listened to a woman speak about her trip to a resort on the coast of Kenya and her subsequent capture by pirates. To survive her captivity she used visualization techniques and practiced Pilates. How about if she had had a repertoire of poems to recite aloud? She might have won her captors over with her oral recitations and be set free sooner.

 It is sad that rote memorization is no longer part of the school curriculum. Learning a poem helps a child to develop vocabulary while also improves enunciation and self-image. Performing a poem in front of family or peers help a child to overcome shyness and develop their sense of self. What's not to like about that? I believe it helps to develop empathy when you comprehend another's view point through the recall of a poem. Just reading a poem is not the same as memorizing it. Memorization is a way to go deeper into the poem and to connect to a long history of passing along stories and customs. It links us to our ancestors and enables us to see the world through their eyes.

 It is easier than one thinks to memorize a poem. If you start with a short one and work on memorizing one or two lines at a time, before you know it you will have it down. Picking a poem with a strong rhythmic undertone will make it easier to memorize. The added benefit of learning a poem will be that you might find your overall memory becomes stronger.

There was a sea captain from my home state of Vermont who was taken hostage by Somali pirates a few years back. I wonder how he passed the time? While I won't be sailing the high seas anytime soon, I will be adding to my catalogue of poems just in case.

Silent thanks.

I wonder how many of us really take the time when we eat to appreciate our food, where it was grown, by whom and how it taste? Many times we are so busy that we grab something on the run and eat it while driving. Not very gratifying I would wager and so therefore you grab a candy bar at the next stop so that you feel satiated. Of our five senses, taste, touch and smell serve us well when preparing or eating our food. If we really take the time to enjoy our meals we will feel satisfied, full and not craving unhealthy, sugary desserts.

An interesting exercise to do is to try eating one meal a week silently. This means not reading a book or watching a show at the same time that you are eating. Maybe you set the table with a tablecloth, if you own one, and light some candles to create a contemplative mood. It might seem weird at first but it will put you in touch with your food in a way that you may not have imagined. It will connect you to the people who grew your food and you might be able to decipher different ingredients if someone else has prepared the food for you. Before you pick up the fork, smell the food and silently give thanks that you have food to eat. You can even close your eyes while you do this and engage your hearing when you take the first bite. Is it crunchy, can your hear the sound of that in your ear? Or is the mouthful bitter, sweet, salty, or creamy?

We have such bounty around us in this growing season. Why not give silent thanks to what we have on our plates and that we have so many wonderful foods to choose from?

What motivates you?

We all lack motivation from time to time, that's okay, it is good to take time off and kick back with a novel or magazine. But if your have fitness goals you want to reach, you might find inspiration from reading other people's success stories. World class athletes all have stories about the race day they just didn't feel with it. Then they began to repeat the mantra they had used in training, their focus completely changed and they went on to win their race. The more we tell ourselves that we can do something, the more our brain will believe it.

You might also post your goal on your fridge, desk, car, anywhere you will see it during the day. Just make sure your goal is realistic. Start with small goals, walking for 5 minutes each day, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Think about your goal before going to sleep. Come up with a mantra that will help you to achieve your goal and repeat it often.

 I like to find sayings and post them on my fridge. I like this one I found a few years back by Joyce Carol Oates. It goes like this, "On days when I can't run, I don't feel myself, and whoever the self is I feel, I don't like nearly as much as the other." If you know that certain activities will give you pleasure and a sense of well being then find the time to do them.  If you are not a morning person and will never be one don't beat yourself up over it. Find the time of day that works best for you when your body rhythm is most in tune to moving!

More benefits of aerobic activities!

In addition to lowering stress, those activities that get your blood moving and your heart pumping can also help build self-esteem and lead one to feel more competent. It can even lead positively to affecting self-concept. This is very important in young children, adolescents and teen-agers. Anyone, truth be told, can benefit from increased self-esteem. I was in my late twenties or early thirties before I really began to feel a sense of self worth, sad to say. Maybe if had a started a regular routine of running back then I would have been on a road to self-discovery sooner.

Inviting a young person on a hike or walk and introducing them to the joys of the outdoors may help to convince them they can leave their electronic toys for a few hours. Birding is a great thing to share with a youth and the walking or hiking you do to observe the different species will feel fun and not like exercise at all.

 Lowering anxiety is an additional benefit of aerobic conditioning, stress being so abundant in our lives. The earlier one discovers the joys of physical exercise, the more self actualization is able to take place. With more people relying on drugs to control stress and hypertension, a little natural therapy will be less expensive and more enjoyable.

An alternative to sit ups.

Do you hate getting down on the floor to do sit ups and abdominal exercises? Are you tired of that little roll around your abdomen? Then hula hooping is for you. Not just any hula hoop though. Check out the fitness department of one of the discount department stores. You might just find one of the new and improved weighted hula hoops. Or if you are handy you can make one yourself by visiting your local hardware store.

Women tend to keep weight around their abdomen as they age. By paying attention to diet, limiting your amount of alcohol consumption, and exercising regularly you can prevent this. Having extra pounds around the belly can increase the chance of stroke and heart disease. Why hula hooping you ask? Because hooping requires a lot of effort from some of the biggest muscles in the body, and because these muscles require a lot of energy, it forces the body to burn fat stores. Hooping will also work out several of your core muscles by strengthening and toning these muscles. Another benefit is that hooping is fun and can bring you back to thoughts of your care free days as a kid, thus making hooping a great stress reliever.

What does aerobic conditioning do for me?

Are you an artist or writer who feels stuck at times? Maybe you have writer's block or are just having a hard time getting that painting to come out the way you want? Taking a break and going for a run could be your answer. Engaging in aerobic activities have shown to boost creativity. If you can scoot out of the office for a quick workout you might find when you return that the ideas flow better and that ad campaign you were working on magically comes together.

Another obvious benefit is the relaxation factor. Need to release tensions after a day at the office? Hit the tennis or racquet ball court. There are so many ways to get aerobic benefits besides doing the customary three mile run. Get your kids or grandkids to throw a frisbee or kick a football around with you, you'll be doing them a favor as well as yourself.

What is aerobic exercise doing for me?

Do you wonder what the benefits of running, walking, biking, swimming, and hiking are? Besides the obvious fact of helping to keep weight gain down? All of these activities and many more produce endorphins, the hormones produced by the brain that make us feel on top of the world. And the great thing about endorphins is that they don't have side effects, unlike other drugs that are toxic to the body and can be dangerously addictive. In addition to improving mental alertness aerobic conditioning may also reduce one's risk of mental decline. Just twenty minutes a day of getting your heart rate into the moderate intensity zone can provide all these benefits.

 Just don't overdo it in these dogs days of summer. If you are new to exercise, take it slow in the beginning and make sure as always to hydrate. A little muscle soreness after physical activity is okay but if you are so sore you cannot get out of bed in the morning, you probably over did it. Exercise is free! You don't need a gym membership to get the benefits that the members enjoy. Check out your local park or try out that hiking trail you pass everyday on your way to work. Swimming has the benefit of cooling you down and also providing a low impact workout. See you at the pool!

What and when to eat after exercise.

Eating carbohydrate after an intense workout, usually within 15 minutes, helps to restore glycogen levels in the muscles. Fruit or juice are good choices, but make sure the juice is pure with no added corn syrup or any of the other substances that are snuck into juices. If one waits longer than 2 hours to eat after a workout, when one is doing endurance training, less glycogen in stored in the muscles. Carbohydrate consumption stimulates insulin production, which in turn aids in the production of the muscle glycogen. However there is a point of diminishing returns if you consume too much carbohydrate because the glycogen storage will reach a plateau. So make sure you look at the serving size before you down that super sized bottle of gatorade or fruit juice.

Combining protein with carbohydrate within 30 minutes of exercise almost doubles the insulin response. This in turn results in more stored glycogen. How much protein or carbohydrate to eat? The ratio of carbohydrate to protein if about 4:1. Translated, this means four grams of carbohydrate for every one gram of protein. But don't go hog wild! Eating more protein than that can slow rehydration and glycogen replenishment. If you are exercising less than 30 minutes, gatorade isn't recommended. Water is best if you are looking to rehydrate. Of course when you are exercising in really hot and humid weather you should drink during the course of exercising and not wait till you are finished with your activity. Happy swimming, biking, hiking, or whatever you choose to do! Tis the season!

Smelling this herb might help improve your memory.

Rosemary has a long history of being linked to memory-enhancing properties. Carnosol, the main chemical in rosemary oil has been linked with brain performance, according to researchers in the United Kingdom. Research has found that rosemary has neuroprotective properties that may protect against Alzheimer's disease and even normal memory loss that happens with aging.

If you have a small rosemary plant in your kitchen, I would suggest taking of few snifts of this herb whenever you walk by, in addition to cooking with it, it might enhance your mood as well as flavor your food. Use it to flavor soups, sauces, and meats. I like to slice potatoes thinly, place on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle rosemary on top. As the potatoes bake the smell of rosemary will begin to prevail in your kitchen.

Rosemary has been used as a natural remedy for migraines. pain relief for arthritis, sore muscles, and has anti-inflammatory properties. I used to make a rosemary rinse for my hair as I believed it would keep my brunette hair dark. Well that didn't actually work but I do have a thick head of hair and rosemary is believed to speed hair growth. So there you go, as my silver tresses grow quite fast, I am a frequent visitor to my hairdresser to keep my pixie cut in check.

An apple a day...well you know the rest.

We have all heard the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Did you ever wonder why? Apples contain quercetin, another one of those antioxidants that are good for you. The plant chemical in apples protects brain cells and helps to keep your mental faculties alert. Some research shows that quercetin protects brain  cells from free radical attacks that can damage the outer lining of the neurons, hastening cognitive decline.

Eating apples with their skins on is the best as most of the quercetin is found just under the skin. Make sure to rinse them well to remove any pesticide residue and buy apples organically when possible. You will make less visits to the doctor and your wallet will be happy too when you munch on this delicious fruit.

Got grapes?

Grapes are such an easy fruit to eat. Wash them thoroughly and pop a few into your mouth. If you are choosing between green or purple grapes, go for the ones with the darkest color. Flavonoids are what cause the purple color in grapes. Dark purple means a higher concentration of flavonoids. What do flavonoids do you ask? They act as antioxidants in the body to help reduce the damage that free radicals cause and also can help to reduce effects of aging. Wow! That's a lot from a little morsel.

If you are looking for natural sources of phosphorus, potassium, iron, calcium, selenium and magnesium the grape has them all. In addition, they also contain Vitamins A, C B6 and folate. Some of the benefits that come from eating grapes are lowering cholesterol levels, curing indigestion and irritation of the stomach. If you suffer from migraines, drinking ripe grape juice in the morning is a home remedy. Next time you are shopping for fruit, make sure to put grapes on your list. And if organic is available, pick them!

Onions, they may make you cry but they are so good for you!

Did you know that you have a powerful antibiotic in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator? If you guessed the onion you would be correct. Onions can help reduce reduce food borne illnesses caused by microbial contamination. Whether red, yellow, or white, onions are best eaten raw to get the health benefits they provide from the naturally-occurring compound that helps protect nerves and the cardiovascular system. Eating raw onions also enhances immune function, fights the growth of many types of tumors and also helps to promote healthy hormone function.

Need some ideas for how to use onions? If you feel like you can barely tolerate them, mince them really fine and start with just a sprinkle on a salad, a bowl of chili or your veggie burger. If you are eating other veggies with them you will hardly notice the pungent taste. If I haven't managed to convince you that onions are good for you check this out. The French people almost aways include onions in their recipes. The French also have a lower incidence of coronary heart disease despite the butter and milk that is common in French cooking. Why might this be? Lowering cholesterol and preventing hardening of the arteries can be attributed to the lowly onion. Eating this lovely bulb helps to maintain  healthy blood pressure and also enhances elasticity of blood vessels.

I would love to hear any ideas you have for using this natural remedy for a lot of what ails us. What's a little bad breath compared to all the benefits of the onion?

Beets are a memory food.

Think that you don't like beets? If you ever try them juiced you will fall in love with them. You get the full sweetness of the sugar that beets contain when you drink them. Juicing them along with carrots and you have nectar of the gods. Beets can be streamed, baked, or grated and eaten raw in a salad. The greens are edible too; steam them or put young beet greens in a salad. I recently made a quiche like dish with the greens. Instead of a piecrust I chopped the greens and layered the bottom of a pie pan with them, then poured my egg mixture on top and put it all in the oven. It was delicious.

Beets contain potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, vitamins A, B, C, beta-carotene, and folic acid. Beets are a great tonic for the liver, a blood purifier, and can lower blood pressure. Beets also contain betaine, a substance that is used to treat depression. And if you don't like chocolate, though who can imagine that, beets also contain trytophan, the ingredient in chocolate that makes one feel good.

 If you have a bumper crop of beets, try making a soup called borscht. It can be served hot or cold with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream. Add a hearty rye bread and it is a perfect meal. If I still haven't convinced you to add beets to your diet maybe knowing that the ancient Romans used beets as an aphrodisiac will.

What the heck is an aubergine?

If you were of French origin you would know this vegetable by the name aubergine. However if you live in the US you would call it this nutritious member of the night shade family an eggplant. Whatever you choose to call it, it is a vegetable full of phytochemicals, the nutrients that come from plants. If you like Indian curries and Middle Eastern foods, chances are that you have eaten this versatile food. Purple fruits like grapes and blueberries, and vegetables such as eggplants contain anthocyanin which is what colors the foods purple and is also good for the brain. Eggplant also contains an antioxidant called nasunin that protects the lipids in brain cell membranes. Another simple reason to eat eggplant is that it is delicious.

There are many ways to prepare this versatile vegetable. One of the most well known is eggplant parmesan. A cup of eggplant with the skin, only contains 35 calories. If you make your eggplant with low fat ricotta cheese and mozzarella you have a healthy entree to serve over whole wheat pasta. Have you tried whole wheat pasta lately? It has come a long way from the varieties that were thick, pasty, and not very tasty.

If you really want to be adventurous, try baba ghanoush the next time you frequent a Middle Eastern restaurant. The eggplant is baked or broiled over an open flame and then mashed and mixed with olive oil and various seasonings. It can be served as a dip, spread on pita chips or served with roti (a grilled  flatbread). The Turks were onto something when they came up with this dish as it can also help to lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar levels.

Cruciferous veggies anyone?

Did you know that broccoli shares its cancer fighting properties with other vegetables such as cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and cabbage. These vegetables are high in antioxidants and share immune boosting properties. I hated brussel sprouts when I was a kid but now I have to say that they rank very high as one of my favorite vegetables. You can throw any of these vegetables into a stir fry for a quick and nutritious meal. Brussel sprouts are great roasted in the oven. Just cut them in half, drizzle some olive oil on top and they are done in 15 to 20 minutes.

Broccoli contains quercetin, an antioxidant that is thought to protect against Alzheimer's Disease. Broccoli is good in quiche or if you have leftover steamed broccoli, chop it up fine and mix it in with your scrambled eggs. It's great eaten raw too, it's fiber is soluble and draws cholesterol out of the body. Broccoli is high on the list of wonder food, also having vitamins K, C, and calcium.  If you have any other great ideas for broccoli, I would love to hear them.

Got spinach?

Spinach has a lot of things going for it. While it can be eaten raw or cooked, cooked spinach has a higher iron content. Spinach is also high in folic acid, a half cup a day will give you 2/3 of your daily intake of this B complex vitamin. Folic acid is also believed to prevent Alzheimer's disease and related memory loss. Folic acid is also important for red blood cells and many other cells in the body.

Spinach contains the vitamins K, C, A and is rich in the antioxidants lutein and glutathione.  There are so many things that one can do with this versatile leafy green. Throw it raw into a salad, saute with olive oil and garlic, add to a quiche recipe, or use on a sandwich instead of lettuce. The ideas are endless. It is very easy to grow but it doesn't care for hot weather so you should get the seeds into the ground early in the season. If you have some ideas for spinach share them in the comment section. I would love to hear how your get your daily serving of spinach!

Blueberries and memory!

You might not know that blueberries are considered a memory food. They contain a phytochemical that is important in reversing the age-related decline of memory as well as having a positive effect on spatial working memory. Who doesn't want that kind of help? There are many ways to get blueberries into one's diet. Throw frozen blueberries into a smoothie or put fresh berries in pancakes. If you like toast in the morning, slather some blueberry jam on top (if it is store bought jam make sure it doesn't have corn syrup). Blueberry pie is great, just make sure the crust does not contain hydrogenated oil. Making your own pies or jams ensures that you know what just what's inside. Blueberries are great eaten just as they are or on top of plain yogurt, with a little honey to sweeten the yogurt. If you are lucky enough to live in an area where blueberries grow, find out when harvest time is so that you can pick your own. And you might consider freezing some of the berries as freezing retains the vitamins that  get lost when produce is shipped great distances. The possibilities for adding blueberries to your diet is endless. Blueberry sauce on cheesecake anyone?